Fisher, Mary-Lynne

Captain Mary H. Fisher served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. During WWII, she was assigned to the 95th Evacuation Hospital. Her unit first served in Oujda, North Africa, then was sent to Salerno, Italy. Fisher and the other nurses from her unit were shipped aboard the British Hospital Ship "Newfoundland." On 12 September 1943, bombing in the Salerno harbor prevented their landing. That night, while waiting off-shore, the "Newfoundland" was bombed and sank. Fisher and the other American nurses were returned to North Africa to recover and re-equip. Fisher successfully landed in Italy later in September 1943, and served in Paestum and Capua during the fall of 1943. On 27 January 1944, Fisher and the 95th Evacuation Hospital landed at Anzio Beachhead. They endured a week of near continuous air raids and artillery fire at Nattuna, before relocating to an area with other hospital units, later known as "Hell's Half Acre." Her unit suffered the loss of patients, personnel and equipment during a German air raid, but continued to function as a medical hospital. After 11 months of service in Italy, her unit was shipped to Southern France. In May 1945, Fisher and her unit were sent to temporary duty at Dachau Concentration Camp to care for survivors. Fisher retired from the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.