[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S12152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING MARY JOSEPHINE OBERST

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the life of a 
Kentucky heroine, Ms. Mary Josephine Oberst of Owensboro. Ms. Oberst 
passed away on November 13, 2009, at the age of 95. A native 
Kentuckian, she proudly served her country as a member of the Army 
Nurse Corps beginning in 1937. In July 1941, Ms. Oberst was sent to the 
Philippines, and in early May the following year, when Bataan and 
Corregidor fell to the Japanese during the Battle of the Philippines, 
more than 60 nurses, including Ms. Oberst, were taken as prisoners of 
war, POWs, by the Japanese. These nurses, later christened the ``Angels 
of Bataan,'' were held as POWs for 33 months. During this time, Ms. 
Oberst continued her duties as a nurse, caring for fellow prisoners, 
even though she herself suffered from malaria and significant weight 
loss. In early February 1945, the 44th Tank Battalion rescued the POWs 
who were later brought back to the United States.
  After overcoming the medical conditions which resulted from her 
imprisonment, Ms. Oberst was appointed captain and continued to serve 
as a member of the Army Nurse Corps. She worked in hospitals in 
Louisville, KY; Fort Knox, KY; and Ashford, WV, until her retirement 
from the Corps in 1947. Ms. Oberst was honored for her duty with 
several military service awards, including the Bronze Star Medal. Mary 
Josephine Oberst was a woman of high character, who faithfully served 
our country. Today, I wish to honor her life and her service, as well 
as give my condolences to her family for their loss.

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