Ellen Ainsworth, a 24-year-old Army nurse from Glenwood City, Wisconsin, was killed during the Battle of Anzio in Italy. She was the only Wisconsin woman to die from enemy fire during World War II. On February 10, 1944, Lieutenant Ainsworth was on duty in a hospital ward near the Anzio beachhead. During an enemy artillery bombardment, a shell hit the hospital. Despite the severe damage to the hospital, the Wisconsin nurse calmly moved her patients to safety. According to an Army report: "by her disregard for her own safety and her calm assurance she instilled confidence in her assistants and her patients, thereby preventing serious panic and injury. Her courage under fire and her selfless devotion to duty were an inspiration to all who witnessed her actions." She was wounded in the attack and died six days later. She was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for bravery, and the Purple Heart. In her honor, a nursing care building at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King is named Ainsworth Hall. A dispensary at Fort Hamilton, New York, and a conference room in the Pentagon also are named in her honor.
Ellen G. Ainsworth Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Service # N-732770 56th Evacuation Hospital Entered the Service from: Wisconsin Died: 16-Feb-44 Buried at: Plot C Row 11 Grave 22 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Nettuno, Italy Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster http://www.abmc.gov/search/detailwwnew.php
