Augusta Chiwy
Nurse who tended to American GIs and other casualties in the encircled town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
Born in the Belgian Congo, nurse Augusta Chiwy was visiting Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944 when she volunteered to help at an American aid station. For years, it was mistakenly thought that she died when the Germans bombed Bastogne on Christmas Eve. So, it was quite a pleasant surprise when British author/military historian Martin King decided to research her story–and found her alive in a Belgium nursing home.
2011 was a big year for her. In June, King Albert II of Belgium made her a Knight of the Order Of The Crown; she became Lady Augusta Chiwy. The US Army awarded her the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service in December.
Learn more about Lady Augusta Chiwy: African nurse saved GIs at Battle of Bulge | Belgian Nurse Honored For WWII Bravery
See her describe the Christmas Eve bombing.
How I found out: I was reading Um So Why Am I Supposed to go See “Red Tails”? Are There Any Black Women in this Movie? at What About Our Daughters and someone mentioned Lady Augusta Chiwy in the comments.
Tawanna Sullivan 