Town of Carlton, World War l. and Student Nurse Anna Mae Kocmich

At 21 years old, Anna Mae Kocmich made history in Kewaunee County. That was over 100 years ago. Although  her life was so short, she made an impact, doing what no other County woman did. Until that time.

It was World War l, a time when the Spanish Influenza was encircling the globe as is COVID 19 just over 100 years later. When Anna Mae died at Camp Greenleaf at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, on January 19, 1919, she died of that flu, Kewaunee County’s lone woman giving her life for the War effort. At the time, Anna Mae was the county’s only woman to enter government service, a mere eight weeks before her death.

During September 1918, articles outlining the need for more nurses appeared in the newspapers. The requested applicants weren’t young single women, but rather the wives of soldiers who had been sent abroad. Accepted women were required to be  between 21 and 40, of good moral character and in good physical condition. Open to the women was serving as a hospital assistant, aiding nurses in work that did not require training beyond a six-week course in first aid, hygiene, and dietetics if the woman had not earlier completed Red Cross courses.

The hospital assistants were sent to military hospitals where time between convalescence and recovery was expected to be lengthy. It was said that every invalid soldier would be given full share of the attention necessary to meet his needs. Single women were considered as assistants only if they were under 35. It was felt women whose husbands were overseas were “free” to give such service. 

Between 1917 and 1919, the Red Cross recruited about 22,000 nurses, 10,000 of whom served on the Western Front. Initially, those in authority wanted to keep women away from the Front, but when it was realized how many more men could be saved with nursing, that changed, and the Student Nurse Reserve Corps was born. In late November 1918, the U.S. was looking for applications to the new Student Nurse Reserve.

At the Armistice, it was felt the women nurses would no longer be needed, but as the wounded returned and the pandemic had not abated, the women nurses remained in demand. At the call for Student Nurses, Anna Mae Kocmich wanted to serve and volunteered. Six other county women volunteered, however Anna Mae was the first to be called.

By August 10^th, the county had enrolled 6 of the 10 of the quota to be met on August 11. Kewaunee’s Vera Lockwood, in September 1918, was the first County resident to enroll as an Army nurse. Vera had graduated from Two Rivers high school and was employed by Dr. W.M. Wochos in Kewaunee. She was followed by Hannah Cadigan* of Casco, Clara Koller and Anna Mae Kocmich of Carlton and Lucille Wodsedalek** of Algoma. After Mary Shestock’s enrollment was accepted, there were no more eligible volunteers. It was said that exacting standards made finding qualified women difficult. It was further said that women saw Army hospitals as being more honorable places to serve. That too affected recruitment.

There was a quota system, and only half – 723 - of Wisconsin’s original 1,500-quota had been met. One problem was the high educational standards met by only three states. Applicants were expected to have at least 2 years of high school and could choose between civilian and Army training. If women  nursing programs operated by religious groups, that preference was considered. Women accepted to a program were promised government-paid transportation and when she was ordered to report, she was sent orders and a Pullman car ticket. Expenses enroute were refunded to her.

Anna Mae Kocmich was born in the Town of West Kewaunee on June 2, 1897 and grew up in Carlton. After attending rural school in Carlton and graduating from Kewaunee High School in 1915, Anna Mae attended Oshkosh Normal School for a year and began to teach at Wayside School, District #4 in Carlton. The Enterprise said she was an excellent teacher whose services were in demand.

At her death, a military escort was provided to act as an honor guard, and following Anna Mae’s funeral  at her parents’ Carlton home, internment was in Forest Hill Cemetery. The esteem in which Anna Mae was held was evident in the number of those whose friendship she made at Oshkosh Normal School. The women came from around Wisconsin. Her high school classmates told of her high qualities, strong character and the happy disposition that was most endearing. A week after Anna Mae’s funeral, the paper said the greater part of the pupils in the school district in Carlton attended the funeral, contributing flowers as an outpouring of sympathy.

During the following August, the Enterprise ran a list of Kewaunee County servicemen who gave their lives. Some were killed on the battlefield while others died of the pandemic either abroad or in camp. The very bottom of the article says, “and Anna Mae Kocmich, Army Nurse.” County Clerk Joseph G. Lazansky said in each case a 10-karat star Honor Medal would be awarded to the next of kin.

Anna Mae was survived by her brothers who apparently named their daughters after their sister. The name Anna Mae Kocmich shows up in Kewaunee County for many years following her death.

*Cadigan, as Anna Mae, attended Door-Kewaunee County Training School in Algoma. The school became Door-Kewaunee County Teachers’ College which closed in 1970. The City of Algoma purchased the buildings which now served as Algoma Public Library and the municipal offices.

**Wodsedalek volunteered to nurse Influenza patients and continued nursing after the war.

Sources: Algoma Record Herald; Kewaunee Enterprise; An Honor Roll: Containing a Pictorial  Record of the Gallant and Courageous. Photos: Find a Grave, nurse poster is online.