Cerro Gordo County

Lt. Margaret L. Snopek

 

 

OFF TO THE WARS -- With women taking an increasingly important role in the war, none are more important to victory than the army and navy nurses. Pictured are three Mason City nurses who left Friday for Bowman field, Louisville, Ky., to report for duty as second lieutenants in the army air corps. They are graduates of the Mercy hospital school of nursing. Miss Mary Sloan is from Corwith and the other two are Mason Cityans; Miss Anastasia Nelson, 119 Fifth street southwest, and Miss Margaret Snopek, 123 Carolina avenue southeast.

Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, January 22, 1943 (photo included)

[Excerpt]

When the army nurses first went to the Waycross hospital they found a little pioneering in order, since only one nurse preceded them and it was necessary for them to open the wards and prepare the equipment to receive their soldier patients.

The Waycross [Ga] hospital is small, having only four wards. Four Mason City nurses are stationed there, Lieutenant Anastasia Nelson, Lt. Mary Virginia Sloan, Lt. Ruth Genevieve Payne and Lt. Margaret Snopek.

Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, July 9, 1943

Mason City Nurse Works with Wounded

A U.S. Army General Hospital, England -- As wounded combat men return from the battle fields of Europe to a United States Army general hospital in England, 2nd Lt. Margaret L. Snopek, of Mason City, Iowa, brings comfort and treatment to those patients back from surgery in her 30-bed ward.

Lt. Snopek gives medications such as penicillin and sulfa drugs which help speed recovery. Intravenous and intramuscular injections are administered by her.

In civil life, Lt. Snopek worked at the Saint Jospeh Mercy hospital in Mason City, where she took her training.

She received received her commission in January of 1943. She has received nursing training at Bowman Station Hospital, Ky., Waycross Hospital, Ga., and Drewfield station hospital, Fla. At Fort Jackson, S.Car., she joined her present unit to prepare for overseas duty.

She is the daughter of Mr. E.J. Snopek, of 20 1/2 First N.W., Mason City.

Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, October 28, 1944