Jane Rignel
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Jane I. Rignel St. John ARRC (June 16, 1884 – April 1, 1977) was a United States Army nurse who was the Chief Nurse of Mobile Hospital No. 2 during World War I.[1][2] For her heroism she was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the British Royal Red Cross, and the United States Silver Star medal.[1][2]
Early life, education, and early career[edit]
Jane I Rignel was born in Lockport, New York. She graduated from Columbia University Presbyterian School of Nursing in 1913.[2]
After graduation, Rignel went to work at Western Electric Company plant in New York City where she established a workmen's compensation health aid station.[2]
World War I[edit]
World War I hospitals were often organized around civilian hospitals. In May 1917, Rignel joined the Army Nurse Corps. as Chief Nurse of Mobile No. 2 Hospital which was primarily staffed by personnel from the Presbyterian Hospital in New York.[1]
On August 14, 1918, General John J. Pershing sent a commendation to the whole staff of Mobile Hospital No. 2 to recognize them for their courage under fire.[1] For her heroism she was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the British Royal Red Cross, and the United States Silver Star medal.[1][2]
World War II[edit]
During World War II, St. John was the assistant director of the Nurse's Aide Corps of the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross.[2]
Family life[edit]
Rignel married Captain Fordyce B. St. John, the commander of Mobile Hospital 2, in 1919.[1][2] The St. John's lived in Manhattan, New York and Woodstock, Vermont.[2] Fordyce St. John, a professor of surgery at Columbia University, died in 1973.[2]
Death and legacy[edit]
St. John died in April 1977 in New York at 92 years old.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Prior, Richard M.; Marble, William Sanders (May 2008). "The overlooked heroines: three Silver Star nurses of World War I". Military Medicine. 173 (5): 493–498. doi:10.7205/milmed.173.5.493. ISSN 0026-4075. PMID 18543572.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Jane St. John, 92; Served as a Nurse In 2 World Wars". The New York Times. 1977-04-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-10-23.