CPT Bernice Lorraine Whiteside Oral History

title:

CPT Bernice Lorraine Whiteside Oral History

creator:

Whiteside, Bernice Lorraine (Mitchell) (1943 December 11 -

subject:

Army Nurse Corps

description:

Bernice Mitchell Whiteside was born on December 11, 1943 in Newport News, Virginia, where she grew up with her mother, older sister, grandparents, and later her stepfather. Her father lived with them in Newport News and worked at the shipyard before enlisting in the Army, and when he returned to the United States after two years in the South Pacific, he did not return to his family or Newport News. Although she didn't think of it at the time, looking back Bernice believes it was a result of PTSD from his service. She grew up on her grandparents' farm, and they taught her and her older sister how to grow and make everything they might need, just in case something like the Great Depression were to happen again. Her stepfather, who she called Dad, also served in World War II, although he never talked about his service. She only found out after he'd passed that he had been part of five distinct battle campaigns in Algeria, Italy, France, Rhineland (now Germany), and Central Europe. While several other members of her family served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, they discouraged her from joining the military herself. She attended North Carolina Agriculture and Technical College to become a nurse, and in her third year there she signed up for the military student nurse program. She graduated with a Bachelors in nursing in 1966, and by that August she had been sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas to go through Basic Medical Field Service School. She then spent a year at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center before being sent to Vietnam, which surprised her since the recruiter had told her only nurses who requested to would end up going there. She made it to the 3rd Field Hospital about a mile from the Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in August of 1967, where she served for a year. She remembers treating her first traumatic above-the-knee amputation there, a kid who she found out had lied about how old he was just so he could sign up for the Army. She reassured him that he would be all right, but decided from then on to stop looking in patients' eyes. In January 1968 the Tet Offensive began, and she was woken up and rushed to the hospital with everyone else that night. While inserting IVs in the dark she heard a nurse next to her scream and tried to go towards her but was pushed away and told she'd just fainted. After 27 years, she found out that nurse had been shot and seriously wounded, and believes whoever pushed her inside saved her life that night. Eleven months after arriving in Vietnam, Bernice fell ill, running a 105-degree fever and getting diagnosed with a Fever of Unknown Origin. She came in and out of consciousness for 18 days with this fever, and was sent home. Her mother was relieved she'd survived and didn't want to talk about her service, but her stepfather was proud of her service and would take her out and tell her to wear her uniform. After her year in Vietnam, she served at the Kenner Army Hospital at Fort Lee until 1969 and left the service upon completing her tour there. She worked at the DOD as a Civilian School Nurse in Stuttgart, West Germany from 1973 to 1975, then returned to school at the University of the District of Columbia, graduating with a Masters in mental health administration. She returned to the Army as a Captain in 1978 an served at the Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia until 1981 when she left the Army again. For her service, Bernice was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with a bronze star, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. No transcript of this interview is currently available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Scott, Kate M.

date:

2004-03-11

type:

Audio

format:

CD

identifier:

993; 2004.993

source:

OHP

language:

English

relation:

000876

coverage:

Vietnam War (1964-1975) | 1960s | 1970s | 1966-1975, 1978-1981

rights:

Unrestricted