Van Gorp, Dymphna Petronella Alphona Maria (Van Gorp)
Birth Date:
09/02/1010
Co Number:
2
Title/Rank:
Unknown
Squad:
US Navy
City, State, Zip:
Status:
Deceased 6/6/95
Remarks:
Her family is Dutch, from the Netherlands. Her father moved to Appleton, Wisconsin from Reusel, Nethlands. She was born in Appleton. Her family is Catholic, hence the long Christian name. Her accurate name is Dymphna Petronella Alphona Maria Van Gorp. She was born 2 Sept 1910 and passed away 6 Jun 1995 at the age of 84. Her father was in the Army during World War I. His name was Alphonse Adrian Van Gorp. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas and in Atlanta, Georgia during WWI. He became a Naturalized citizen of the United States in 1924. This may have influenced her to join the military at a later age.
Another interesting tidbit about her family is that when her father came over from the Netherlands his brother Simon came with him. Simon had a daughter named Betty Van Gorp. Betty married a man by the name of John Bradley, who you may know as one of the gentlemen who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. His son is James Bradley wrote the book for the movie "Flag of our Fathers", which was produced by Clint Eastwood.
Comments :
Was a public health nurse before joining the Navy in January 1943. Promptly
assigned to the Army to learn the Air Force evacuation methods; in 1944 was
qualified as a flight nurse. As Lt. Van Gorp was sent to Rio de Janeiro to teach
the nurses of the Brazilian Air Force. Next came flight duty in the US,
Newfoundland, and Panama and then in the Pacific Area, which included trips into
China in 1948 and 1949. In the Korean Conflict she became well acquainted with
the Islands along the routes to and from Japan, the Philippines and traveled
into Thailand, India and Saudi Arabia. CDR Van Gorp�?Ts final assignment was
director of nursing at St. Alban�?Ts Naval Hospital, Long Island, NY. CDR Van
Gorp received the Commendation Ribbon-AM. Campaign �?" WWII Victory Medal;
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star; Navy Occupation �?" Korean
Service �?" United Nation�?Ts Medal.
