Eula Gentzler was born November 10, 1910 in Belleville (Republic County), Kansas. Her father, Ernest T. Gentzler was a fireman for the Union Pacific Railroad. When Eula was about 13, the family moved to Topeka, Kansas. She graduated from Topeka High School and later the Asbury Hospital School of Nursing in Salina (Saline County), Kansas in 1937. Eula enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in October of 1942, and served until October 1945. She was recalled during the Korean Conflict and served from 1951 to 1957. Eula went to Europe in the fall of 1943 and was assigned to the hospital ships Shamrock and Arcadia where she worked in the wards and surgery. Both ships carried about 800 patients. The ships transported injured servicemen from North Africa and Europe to the United States, a trip requiring six weeks. Extended shifts were worked when the ships picked up servicemen during battles.
From the description of Eula Gentzler papers, 1942-1957 bulk (1943-1945). (Kansas State Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 49632346
