Nurses of the 59th
Nurses of the 59th

Ag Alkire (Agnes)

Helen Baker
Charlotte Bambino — nicknames: “Bam” “Bambi”

After the War, Charlotte continued her studies in nursing, including a masters and PhD, and became a lecturer in the nursing school at University of California at San Francisco.

Pat Barry (Nora P.)

Gert Brazil – Gertrude — In the 1990s, Gert made an audio recording of some of her recollections of her time in the 59th. Snippets from this recording are included in the sidebars of some of René’s posts.

Ann Bryner (married Serge Bryner in 1944)

Doris Clark (Doris)

Chris Coletti (Christine)

Dottie Collins (Dorothy)


Paulette Delpeche — Nicknames: “Polly,” “Del” “Del Peche” or “Delpeche”

Mary Diffley – Chief Nurse

Regina Dooris (nickname Jeanie) – According to their daughter, Patricia, Regina met Harold Heinzerling in Casablanca. During the war, they secretly dated and then married in November 1945.

Sara Doss – nickname: “Sally”
Ann Dunn

Hope Ecklund — nickname: “Ecky” or "Eckie"
Charlotte Edelfsen
Rosemary Fink

Peggy Fullerton

Irene Gallagher

Libby Gates (Elizabeth)
Frances Greer
Charlotte Johnson — nickname: “Johnie”

Vince Knotek
Eleanor Larsen


Liz Liss – Elizabeth
Katherine Magee — nickname: “Kay”
Lois McFarland – René’s girlfriend, then fiancée, then wife. Their marriage had to be kept a secret from the Army or Lois and René would have been assigned to different units. Nickname: “Spanky”

Lois was born on July 21, 1920 in Lodi, California. She passed away on October 13, 2004.
Dottie Merrell (Dorothy)

Bertha Moore
Louise Moon


Louise Moon-Miller

Martha Morris
Helen Nelson
Pearl Nicholls — nickname: “Nicky”


Pearl in 1978
Norma Picchi


Norma Picchi Bettencourt

Bette Holmes Richardson

Marion Switzer

Lorraine Thompson – nickname “Pidge”

Fran Trembley
