GUARDIANS OF FREEDOM
Saluting Those Who Served in the U.S. Army
Mary (Kelly) O'Connor in World War II, Part 3
by Janis Stein

Join in the conclusion as a young woman from Iowa reflects on her Army nursing days in England during World War II.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, who, in 1942 had been appointed Commanding General of the European Theater of Operations, had headquarters that were no more than five miles away from the hospital. Though Eisenhower may have visited once, there wasn’t a great deal of activity. What the 103rd could hear was the convoy of Army ground vehicles as new troops traveled through, on their way to war. Vehicles and troops alike were then loaded onto ships; via the English Channel, new recruits made their way toward France.

From time to time, Mary and her friends were given a bit of time off. Traveling a half a day by train, their aim was to tour historical sites like the Tower of London or to travel to some other well-known city. Six or eight passengers sat in a section, and the train stopped at various stations in towns along the way. While people disembarked, passengers could get off the train momentarily to purchase tea or coffee before settling back in for the remainder of the trip.

Taking a break from caring for the injured soldiers would perhaps help the nurses forget about the war, if only for a little while. Such was not the case, however, for London had suffered heavy damages. Destruction and signs of war were all around.

Mary traveled to Salisbury once to see the sights; it too lay in devastation. The massive cathedral in Salisbury had been struck beforehand and, now, instead of beauty, Mary saw rubble.

At least four nurses would travel in a group. While fraternizing with the enlisted men was prohibited, they’d always meet during these trips, so 10 or 12 from the 103rd General Hospital would travel together. When they had heard the king of England had something special planned in Scotland, Mary and her friends traveled there to tour the scenery.

Mary Kelly and many others of Irish descent yearned to travel to their homeland, but certain areas of the country were deemed off limits. Southern Ireland fell into that category. Mary and her comrades traveled by train as far as they were allowed, stopping in Armagh. Located in Northern Ireland just over the southern line, Mary marveled at the architecture as she toured a big Catholic cathedral. The time always passed quickly, though, and before she knew it, Mary was back on the train – she had patients waiting.

Mary worked hard in her daily tasks, work she loved, and in a timely fashion, the Army promoted her to 1st Lieutenant. Now earning about $120 per month, Mary knew the importance of putting a little away. Mary also knew when the war was over she may never have the opportunity to return to England, so she went touring every chance she could.

On May 8, 1945, Mary and her friends had been granted a bit of time, so off to London they went. Nurses could always spend the night at a Red Cross station in London, so they worried not about where they might find lodging. When the train arrived at the station in London, Mary and her companions traveled by cab to the Red Cross site. After they were settled in the cab, the driver stated there was a great deal of talk about something happening. And so it did. Victory was declared over Europe!

Everyone jammed the streets in celebration. Enlisted men and officers from the 103rd General Hospital had also been visiting London, and by chance, Mary’s group met up with them. It was an exciting day to know the war in Europe had ended, yet so much and so many had been lost. The immediate concern for Mary and her comrades was to return to their hospital unit.

Shortly after V-E Day, Mary received the orders every soldier was waiting for: Mary was going home. The elation aboard the Queen Mary was indescribable as ship and a crew that numbered 24,000 made their way back across the Atlantic and, still, there was work to be done. Nurses on board worked an eight-hour shift in an area that would become Queen Mary’s hospital ward. Those patients who were unable to move around were cared for, as were those who needed their dressings changed. Cheers of joy resounded throughout when New York harbor, at long last, came into view.

Though Mary was back on American soil, her Army service wasn’t quite complete, so she and those with similar orders immediately traveled by troop train to the Midwest. Mary’s orders sent her to Schick General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, where she would continue her nursing work.

August 14, 1945, brought with it V-J Day, and the war on all fronts was finally over.

Shortly after the war’s end, Mary’s service in the United States Army was complete, and she made her way back to Mason City, Iowa. All four of her siblings made it home, too, much to the relief and prayers of the Kelly parents. Mary’s mother was great for giggling and laughing and, with all five of her children eating at her table once again, Mary’s mother had another of her famous giggling spells. Mary’s father, wearing a grin of his own, told his children to let her laugh, for far too many of her days during the war-filled years had been spent on worry and tears.

Mary took a few months off after the war to rest and recoup and reacquaint herself with friends and family. With so many people released from the service, jobs were no longer easy to find, so Mary and another friend, who had been in the Army with her, traveled to the big city of Detroit where they found work at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital.

A fellow nurse at Mt. Carmel had visiting friends coming from Minden City, and it would be through that acquaintance Mary would meet the man who would, in about two year’s time, become her husband, Joe O’Connor.

Mary adapted well to the Minden area, and while she was married she returned to the career she loved so dearly, finding work over the years in Harbor Beach, Deckerville and the old Hubbard Hospital in Bad Axe. After her six children were all enrolled in school, she spent over a decade caring for patients at the Huron Medical Care facility in Bad Axe.

• • • • •

Mary still stays in touch with two of her fellow World War II nurses who, like her, came from America’s Midwest: One originally hailed from Minnesota and the other Missouri. These women created a bond so deep it’s unbreakable, for they shared the fabric of the times – children of the Great Depression, women of the Second World War.

Mary (Kelly) O’Connor celebrated her 91th birthday on February 9, 2008, and after all these years she still graciously keeps her modesty in check. How many soldiers were touched by Mary’s care and comfort and skill? Of her wartime nursing experience, Mary said, “I always enjoyed taking care of people, keeping them comfortable and happy. My 2 ½ years serving in the Army was a wonderful experience.”

The Lakeshore Guardian salutes Mary (Kelly) O’Connor for her service in the United States Army during World War II.

Many thanks to Mary (Kelly) O’Connor for sharing her memories of her nursing days during the Second World War. Amazing people walk among us, and Mary O’Connor is one of them. What a privilege it was for me to sit down at Mary’s kitchen table and gain a woman’s perspective of life during the war. Thank you, Mary!

Be sure to look for my column in next month’s issue when Tim O’Neil shares his memories of the Korean War.

© 2008 Stein Expressions, LLC