A Soldier's Story: Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Redmond Hipps

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Redmond Hipps was born July 1, 1912, in Swansea, South Carolina.  She received her nurse's training from the South Carolina State Hospital. Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Hipps entered the Army Nurses Corps in 1936 and was initially stationed at the Hot Springs Army Hospital.

She was transferred to Manilla and was in the Philippines when World War II erupted. She served in the hospitals at Bataan and Corregidor, being one of only eight nurses that managed to escape before the surrender of Corregidor.

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Redmond Hipps assisted in establishing the US Air Corps Flight Nurse Program.

For her actions during WWII, she received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and three Presidential Unit Citations.

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Hipps wrote about her experiences in her book "I Served on Bataan," which was later used as the basis for the movie "So Proudly We Hail."

She married retired General William Hipps, and their son William Jr. was born in 1949.

After her retirement, she kept herself busy as a member of the St. Petersburg Women's Club, Welcome Wagon Club, Suncoast Auxiliary of Goodwill, and the Retired Officer's Club.

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Redmond Hipps died on Feb 25, 1979, and is buried in Arlington Cemetery.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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