Beatrice Mary MacDonald

Beatrice Mary MacDonald ARRC (September 27, 1881 – September 4, 1969), an American Army nurse during World War I, received a Purple Heart for combat wounds on January 4, 1936, making her retroactively the first woman to receive the award.[1][2] MacDonald was also one of four women to receive the United States Distinguished Service Cross for her heroism during World War I.[3][4] Other awards for her heroism include the French Croix de Guerre (Bronze), the British Military Medal for gallantry, the British Royal Red Cross (Second Class) medal, and the United States Distinguished Service Medal.[4][5][6]

Early life, education, and early career

MacDonald was born in North Bedeque community of Prince Edward Island, Canada.[7] MacDonald relocated to New York City to further her education, and graduated from New York City Hospital Nursing School.[1][3][7]

World War I

MacDonald was living in New York City during the outbreak of World War I.[1][3] In 1915, MacDonald volunteered for the American Ambulance Service and went to the American Hospital of Paris for a short stint.[8] After returning to the United States she went to work for the New York surgeon George Emerson Brewer as an office manager.[7][8]

MacDonald enlisted in United States Army Nursing Corps in 1917 with a unit from Presbyterian Hospital.[3][4] MacDonald served in France at the British Casualty Clearing Station No. 61.[4] On August 17, 1917, MacDonald was injured during a German air raid on the front line during the Third Battle of Ypres.[4]

Recognition and awards

MacDonald received the Distinguished Service Cross on February 27, 1919 from the United States Congress making her the first woman to receive the award and one of only three women during World War I.[5][9] Other awards at the time for her heroism include the French Croix de Guerre (Bronze), the British Military Medal for gallantry, the British Royal Red Cross (Second Class) medal, and the United States Distinguished Service Medal.[4][5][6]

Distinguished Service Cross

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Reserve Nurse Beatrice Mary MacDonald, United States Army Nurse Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Nurse Corps, A.E.F. (Attached), while on duty with the surgical team at the British Casualty Clearing Station No. 61, British Area, 17 August 1917. During a German night air raid Nurse MacDonald continued at her post of duty, caring for the sick and wounded until seriously wounded by a German bomb, thereby losing one eye.

Purple Heart

After General Douglas MacArthur created the Purple Heart for combat wounds, MacDonald applied for and received the first Purple Heart awarded to a woman on January 4, 1936.[1][2] By both her date of injury and her award date, she is the first woman to be awarded a Purple Heart.[10]

References
  1. Borch, Fred (2013-07-10). For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781612514093.
  2. Lilley, Kevin (2017-08-08). "Forgotten valor: Nurses near the front lines of World War I". Army Times. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  3. Noyes, Clara D. (1919). The American Journal of Nursing. Vol. 19. J.B. Lippincott Company for the American Journal of Nursing Company. p. 531.
  4. Crow, Tracy; Bell, Jerri (2017). It's My Country Too: Women's Military Stories from the American Revolution to Afghanistan. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 72–77. ISBN 9781612349367.
  5. The Red Cross Bulletin. Bureau of Publications for the Department of Chapters, American Red Cross. 1919.
  6. Borch, Fred (2013-07-10). For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781612514093.
  7. "REMEMBRANCE DAY: Most decorated nurse was from P.E.I. | The Guardian". www.theguardian.pe.ca. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  8. ""I've Only Started Doing My Bit" | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University". www.radcliffe.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  9. "Women Medal Recipients". userpages.aug.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  10. "National Purple Heart Hall of Honor". www.thepurpleheart.com. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
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