soldiers who received medical care in the field or underwent evacuation died from wounds or disease. (10) After the war, broad public health missions required that Army and Navy nurses supervise communicable disease measures as former enemy countries were reorganized. In Hiroshima, these officers cared for victims of the atomic bombs. In Munich, they prevented mass epidemic in refugee camps. Army and Navy nurses even provided prenatal, infant, and mental health care in other former-enemy territories. (11) Nurses received 1,619 medals, citations, and commendations during the war, reflecting the courage and dedication of all who served. Sixteen medals were awarded posthumously to nurses who died as a result of enemy fire, including 6 nurses who died at Anzio, 6 who died when the hospital ship Comfort was attacked by a Japanese suicide plane, and 4 flight nurses. Thirteen other flight nurses died in weather-related crashes while on duty. (12) In 1944, Congress passed a bill that granted Army and Navy Nurses actual military rank and benefits, approved for the duration of the war plus 6 months. (13) In 1947, Congress passed legislation establishing a permanent Army and Navy Nursing Corps and gave members permanent officer status with equal pay and the same benefits as those given to male officers. (14) In 1948, all military branches were integrated and female doctors were finally admitted to the Army Medical Corps. (15) Although African-American nurses were fully qualified and prepared to serve as nurses at the onset of World War II, racial segregation and discrimination made it difficult for Black women to join the ranks of the Army Nurse Corps. (16) As the Army Nurse Corps began expanding its recruiting process, thousands of Black nurses who wanted to serve their country filled out applications. (17) While the Army did eventually integrate African-American nurses in 1941, it did so unwillingly and placed a quota on the number of African-American nurses that they would accept, capping the number allowed to join at