From Frontline Nurse to Lasting Voice: The Story of June Wandrey

From Frontline Nurse to Lasting Voice: The Story of June Wandrey

I have been learning about the lives of those who served during the World Wars. Today I would like to share with a little about June Wandrey.

She was born on the 25th of June 1920 in Wautoma, Wisconsin, and grew up in a small American town before everything changed with the start of the Second World War. In 1942, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps, a role that would put her close to the realities of war. Over the next four years, she served across North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and even Germany. Her service earned her eight battle stars, a reflection of just how much she experienced.

After the war, she chose to share the memories of her time as a war nurse. Her book, Bedpan Commando, brought attention to the work of military nurses, it was also published in television and radio. In 1995, she went to Nettuno, Italy, fifty years after the Anzio landings, she even met Bill Clinton during the commemorations.

She stayed closely connected to the veteran community. She passed away on the 27th of November 2005 at the age of 85.

A Passion for Books Lost at Sea: Harry Elkins Widener’s Story

A Passion for Books Lost at Sea: Harry Elkins Widener’s Story

I have been learning about some of the people who were on board the Titanic, and today I want to share with you a little about Harry Elkins Widener.

He was born on the 3rd of January 1885 in Philadelphia, into a wealthy and well-connected family. He developed a love of books. By the time he attended Harvard, graduating in 1907, he had already begun building what many believed could have become one of the greatest private libraries of his time.

Harry cared about detail, condition, and history. Those who knew him spoke of his enthusiasm and warmth.

In April 1912, he boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with his parents, returning home. When the ship hit the iceberg on the 14th of April, everything changed. His mother thankfully survived, but Harry, his father, and others that were close to him were tragically lost in the freezing Atlantic. He was only 27 years old at the time.

His mother chose to honour him. In 1915, she funded the Widener Memorial Library at Harvard, this ensured that his love of books would continue to shape future generations.

Do you think legacy is shaped more by what we achieve, or by what others choose to remember about us?

Sekhmet: The Lioness Who Could Destroy-and Restore the World

Sekhmet: The Lioness Who Could Destroy-and Restore the World

I have been finding out a little bit about the ancient Egyptian gods, and this time I want to talk about Sekhmet, who to me feels both terrifying and protective in equal measure.

In the earliest beliefs, Sekhmet was closely linked to the sun god Ra. She was often described as his daughter, and was said to have been created from his own power. When people turned away from him, it was Sekhmet who was sent to restore order.

She was usually depicted as a lioness, and that image alone says a lot. A lioness does not act without reason, but when she does, she is unstoppable. Sekhmet evolved to represent war, destruction, and the fierce heat of the sun at its most unforgiving.

But, Sekhmet was not just feared, she was also  respected and they even relied on her. Over time, she became associated with healing as well as harm. Priests of Sekhmet were known as skilled healers, and it was believed that the same power that could bring disease could also take it away.

One of the most powerful stories tells us of how her destruction became so great that even Ra feared that it would never end. To stop her, he tricked her into drinking red-coloured beer, which she thought was blood. As she drank it, her fury started to fade. It is a story that is relatable.  Emotions, like anger can take hold, and how we all at some time need to be brought back under control.

She represents to me, the intensity of emotion, the danger of losing control, but also the ability of restoration.

Do you think people feared Sekhmet more for her power to destroy, or respected her more for her ability to restore balance?

Image info:

The triad of Memphis, Ptah (father), Sekhmet (mother), and Nefertem (son)

The Forgotten Flight Nurse: Reba Z. Whittle’s Wartime Ordeal

The Forgotten Flight Nurse: Reba Z. Whittle’s Wartime Ordeal

I have been finding out about some of the incredible people who served in the World Wars. Today I want to share with you a little bit about Reba Z. Whittle.

She was born on the 19th of August 1919 in Rocksprings, Texas, and she chose to become a nurse. After completing her training, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps in 1941.

She trained as a flight nurse in 1943. These were the nurses that worked caring for wounded soldiers mid-air, often without a doctor there. By early 1944, she was sent to England, where she flew dozens of missions, helping to evacuate the injured.

