Interview of Helene Gram Forster on her overseas hospital service with the American Red Cross during WWII

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Description:

Helene Gram Forster talks about her hospital service with the American Red Cross between June 1943 and December 1945. Forster explains why she volunteered and describes her duties as a hospital recreation worker charged with providing activities and entertainment for patients at bases in North Africa, Italy and France. Forster says that the convoy which brought her to Africa was attacked near Oran, Algeria, and describes crossing the Mediterranean to Naples and being based in a convent hospital in Caserta, Italy, living conditions in camps in Algeria and Italy, caring for allied troops from several countries, and setting up a hospital in a French cavalry school. She says she sailed on a hospital ship back to the States for her leave and then returned to unit in France aboard a mail plane which also carried one of General Eisenhower's aides with a top secret set of battle plans. Forster says that her service during the war was a special time in her life. Forster is interviewed by Edna Fonn.

Date Issued:

1983-05-10T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Michigan State University. Libraries

Collection:

Women's Overseas Service League Oral History Project

Place:

Italy, France, and Africa, North

Subject Topic:

Hospitals, Employees, World War, 1939-1945, World War, 1939-1945, Hospitals, World War, 1939-1945, Hospitals, World War, 1939-1945, Hospitals, World War, 1939-1945, and Participation, Female

Subject Name:

Forster, Helene Gram, 1913-, and American National Red Cross

Subject Genre:

Interviews, Interviews, Interviews, and Personal narratives, American

Language:

English

Rights:

In Copyright

URL:

https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5g42d