Blog
In Honor of Women’s History Month . . .
a tribute to a U. S. Army nurse caring for sick Marines who fought on Guadalcanal. In honor of Women's History Month, I've written a tribute to my great aunt, Ila Armsbury, a U. S. Army nurse assigned to the 155th Station Hospital at Camp Cable in Queensland,...
February is Black History Month
February is Black History Month. As you know, if you've read any of my past blogs, I focus primarily on topics related to America's wars. If you go to the link provided here, https://cindyentriken.com/2013/10/finding-a-treasure-trove/, you can read my first blog post...
Christmas 2020
Merry Christmas from my family to yours This photo was taken on Christmas Eve, 1949, in my grandmother's living room in Lincoln, Kansas. Front Row, left to right: my great aunt, Ila (Armsbury) Herman; my grandfather, Nolan Farrington; my great grandmother, Florence...
Veterans’ Day, 2020 — Ila’s War is for sale
photo by Jim Hammer This Veterans' Day, 2020, is special for many reasons. Today we are recognizing and celebrating the contribution of America's veterans, and we're also celebrating the release of my book, Ila's War. Yea!!! In the Beginning Twelve years ago I...
Day 1 countdown for Ila’s War
For my Day 1 countdown, I thought I'd share some of Ila's poetry with you -- poems that were sprinkled throughout my cache of letters. I hope you enjoy reading them. Nick Fewings, Bournemouth, UK The poem below is the only one that was not part of the cache of...
Day 2 countdown for Ila’s War
Espionage in World War II Before and during WWII, every thinking adult worried about espionage. Was that reclusive man down the street a spy? What about the fisherman who spent his days down at the docks? Was he fishing or was he really taking soundings and relaying...
Day 3 countdown for Ila’s War
Although Ila Armsbury dreamed of traveling the world she didn't have any particular destination in mind. But when she landed in Australia as a member of the U. S. Army, 155th Station Hospital, in June of 1942 she was thrilled. For all the similarities of life between...
Day 4 countdown for Ila’s War
After two long years of grueling work teaching medical residents and helping deliver babies in the Kansas City slums, Ila Armsbury was exhausted. She was ready for a change and some rest. She'd received two letters from the Red Cross suggesting that she join the Army...
Day 5 countdown for Ila’s War
Ila graduated from the three-year nursing program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine on June 7, 1937. A few weeks prior to her graduation she wrote the folks with big news: I received the honor of the next post graduate course in Obstetrics here! It's...
Day 6 countdown for Ila’s War
In February or March of 1935, Ila wrote her parents to tell them about the big excitement . . . a fire on the 6th floor of Hinch Hall where she lived. If you look closely at the postcard image below you can see her notation for the location of her room between two...