OT: A most courageous Belgian nurse, who saved hundreds of American paratrooopers. . .

[Kibitzer]

. . . died at age 94.

Her name was Augusta Chiwy and she tirelessly and gallantly cared for hundreds of wounded American soldiers (most of the 101st Airborne Division) during the siege of Bastogne as the Battle of the Bulge raged around them. There was only one doctor in a makeshift field hospital and many wounded paratroopers owe their lives to her dedication and care under horrible conditions.

She is clearly portrayed in the epic series, "Band of Brothers." She is being buried in Bastogne, where her deeds were recorded for posterity. R.I.P., Nurse Chiwy,

 

[BroadwayVa]

. . . died at age 94.

Her name was Augusta Chiwy and she tirelessly and gallantly cared for hundreds of wounded American soldiers (most of the 101st Airborne Division) during the siege of Bastogne as the Battle of the Bulge raged around them. There was only one doctor in a makeshift field hospital and many wounded paratroopers owe their lives to her dedication and care under horrible conditions.

She is clearly portrayed in the epic series, "Band of Brothers." She is being buried in Bastogne, where her deeds were recorded for posterity. R.I.P., Nurse Chiwy,

The big deal along with saving our precious Paratroopers was: If the Germans took Bastogne, they surely would have executed her and not in a nice way. And she knew it!!! Guts.
Thank you Kibitzer--people from foreign land who save your people deserve more than just recognition--but this is great. Thanks.

 

[Kaizen]

What a brave woman, she will go to Heaven.

 

[Kibitzer]

Please permit a brief follow-up. As the generous obit in the NY Times explains, Augusta's father was a Belgian veterinarian and her mother was Congolese, so she was black. In those days, black nurses were not permitted to treat white patients. The lone (and heroic) physician, Dr Prior from Vermont. explained the situation to many severely wounded patients: "If you don't let Nurse Chiwy treat you, you will die."

She was known to shrug off the danger that constantly confronted her by saying what terrible marksmen that German soldiers were since they couldn't hit her lone black face amidst all that snow.

I trust that flags are at half staff at Fort Bragg and Fort Campbell. She has earned that modest tribute.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Please permit a brief follow-up. As the generous obit in the NY Times explains, Augusta's father was a Belgian veterinarian and her mother was Congolese, so she was black. In those days, black nurses were not permitted to treat white patients. The lone (and heroic) physician, Dr Prior from Vermont. explained the situation to many severely wounded patients: "If you don't let Nurse Chiwy treat you, you will die."

She was known to shrug off the danger that constantly confronted her by saying what terrible marksmen that German soldiers were since they couldn't hit her lone black face amidst all that snow.

I trust that flags are at half staff at Fort Bragg and Fort Campbell. She has earned that modest tribute.

Kibitzer---Having been there and done that--you know they would Fly their flags in tribute, if the knew about her death and her story. I no longer have a path to top levels in Jacksonville--hopefully someone on the Boneyard has such a connection.
Let us all, to our own Senators, write or copy the above and request a Medal of Valor be present to this woman;s Family--As Kibitzer has so eloquently written--she deserves it and has earned it.
Thanks again..

 

[UcMiami]

Just found this account of the siege by Dr Prior:
http://morethanmedicine.blogspot.com/2007/11/night-before-christmas-bastogne-1944-by.html

And just for ease - the link for the NYT obit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/w...-forgotten-wartime-nurse-dies-at-94.html?_r=0

 

[UcMiami]

Kibitzer---Having been there and done that--you know they would Fly their flags in tribute, if the knew about her death and her story. I no longer have a path to top levels in Jacksonville--hopefully someone on the Boneyard has such a connection.
Let us all, to our own Senators, write or copy the above and request a Medal of Valor be present to this woman;s Family--As Kibitzer has so eloquently written--she deserves it and has earned it.
Thanks again..

In the above link Dr Prior says he submitted a commendation for the other civilian nurse in the action who died on Christmas eve, Renee Bernadette
Emilie Lemaire - if folks are writing those letters, it would not hurt to include her name as well.