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COL Paula K. Underwood, USA MC Ret. Interview Part 1
Publication date: 11 December 2025
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title:
COL Paula K. Underwood, USA MC Ret. Interview Part 1
creator:
Underwood, Paula Kay (1951 October 23 -
subject:
Army Medical Corps
description:
Part 1 of 2. Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Consent, bio. Transcript. Went to college and majored in pre-med, worked as a stewardess after graduating because she was burnt out on studying. Trained as a nurse in England, then went to midwifery training because she didn't actually have a work permit to work as a nurse. Came back to the US to go to med school, but couldn't afford it. Initially applied with the Navy but they didn't accept her, applied with the Army instead. Went into preventive medicine residency after done with studying. First assignment was as Chief of Preventive Medicine at the 98th General Hospital in Nurmeberg. She was also a professional filler for 1st Armored Division, so if they deployed she would too. Kuwait was invaded soon after, so that's what happened in November 1990. She had to leave behind her husband and 2.5 year old daughter, not knowing if or when she'd come home. Started in Saudi Arabia, then followed artillery into Iraq when the ground war started. Her job from a public health perspective was to provide guidance on preventive health measures, ensuring places were safe and clean, and that there were safe resources (water, insect control, etc.) for troops and POWs. Deployed in December, returned to Germany in May 1991.
publisher:
Military Women's Memorial Foundation
contributor:
Bellafaire, Judy
date:
2006-02-17
type:
Audio
format:
Cassette
identifier:
950.01; 2006.950
source:
OHP
language:
English
relation:
264574
coverage:
1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991) | 1984-2014 | 2020-2022
rights:
Unrestricted