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Start of World War II
Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 drove Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of World War II. -
Early 1941
American Red Cross Nurse Aide Corps began. Volunteers for this wartime home front program pledged 150 hours or more annually for non-technical nursing at stateside military and civilian hospitals. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Three days later, after Germany and Italy declared war on it, the United States became fully engaged in the Second World War. -
Medical Funding
Federal Training funds for nurses ($3 million) approved -
The Bolton Act
The Bolton Act passed making legislation to establish free training for nurses and created the Cadet Nurse Corps of the Public Health Service. -
Public Law 74
The Bolton Act became effective as Public Law 74.
-1,125 out of 1,300 nursing schools participated in CNC.
-179,000 Cadet Nurse Corp enrolled
-165,000 Volunteer Nurse Aides trained through the American Red Cross -
The End of World War II
On September 2, World War II ended when U.S. General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's formal surrender aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay along with a flotilla of more than 250 Allied warships -
Cadet Nurse Corps ended
Nearly 124,065 nurses served honorably, providing health care for service members and civilians during World War II and post-war reconstruction.