Margaret Harper
Margaret Harper | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 23, 1911 Potomac, Illinois |
| Died | December 13, 2000 |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1963 |
| Awards | Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal |
Colonel Margaret Harper (July 23, 1911 – December 13, 2000) was the 11th chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps (ANC) from September 1, 1959, to August 31, 1963. She served in World War II, received a master's degree in nursing service administration from Columbia University. She received several awards for her work as chief of the Army Nurse Corps (ANC).
Biography
[edit]Harper was born on July 23, 1911, in Potomac, Illinois.[1] She graduated from Evanston General Hospital School of Nursing in 1934.[2][3] Harper received her commission in April 1941 at the hospital in Fort Lewis, Washington, becoming a colonel.[3][4] Her overseas assignments during World War II included service in Australia and New Guinea, and Europe. She was known for having a handgun on her at all times in New Guinea.[3] She also served as superintendent of nurses at Chicago Memorial Hospital and Murry Hospital at one point. After World War II, Harper attended Teachers' College, Columbia University, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing education. She received her master's degree in nursing service administration in 1953.[1]
In October 1955 Hayes became assistant chief of the ANC.[5] On September 1, 1959, Harper became the 11th Army Nurse Corps Chief and she served until August 31, 1963.[6] Under her tenure, the ANC began an intensive recruiting program in 1963 in light of the anticipated build up in Southeast Asia and other military operations, Operation Nightingale, to meet a serious nursing shortage. She received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.[3] After she left the ANC, Harper moved from Illinois to Chicago to San Antonio, Texas, where she died on December 13, 2000.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Colonel Margaret Harper". The Army Nurse Corps Association. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Superintendents". ANC Website.
- ^ a b c d "Office of Medical History - Margaret Harper". history.amedd.army.mil. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- "Colonel Margaret Harper". The Army Nurse Corps Association. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- Bullough, Vern L. (2000). American Nursing: A Biographical Dictionary. Springer Publishing Company. ISBN 9780826111470. - ^ United States Armed Forces Medical Journal. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1959.
- ^ "New army nurse corps chief." (1955, Oct 05). The Washington Post and Times-Herald
- ^ Feller, Carolyn. "Highlights in the History of the Army Nurse Corps" (PDF). U.S. Army Center of Military History.