Military Monday- Army Nurse

Kathryn Yiensena Bough was born on March 18, 1909 to Harold Bough of St. Croix, a retired Wardroom Steward of the US Navy, and Maggie Keeling of Virginia, a retired Teacher, in the Public School System.   Kathryn was the 4^th of seven sisters (known as the Bough girls in Portsmouth Virginia).

Kathryn, a Registered Nurse, graduated from Lincoln School of Nursing in 1934.  She also did some studies at Columbia University.  Before joining the Army Nurse Corp. where she attained the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant, she served as Head Nurse at Harlem Hospital, New York City.

She joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1942 and was one of 12 African-American Nurses during WWII to serve at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.  Because of segregation, the Tuskegee Airmen could not use the White Medical Facilities.  As a result, the nurses had to provide most of their medical services in the colored facilities.

2^nd Lieut. Kathryn Bough worked along with Head Nurse Lt. Della Rainey as her second in charge.  Kathryn along with four other nurses started the operating room services used by the Airmen at Tuskegee, Al.  It was said that Kathryn might have been a doctor had it not been for her race and gender.

In 1943, Kathryn Bough married Tuskegee Airman, Edward Kingston Nichols Jr. who was an Attorney and Pastor.  Edward‘s father was AME Church Pastor Edward K. Nichols Sr.   His mother, Laura Drake Nichols, was a Social worker.  Kathryn and Edward Nichols had a daughter, Charlotte Nichols.  The couple settled in Philadelphia PA., but subsequently divorced.  Kathryn returned to her home in Portsmouth, VA, and served as head nurse on the ob-gyn ward at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital from which she retired in 1970.

During the 90’s, while on a cruise she had the opportunity to visit her father’s birth-place (St. Croix) unaware that she had a host of relatives that she was connected to on the island.

Kathryn Y. Bough-Nichols lived to the ripe age of 95 when she died in Philadelphia, PA.  Her year book with pictures of all the Tuskegee Airmen and Nurses was donated to the Military Museum in Norfolk Virginia.

This connection began with a 1932 St. Croix Avis Newspaper Article that was given to me from Veronica “Ronnie” Phillips Researcher/Family Historian in the Virgin Islands.   Further research led to discovering the life of my 3^nd Great Uncle,  Harold Bough, (written in an August post)  and the lives of his seven daughters, with an eventual connection to a living relative, Charlotte Nichols.  She is the  grand-daughter of Harold Bough, and daughter of my subject Army Nurse Kathryn.  

From an email address to a phone call to Charlotte, as I waited to hear her voice as I began to tell her about my journey  The love and warmth that was poured out to me for my effort broke down all fears.  As I shared with her the story of her grandfather and other relatives in St. Croix through my research, she gave me the story of her mother Kathryn, the Tuskegee Army Nurse.  It was so wholesome, so real that I am forever inspired to continue telling  our stories.  I make mention of the other sources that assisted me with research, and contacts; whereas I’m able to sort and shape this narrative as well as get a better picture of this prominent, yet humble family in Portsmouth VA

Source:

1.             Charlotte Nichols (daughter of Kathryn Bough Nichols)

2.             “Inscriptions of Triumph” by Mae Breckenridge    Haywood – Retired Librarian, President, African-American Historical Society of Portsmouth, INC

3.            Christina L. Carlton, Fisher Hill Website, researcher/Manager

4.             The Afro America, August, 1943