Their Story
Rosedith “Rosie” (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins was born on March 11, 1919, to Richard J. and Christina Van Hoorebeck.[1] She attended St. Joseph’s Parochial High School in Rock Island, Illinois, where she played piano and participated in theater.[2] She then attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Davenport, Iowa, receiving her first year cap in 1938.[3] She graduated in 1940.[4] After working on the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Centerville, Iowa, she enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1942.
She married Corporal Clifford A. Hawkins on October 4, 1943, while stationed as an Army Nurse at LaGarde General Hospital in New Orleans. Louisiana.[5]
Hawkins served as a nurse in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands during World War II, from 1944-1946. She earned the rank of First Lieutenant.[6] Nurses entered service as a second lieutenant, the vast majority remained at that rank.[7] Hawkins’ promotion to the rank of First Lieutenant usually signifies chief nurse of a hospital.
By 1945, there were more than 57,000 Army nurses – this is the largest number of nurses on active duty in history.[8] They were assigned to hospital ships and trains; flying ambulances; and field, evacuation, station, and general hospitals, assisting in developing recovery wards for immediate postoperative nursing care.
Hawkins retired as a registered nurse after 20 years at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, eventually taking up residence in Eddyville, Kentucky. She passed away on April 20, 2011, at the age of 92, in Kentucky.[9] Her husband preceded her in death, she was survived by her son, grandson and two great-grandchildren. Hawkins was interred at the National Cemetery at Rock Island Arsenal on May 4, 2011.
Rosedith “Rosie” VanHoorebeck Hawkins (1919-2011) – Find a Grave Memorial
[1] 01 May 2011, 8 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com
[2] 19 Mar 1934, 8 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[3] 18 Jan 1938, 5 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[4] 31 Jan 1945, 20 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[5] 09 Oct 1943, 8 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com
[6] 01 May 2011, 8 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com
[7] The Army Nurse Corps | WW2 US Medical Research Centre (med-dept.com)
[8] The Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) > History > 1940-1950 (e-anca.org)
[9] Rosedith “Rosie” VanHoorebeck Hawkins (1919-2011) – Find a Grave Memorial
References
REFERENCES
23 students of Mercy Hospital are given caps. (1938, January 18). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Army nurses in World War II. Odrowski, J. (2021, March 08) Buffalowallow.com. Accessed July 2022.
Capping service marks day at the Mercy Hospital. (1938, January 18). Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
City Briefs. (1940, November 26). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Highlights in the history of the Army Nurse Corps, 1940-1950. Army Nurse Corps Association. Accessed July 2022.
Lt. Rosedith Hawkins receives promotion in Army Nurse Corps. (1945, January 31). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ Hawkins, obituary. (2011, May 01). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ Hawkins, obituary. (2011, May 01). The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins. FindAGrave.com. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins. (1933, May 04). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins. (1937, April 21). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins. (1934, March 19). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins. (1930, May 23). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ (Van Hoorebeck) Hawkins. (1933, May 01). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ Van Hoorebeck, Clifford A. Hawkins. (1943, October 09). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Rosedith ‘Rosie’ Van Hoorebeck, Clifford A. Hawkins. (1943, October 09). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
The Army Nurse Corps. WW2 US Medical Research Centre. Accessed July 2022.
Three schools plan program for graduates; Pupils in parochial classes of Rock Island will be given diplomas. (1932, June 02). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
World War II nurses. Encyclopedia.com. Accessed July 2022.