Eula Gentzler Papers
Collection 131
Introduction
The Eula Gentzler collection of World War II letters was donated to
the Kansas State Historical Society by Eula Gentzler, 1238 Wayne, Topeka,
Kansas, on November 10, 1978. The inclusive dates for the collection
are 1943 to 1945. There are no restrictions on its use. The biographical
information was furnished in an interview with Miss Gentzler.
Biographical Sketch
Eula Gentzler was born November 10, 1910, in Belleville, Kansas. Her
father Ernest T. Gentzler was a fireman for the Union Pacific Railroad.
The family moved to Topeka when Eula was, approximately, thirteen years
old. She graduated from Topeka High School and, later, the Asbury Hospital
School of Nursing in Salina, Kansas, in 1937. She enlisted in the U.
S. Army Nurse Corps in October, 1942. She was discharged in Octorber,
1945, but was recalled during the Korean conflict serving from 1951
to 1957.
Miss Gentzler was sent to Europe in the fall of 1943. She was assigned
to duty on the hospital ships Shamrock and Arcadia, working in surgery
as well as the wards. Both carried approximately 800 patients. The ships
carried injured servicemen from North Africa and Europe to the U. S.,
requiring six weeks to make a trip across, pick up a load of patients,
and return. When in the war zone, they would get patients during battles
and would then work extended shifts. Miss Gentzler recalled that during
the battle at Enzio, they started surgery at 1 p.m. and operated until
5 a.m. the next morning. On another occasion, they picked up a load
of British sailors whose mine sweeper had been bombed and the hospital
crew worked all night until they ran out of supplies.
Scope and Content Notes
The collection primarily consists of letters written to her parents
who lived in Topeka. They contain references to hospital ship activities,
the places she visited, and family references. She occasionally expresses
her thoughts on the war.
Additional material was added to the collection in 1987. This material
dates from 1942-1957 and deals primarily with her military service—official
correspondence, miscellaneous forms, etc. Also included are 5 issues
of a newspaper Fore and Aft published aboard the Arcadia, various certificates
and identification cards, etc. Stored separately are photographs and
two scrapbooks. The scrapbooks basically document her travel in Europe
while on leave.
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