The entire staff which worked in the registrar's office.  Starting from the top left Pat Sorrento, Charles Ballard, William Wilson, next row down, that me, the writer on the left, next to me is 2nd Lt Herman C. Needles and to his left you see CWO Thomas J. Haggerty. In the bottom row Pat Golden, Sgt Murray, Kenneth Robinson, and Stephen Hair on the bottom right.

Above is Ruby Milligan, one of our nurses. She had a great smile and loved to dance to swing music.
 
 

   

2^nd Lt. Mary Gallagher

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2nd/Lt Mary Gallagher, our head nurse in surgical services. In the lower picture she and I are having a conversation; I was a T/4 at this time. The buildings you see here were in deplorable condition when we took over  in December,1943. They were initially built for Italian troops; next German troops took over.  When the Allies won this area, British troops moved in and when they left, this complex was unoccupied for a  brief time, long enough for vandals to strip all buildings of doors and windows.  When we took over we used Army blankets to cover doors and windows.  We used kerosene lamps for lighting because electricity was not operating.  Fresh water, plumbing, sewers were services not available.  Our maintenance staff was able to find a local Italian man who was familiar with sewer and water lines in the area and in a short time these services were in working order.  For some time we had to use chlorine in Lister bags for our drinking water.  Weather when we took over was cold and rainy.  Until we had a ward full of about 40 patients, it was very uncomfortable.  I had accumulated some American liquor by buying bottles of it from Officers and nurses who did not want their monthly ration.  I made deals with a local engineer battalion to trade booze for plywood (which we used to build desks and night tables), and some wood stoves which we used in some wards and offices.  All enlisted men lived in tents; we were able to keep warm enough with extra blankets. 

 

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