Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Marion L. Birkhimer Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Repose (AH 16); Naval Hospital St. Albans
- Location of Service: St. Albans, New York; Oakland, California; Guam (Mariana Islands); Yokosuka, Japan, Portsmouth, Virginia; Bainbridge, Bethesda, Maryland; Vietnam; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pensacola, Florida; Naples, Italy; Corpus Christi, Texas
- Highest Rank: Captain
A registered nurse in civilian life, Marion Birkhimer decided in 1957 to join the military and wrote to the three branches of service, thinking she would enlist in whichever first replied. It was the Navy, and that began a 27-year career that included duty aboard the hospital ship U.S.S. Repose during the Vietnam War. Birkhimer was in charge of the ship’s surgical ward, dealing with casualties from action on the mainland, including the Tet Offensive. She was sensitive to the morale of her colleagues as the needs of her patients, knowing the injured would get better care from medical personnel who were feeling appreciated.
Marion L. Birkhimer Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayDifference between civilian and armed services nursing; latter is about getting the patient ready to return to duty as soon as possible. 00:03:09.6 - 00:04:28.1
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PlayVisiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the early 60s and sensing the resentment of the locals. 00:05:13.9 - 00:06:07.7
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PlayVolunteering to go to Vietnam in 1967; stationed on the hospital ship Repose; conversation with a soldier about fear; changing the way shifts were scheduled on the ship. 00:06:33.2 - 00:10:46.1
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PlayTreating the worst injuries; conversation with a soldier suffering from a severe head wound; running the surgical ward; remarking on the bravery of the men. 00:11:53.1 - 00:15:11.7
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PlayGoing to the aid of the victims of the fire on the USS Forrestal in July 1967; seeing how dejected the survivors were; holding a service for the men on their ship. 00:17:08.3 - 00:18:57.8
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PlayTaking shore leave in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Danang; going in groups; eating procedures; training younger nurses and the corpsmen. 00:25:20.6 - 00:28:33.4
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PlayDating “flyboys” they would meet while on leave; going into port was a combination of duty and leave time; alluding to hijinks of the men. 00:28:53.3 - 00:31:24.1
Transcript:
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More Resources
Marion L. Birkhimer Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayCommunicating with her family by making audio tapes; the importance of mail call; bucking up the morale of colleagues when they've received bad news from home; taking care of severely burned casualties from the Tet Offensive. 00:00:14.7 - 00:04:05.7
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PlayDecorating the nurses’ quarters on the ship; she got a letter of commendation for improving morale. 00:13:34.3 - 00:14:34.7
Transcript:
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About this Item
Title
- Marion L. Birkhimer Collection
Names
- U.S. House of Representatives/Cliff Stearns
- Birkhimer, Marion L.
- Smith, Lauren
- Cindy L. South-Scheib
- National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
- Stearns, Cliff
State of Birth
- PA
Home State
- FL
Headings
- - Birkhimer, Marion L.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Repose (AH 16); Naval Hospital St. Albans
- Location of Service: St. Albans, New York; Oakland, California; Guam (Mariana Islands); Yokosuka, Japan, Portsmouth, Virginia; Bainbridge, Bethesda, Maryland; Vietnam; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Pensacola, Florida; Naples, Italy; Corpus Christi, Texas
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1958-1985
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Audio: Microcassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 5/30/2004)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 11/7/2007)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2009)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/23458
Cite as
- Marion L. Birkhimer Collection (AFC/2001/001/23458), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Bainbridge, Bethesda, Maryland
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Guam (Mariana Islands)
- Naples, Italy
- Oakland, California
- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- Pensacola, Florida
- St. Albans, New York
- Vietnam
- Yokosuka, Japan, Portsmouth, Virginia