On the 27th of September 1944, everything changed. Her aircraft was hit by German fire and crashed. She was injured and disoriented but managed to escape, only to be captured. She became the only American military woman held as a prisoner of war in the European theatre.

She was moved between hospitals and camps, even helping to care for other prisoners in spite of her own injuries. Eventually, after months in captivity, she was released in early 1945 and was able to return home. She received honours for her service, but the effects of her experience did not fade.

After the war, she did struggle with ongoing physical and emotional wounds. She looked for recognition and support, and faced a long and difficult process before she received partial acknowledgement. Even then, it never really reflected what she had endured.

She was overlooked for far too long. It makes me wonder how many others were in similar situations, long after the war had ended.

A Final Farewell: The Life and Loss of George D. Wick

A Final Farewell: The Life and Loss of George D. Wick

I have been learning about some of the people who were on board the Titanic. So I want to tell you a little about George D. Wick.

He was born on the 19th of February 1854 in Youngstown, Ohio. His family was involved in banking and real estate. He became known as determined and forward-thinking. He worked alongside partners like James A. Campbell, and he helped build ventures that shaped his community’s future.

By the late 19th century, as industry had begun shifting from iron to steel, Wick found himself at the centre of that change. In 1900, he became the founding president of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. Even when he was ill and was forced to step away, he eventually returned.

In 1912, he travelled to Europe with his family. On the 10th of April, they boarded the Titanic at Southampton. Everything changed on the night of the 14th of April, when the ship hit the iceberg. Wick made sure that his family were placed into lifeboats. He was last seen waving to them.

His body was sadly never recovered, but back home, the town that he had helped to shape paused in silence to honour him.

Do you think moments like his final farewell tell us more about a person than their lifetime of achievements ever could?

Hathor: Goddess of Joy, Love, and the Gentle Guide to the Afterlife

Hathor: Goddess of Joy, Love, and the Gentle Guide to the Afterlife

I have been learning more about the ancient Egyptian gods, and this time I I want to discover a little about Hathor.

In the earliest part of the Ancient Egyptian era, Hathor was connected to the sky. She was sometimes imagined as a celestial cow, with her body stretching across the heavens. She is said to have carried the sun between her horns.

As Egyptian religion developed though, Hathor went on to become more closely associated with love, joy, music, and motherhood. She seemed present in everyday life, she was in the celebrations, in the songs, and in the connections between people. I imagine that many would have turned to her, perhaps during weddings, births, or when they wanted to feel joy again after a particular hardship.

In some stories, she took on a far more dangerous form. When the people turned against the gods, she was the one sent to punish them, she became fierce and destructive. It ahows us that even within people or figures of love and care, there can be anger and strength. Perhaps the ancient Egyptians understood that these emotions were not separate, and that both feelings were not independent of one and other.

Over time, Hathor also became linked to the afterlife. As the Egyptian belief system shifted to focus more on death. She was believed to welcome the dead into the next world, offering them comfort and guidance.

Do you think kindness and strength together made gods more comforting?

Image info:

Collection: Louvre Museum

A Life of Service and Quiet Strength: Carmen Vazquez Rivera

A Life of Service and Quiet Strength: Carmen Vazquez Rivera

I have been learning about some of the people who served in the wars, and this time I wanted to let you know the story of Carmen Vazquez Rivera.

She was born on the 15th of February 1922 in Cidra, Puerto Rico, and she was  the eldest of six children. At just sixteen, she began training to become a nurse, studying in Bayamón and then later in San Juan, where she took on roles in operating rooms and maternity work.

When the United States joined World War II, Puerto Rican nurses were not initially accepted. But that changed in 1944, and she joined the U.S. Army that December. She quickly took on the role of head nurse and helped to deliver over a hundred babies. After the war, she was honoured for her service and met President Truman.

In 1953, during the Korean War, she returned to military service, this time with the U.S. Air Force as a First Lieutenant.

She also had some fun moments in her life, she once won a military beauty pageant and briefly danced with Elvis Presley.

She retired in 1973, and continued to work as a nurse and volunteered. She lived a to the remarkable age of 103 before she passed away on the 8th of March 2025.

 

Do you think lives like hers receive the recognition they deserve, or do they  fade behind larger events?