Mary Eleanor Price Collection

A graduate of the Georgetown University Nursing School in 1938, Mary Price served briefly with the American Red Cross before she was recruited and sent for training as a nurse in the U.S. Navy in 1939. Her distinguished career as a naval commander extended from 1939 until retirement in 1971. During that time she served two tours of duty to the Panama Canal Zone; and then Japan, at the end of World War II, as a nurse aboard the USS Benevolence which had the primary mission of retrieving American POWs. Price was also stationed in Japan during the Korean War; and later at Subic Bay, Philippines.

After retirement, Price settled in San Clemente, California. She maintained her nursing license and continued to work for American Red Cross as a volunteer. Price’s training included a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles; and a Master of Science in Hospital Administration from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Her distinguished service decorations include the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the Navy Unit Citation with Combat “V”. Her combined travel experiences as a nurse and in retirement included 104 countries, of which she stated, “I have like them all. They were all very friendly. If you’re nice to people, they’re nice to you.” Price died at age 90 on October 6, 2003, in San Clemente.