WAC Nurse’s “Ike” Jacket- 1st Aux Surgical Group- 101st AB – SOLD

Description

Monica E. Eacmen, First Lieutenant, ANC, First Auxiliary Surgical Group, Born in Gardner, March 14, 1911. Daughter of Charles and Rosalia Eacmen; single. Entered military service at Fort Devens, November 10, 1941, and assigned to Station Hospital, went overseas August 9, 1943, First Auxiliary Surgical Group. Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe. Decorations: American Defense , American Theater, EAME Campaign (with 3 battle stars), Victory, Occupation (Germany) Medals. Relieved from active duty, February 1, 1945.

The 1st Auxiliary Surgical Group served in the ETO during WW2. It supplied Teams to the 3d Auxiliary Surgical Group after D-Day, which remained under control of the latter during most of the campaigns in Europe. In the latter part of October 1944 another 6 Teams were transferred to reinforce the 3d Auxiliary, they were subsequently sent to assist the medical personnel of some Evacuation Hospitals. Special Teams of the 1st Aux Surg Gp served under the XVIII Airborne Corps in September 1944 – under Seventh US Army in November 1944 – fought in the Bulge in December 1944 – and supported the 17th Airborne Division in March 1945. The Group came under control of Fifteenth US Army on 18 April 1945 (total casualties handled 10,469).

XVIII Corps deployed to Europe on 17 August 1944 and became the XVIII Airborne Corps on 25 August 1944 at Ogbourne, St. George, England, assuming command of the 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions, as part of the preparation for Operation Market Garden.

 The Auxiliary Surgical Group was developed within the Surgical Consultants Division of The Office of The Surgeon General, US Army. The ASG was designed as a surgical reserve to be allocated at 1 per Field Army with the aim to augment Field and Evacuation Hospitals.
The Surgical Consultants Division handpicked Surgeons based on their medical experience. Basically each Group consisted of 61 four-to-six persons Teams in general, orthopedic, maxillo-facial, neurological, and thoracic surgery, and also treatment for shock

(Ref; WWII U.S.Medical Research Centre).

Lt. Monica Eacmen, was apparently one of those nurses assigned to a Specical Team, that treated members of the 101st Airborne after the Market Garden Operation. She would have not been authorized to wear 101st or AB qualification patches on here uniform even though she worked closely with the wounded of that operation, and obviously had a close connection with the paratroopers and para-guiders to want their unit insignia sewn close to her heart in the lining of her jacket.

Her jacket, thought without tailor label, appears to be English made. The Com Z patch is English made, along with the 4 gilt metal overseas bars. The pocket flaps are nothing more than that.  Buttons on the shoulders are covered in the same chocolate gaberdine as the uniform. Eacmen’s 1st Lt. bars, collar insignia are all U.S. made, as well as the American Campaign, and EAME with campaign stars ribbons. Sewn inside of her lining are a one piece 101st AB Screaming Eagle patch with integral tab, and a 1st pattern Gilder infantry garrison cap patch, both are American machine made. Her machine made name tag is stitched in on the inside lining of the left shoulder.

Missing from the jacket is the brass buckle that was used with the gaberdine tongue at the waist.

I wish I could find more on her. She was born in the next city from me, and lived there most of her life until later years. Her photo come courtesy of “Gardner In World War II, by Cyrille Leblanc, Chief of Police, Memorial Press, 1947.”

I’ve not come across a nurses uniform that had patches of those she treated sewn to the inside of the jacket. No doubt she was well thought of by the members of the 101st for the devotion she and other of her team showed them.

A great historical, heart warming, military uniform from the European Theater of WWII.