An+American+naval+nurse+stationed+in+HawaiiBlock+D+Sem+II+2011

[[image:Earlybessielove.jpg align="right"]]Leona White
Age: Born in March 30, 1911 Gender: Female Occupation: Naval Nurse Appearance: Stunning, fit, with beautiful body. Mistaken for model many times. Location: Hawaii

Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Extremely nice, but sometimes can have her own world going on. Family: Mother and Father has passed away. Education: Took a quick course on nursing. She was smart enough to master in a quick time, so she is a little young for the job she is given. Languages you speak: English Your main concerns at this time and in life: Healing the soldiers in World War 2.


 * Diary Entry #1**

March 23, 1937

I had a dream. No, I’ve been having these dreams. In these dreams, there are soldiers getting severely injured. I run across to help every single one of them. With the touch of my hand, they gain back their smile and thanks me. I wake up and each time I realize as time passes on, my urge to become the nurse is growing tremendously.

(A fine young artist boy wanted to draw me, so I let him. He gave me the artwork and thanked me. It is amazing, isn't it?)

I’m Leona White. I wanted to start a diary to keep record of my route in accomplishing my dreams. I’m turning 20 in just a week. I know I am far too young to start my career as a nurse.. However, I have been trying. Trying very hard in studying, and I have actually mastered the whole subject in just a year!

Now I was officially able to become a nurse.

I definitely did not want to be an assistant. Becoming a real nurse was my dream. Now that I am able to do so, I need to figure out how.

It wasn’t that hard, actually... Tensions been rising in the state from the war that might break out between Japan, China and the United States. The government is collecting the soldiers, doctors, and nurses to help out.

Hawaii was a unique area lacking with nurses. When people were able to send in applications to join the naval nurse system, many people have signed up (including me, of course). And we all got accepted.

The acceptance letter just came today. This might be one of the best birthday present yet.

As the need for nurses are rising, many people have high expectations of me. Since I am at a young state, the nurses with experience view and treat me like an assistant. As though I am not qualified to be an actual nurse. It is definitely unfair!

I was doing the little chores that Miss Johnson basically forced to do. Cleaning out the lunch trays, doing the laundries for bed sheets, and the chores that nurses shouldn’t do! I was getting mad at the situation, and that’s when I saw him.

His smile was shining the world. His brown eyes.. and hair.. I’ve never seen a man so handsome. (Very muscular, too!). I was told to be a beautiful girl since teen age and many boys all followed me around, but I have never seen such a fine looking man. He seemed to be a soldier. No, of a higher status. A general, maybe? Maybe even an Aviator. He was talking to few other man, joking around. I started at him for minutes until he walked away. Next time, I’ll find a courage to go talk to him... I will!

Other than that, I've been keeping in touch with Charito. She told me her husband was treating her very nicely, and it would be very nice for me to come visit her. I've only known her for a few weeks when she came to visit Hawaii. Oh, I awfully miss her. She was such a nice girl!


 * Diary Entry #2**

December 7, 1941

I can’t believe it.

My house, my world, my safe place. It was bombed.



The Pearl Harbor has been blown to pieces. Thank the lord for saving me at a distant place, but the nurses now had become so much more busy.

Maybe I am clueless, but I am still not sure of the situation. Why would Japan bomb us... why us, and why now? Everyone is in panic mode. Everyone is shaking in fear of another attack. If another bombs us again, what will happen?

Before I start panicking, I have to get some events straight. Life as a nurse has been getting better. The older nurses now treat me fairly better than before, after knowing that I was properly trained and well educated. However, they still keep me away from the severe treatments many soldiers need to go through. I am prohibited in some activities even as a nurse.

Maybe this event will help me in getting more involved with the nursing activities. Since there are lacking of hands of medical supervisors, I can help in! The thought makes me happy, but at the same time, the fact that the injuries are rising keeps the mood down.

The man (whom I still do not know the name of, and had no courage to talk to) comes and shows his face every once in a while. It used to be at least once a month, but as time passed, it became harder to see him. I think he is getting more handsome by the minute. When I catch a glimpse of him, my whole day brightens up immediately. I hope he didn’t get hurt from the bombing. That would be terrible!

