Call for Congressional Gold Medal for WWII Nurses Grows Louder

Tue Nov 11 2025 09:30:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As World War II nurses age, a coalition pushes for Congressional Gold Medals to honor their bravery and contributions. Nurses like 106-year-old Alice Darrow recall the harrowing times during the war, advocating for recognition before it’s too late.

A coalition of retired military nurses is advocating for the Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to all nurses who served during World War II. Many of these nurses, such as 106-year-old Alice Darrow, have extraordinary stories from their time in service. Despite their efforts, the legislation faces significant challenges in Congress. The time-sensitive campaign is also a call for broader recognition of the vital role nurses have played in wartime healthcare.

Honoring Heroes of the Past

DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) – Alice Darrow, at the age of 106, reflects on her impactful service as a nurse during World War II, highlighting the challenges faced by medical staff during the war. She recalls dodging bullets while delivering medical supplies and treating injured soldiers, emphasizing the deep connection nurses formed with their patients in life-threatening circumstances.

As only a handful of the original WWII nurses remain, a coalition is intensifying its campaign for Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to all nurses who served in the war. This initiative follows similar honors awarded to other wartime groups like the Women Airforce Service Pilots and Rosie the Riveters.

Patricia Upah, a retired Army nurse, stated, The general public doesn’t often recognize the contributions that nurses made in pretty much every war. This sentiment drives the coalition, which currently knows of only five surviving WWII nurses, including 107-year-old Elsie Chin Yuen Seetoo, the first Chinese American Army nurse.

Legislative Challenges Ahead

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Elise Stefanik have proposed the legislation for the honorary medals, yet it requires substantial bipartisan support to succeed. Currently, it gathers momentum with only a few cosponsors.

The stories shared through this campaign illustrate the nurses' skilled responses to the immense medical challenges of the war, such as the treatment of severe injuries and caring for POWs. Their resilience and bravery continue to resonate, shedding light on their critical roles in military medicine.

A Call for Recognition

“It’s high time we honor the nurses who stepped up and did their part to defend our freedom,” says Sen. Baldwin. The nurs...

Without these brave women and their contributions, modern military health care would be vastly different today.

As these living legends pass, the urgency to award them the recognition they deserve intensifies. Alice Darrow hopes for a Congressional Gold Medal, saying, “It would be an honor.”