The Nurse Who Stayed Behind at Pearl Harbor

When the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Navy Nurse Lieutenant Ann Bernice 'Bernie' O'Hara was on duty at the Naval Hospital. She immediately began treating the wounded — soldiers with shrapnel wounds, severe burns, and traumatic injuries. She worked for 18 continuous hours without rest. O'Hara was later the first Navy nurse to serve in the war zone in the Pacific, setting up a hospital behind the lines in Bataan while under Japanese bombardment. She was captured when Bataan fell, spent time in a POW camp, and was one of the lucky few to be repatriated in a prisoner exchange. She was awarded the Legion of Merit and continued serving in the Navy until retirement.