Date With History
Visitors Center
Tuesday, November 15
7:00 PM CDT
Hybrid program – view in person or online!
In person: Free event with paid parking.
Virtual: Free event registration required.
About Date with History
Our Date with History series, now in its 15th year, features presentations by authors, historians, documentarians, and veterans on a variety of military history topics. Visit Cantigny or attend online to connect with these experts in a lecture and Q&A format.
Following the Nurses of the 128th Evacuation Hospital
November 8, 1942, during Operation Torch, women disembarked from military boats and slogged up the beaches of North Africa under machine gun fire. These women were the core of the 48th Surgical Hospital, a unit that supported the frontline US soldiers with major surgical interventions and medical aid. Sixty women, with almost no military training and no weapons, maintained the pace and lifestyle of a renowned infantry unit during WWII. The nurses earned medals, respect, and overseas stripes alongside some of the most decorated men in history. Telling their story serves to enrich all the other histories we know and honors their sacrifice and commitment to the Army Nurse Corps.
MEET THE SPEAKER: Jessica Waszak is the Museum Specialist at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL. Jessica earned her graduate degree in History from Roosevelt University. After transitioning into the museum field from practicing emergency paramedicine full-time, Jessica started as a volunteer and has since been promoted to her current position. She is tasked with supporting the Collections Department and helping develop and implement exhibits, including “Nuremburg, Nazi Germany on Trial”, and “The Mexican American Military Experience.” Outside of the museum, Jessica has participated in panels for the Smithsonian, ”Towards a More Inclusive Women’s Military History”, 2018, and the Society for Military History’s annual conference.
Are you a teacher?
Illinois teachers can earn 1 PD credit for watching the presentation and completing a short PD activity.
Step 1: Register for the webinar above.
Step 2: Register to be on the teacher list for the PD activity and ISBE forms.
This program includes built-in closed captioning through Zoom.