One sad fact that I have figured out is that, I think he has a son. A son that seems to be around 6 years younger than me. That means the age of the man must be around... 35 years...? I don’t know.. but it saddens me. He must have a wife than.. His son looks awfully similar to him in many ways. Very attractive young boy.

He asked me of my house. Although I have lost my shelter, I had many friends that will come help me. So I told him the truth. He seemed a little disappointed. So he said goodbye and left.

Anyways....

Ah! It’s very hard for me to think straight. So many events had just occurred in one day, it’s crazy! Thankfully my home and institution was far enough to escape from the major detrimental effects of the bomb. Well I have to go back to working. Everyone just got so much more busy from just this one event. Bye~


 * Diary Entry #3**

February 16, 1942

I have found out about his name! Oh my! His name is Richard King. Even his name is perfect! I feel as though I am falling for him every moment that I think. This is very bad. Now that I had found out that he is a high classed aviator, I can’t help but think that he will never like me back. I am also a little too young for him too. He must have a wife, if he has a son!

Every night I cry of the emotions that I feel that won’t ever be received back. As much as I want him to, the most I can achieve is a smile from him from the conversations we have.

The other day we were talking about our past. He told me he always wanted to be in the army. He also told me about his son, and how he seems to not be doing so well in school, but Richard believes in him. It seemed like such a beautiful family.



Oh, other than that, I am keeping in contact with Melissa, now living in Singapore. I told her that I wanted to visit her, but she told me not to come because of the recent massacre in the hospital, I believe.

She must be spending such a hard time because of the upcoming battles and wars. Even though I wanted to go help out, because the environment is a hospital, I decided to listen to her advice, because she seemed so firm about disagreeing with my visit. I felt as though I needed to trust her...

It was nice to hear from her, meaning she was safe. I miss her dearly, I haven’t seem her in ages!

Her letter was not that long compared to what I wanted to receive. It was alright though, maybe she doesn’t write long, or she didn’t have enough time. By all the chaos that is occurring in the world right now, I am not surprised if she was in a hectic situation. Even I am, after almost a year after the bombing of pearl harbor.

I’ll write her a reply letter right now, then get back to work.


 * Diary Entry #4**

April 13, 1942

Just gross and disgusting.

The Japanese bombed my house and my safety zone, my friend's area in Singapore... and now they are invading Philippines?! Aren’t they satisfied enough??

I have heard of the Japanese in the Philippines just today. My friend, Sammy, told me about how the Japanese attacked our men. Our American men... Along with the Philippines, they were forced on a Bataan Death March.

I almost fainted in shock of what I heard.

75,000 people forced to death on a march? Is that what a human should do? I had a great urge to fly myself to Philippines to help those prisoners of war. We should send a great army force to get rid of those Japanese!



Murders, tortures, and injuries. Those Japanese creatures should not be considered humans. After what they have done to our people, they should be damned to hell. If I was strong enough, I would beat them until I’m satisfied.

Maybe I was a little too soaked in my emotions. Reading back my diary, I’m a little ashamed. I’m just a girl, but I’m using all these horrifying words. Even if I am greatly disturbed, I shouldn’t talk this way...

Anyhow, I am greatly worried for my friend in Philippines, she and her husband has to be alright. They are great people. However, I’ve lost contact with her for a while. She wouldn’t mail me back. The last time I had heard from her was when she told me of her husband’s great interest. Although she didn’t exactly tell me what he does, I can get a sense that he is associated with the fighting against the Japanese forces. That means that her family is greatly related to the Japanese... Oh my... I am so worried, I can’t even sleep.

I have even thought of asking Richard for help. I wanted to ask him if he can find a plane to fly me there to help. However, I realized I’m just being immature, and the only thing I can do now is to wait patiently for good news. I hope that real soon, we can fight against those Japanese and save our people.

Sources:

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq87-3b.htm http://www.blitzkriegbaby.de/nnc/nnc1b.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_Nurse_Corps http://gohawaii.about.com/od/pearlharbor/ig/pearl_harbor_historical_photos/Aircraft-Damage---Pearl-Harbor.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earlybessielove.jpg http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8710532 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March