Beatrice Mary MacDonald was born on September 27, 1881 in Prince Edward Island, Canada. As a young woman she moved to New York City to attend New York City Hospital Nursing School. She was still living in the Big Apple when America entered World War I in 1917. August 17 of that same year found MacDonald serving as an Army Nurse in Base Hospital Number 10, British Casualty Clearing Station Number 61 in Belgium during the Battle of Passchendaele. While working on a patient, a bomb dropped from an overhead German aircraft exploded and wounded her in the right eye. 

Although this grievous wound caused her to have her eye surgically removed, MacDonald bounced right back from her wound, vowing “I’ve only started doing my bit.” She served with the Army Nurse Corps unit war’s end, then returned to New York.

After the creation of the Purple Heart, MacDonald applied for and received the first Purple Heart awarded to a female servicemember on January 4, 1936. She was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, French Croix de Guerre, British Military Medal, and British Royal Red Cross.

MacDonald rose in her civilian nursing profession to become director of the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing and passed away in 1969 at the age of 88. 


MacDonald in 1905 after completing her nurse training.

Long Island National Cemetery

From one Army Nurse to another, I honor your service. Thank you for your dedication and being the kind of nurse I aspire to be. Rest in Peace.

BEATRICE M MACDONALD

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