Beatrice Mary MacDonald, ARRC (September 27, 1881 – September 4, 1969) was a Canadian-born American nurse who served in the United States Army Nurse Corps during World War I. On January 4, 1936, she received a Purple Heart for combat wounds during World War I, making her (retroactively) the first woman to receive the award.[1][2] MacDonald was also one of four women to receive the United States Distinguished Service Cross for her heroism during World War I.[3][4] Other awards for her heroism included the French Croix de Guerre (Bronze), the British Military Medal for gallantry, the British Royal Red Cross (Second Class) medal, and the United States Distinguished Service Medal.[4][5][6]
MacDonald was born in the North Bedeque community on Prince Edward Island in Canada.[7] She relocated to New York City to further her education and graduated from New York City Hospital Nursing School.[1][3][7]
MacDonald was living in New York City during the outbreak of World War I.[1][3] In 1915, she volunteered for the American Ambulance Service and went to the American Hospital of Paris for a short stint.[8] After returning to the United States, she went to work for the New York surgeon George Emerson Brewer as an office manager.[7][8]
MacDonald enlisted in the United States Army Nurse Corps in 1917 with a unit from Presbyterian Hospital.[3][4] She served in France at the British Casualty Clearing Station No. 61.[4] On August 17, 1917, MacDonald was injured during a German air raid on the front line during the Third Battle of Ypres.[4]
MacDonald received the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States Congress on February 27, 1919, making her the first woman to receive the award and one of only three women during World War I.[5][9] Other awards at the time for her heroism included the French Croix de Guerre (Bronze), the British Military Medal for gallantry, the British Royal Red Cross (Second Class) medal, and the United States Distinguished Service Medal.[4][5][6]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Reserve Nurse Beatrice Mary MacDonald, United States Army Nurse Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Nurse Corps, A.E.F. (Attached), while on duty with the surgical team at the British Casualty Clearing Station No. 61, British Area, 17 August 1917. During a German night air raid Nurse MacDonald continued at her post of duty, caring for the sick and wounded until seriously wounded by a German bomb, thereby losing one eye.
After General Douglas MacArthur created the Purple Heart for combat wounds, MacDonald applied for and received the first Purple Heart awarded to a woman, on January 4, 1936.[1][2] By both her date of injury and her award date, she is the first woman to be awarded a Purple Heart.[10]
