Ruth M Gardiner ★ World War II Gold Star Veteran from Indiana
On July 27, 1943 Second Lieutenant Gardiner was declared a casualty of World War II. ★ She served with honor in the United States Army. ★ She is remembered by the people of Indiana. ★ May her positive example inspire us. Working together towards peace, mutual respect, and equality for all.
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Click to Submit Update Request for this Fallen Service Member▼ Content Integrity Note
Our displayed data concerning the life and military history of Ruth M Gardiner is a work in progress. We've assembled a list of elements we are in the process of researching and reviewing. This profile was last edited on 2018-06-16 15:07:55.
Missing : Core Data
· Middle name· Birth date
· Service number
· Enlistment type
· Date of tour or service
Missing : Supplemental Data
· Marriage history· Parents, family history
· Expanded references and citations
Service Details
| This Profile ID | 550929 |
| Name | Ruth M Gardiner |
| From | Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana |
| Casualty Date | July 27, 1943 |
| War | World War II |
| Service Branch | Army |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Specialty | Nurse |
| Unit/Group | 349th Air Evacuation Group, 805th Medical Squadron |
| Casualty Type | Died non-battle, air crash |
| Location | Naknek, Alaska |
| Burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Notable Awards |
★ Purple Heart |
| Remembered | 
Ruth M Gardiner is buried or memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery. This is a National American Cemetery administered through the Department of the Army. |
Additional Details
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She moved to the United States with her family when she was three years old. Gardiner attended Sacred Heart High School in Indianapolis.A graduate of the first organized course for flight nurses of the 349th Air Evacuation Group, Bowman Field, Kentucky, Lieutenant Gardiner served in the Alaskan Theater of Operations with Flight A of the 805th Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron. She was the first Army nurse to be killed in a theater of operations during World War II when an aircraft on which she was a passenger crashed in July 1943, near Naknek, Alaska, while on an air evacuation mission. Gardiner General Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, was so named in her honor. |
Commendations + Awards
Please note this might not be a complete or completely accurate accounting. For some awards we use probability factors based on known service details. Thanks for your understanding.
★ World War II Victory Medal
★ Purple Heart
★ Nurse Corps Badge
★ American Campaign Medal
★ Army Presidential Unit Citation
★ Army Good Conduct Medal
Indiana Gold Star Veterans Gallery
Honoring the men and women of Indiana who gave their all for their country. May their example of courage and sacrifice be our guide. To be strong and responsible in our lives as citizens of the world. Through honest daily actions, we honor them.
▼ Indiana was home to over 13,307 American Gold Star veterans from 4 wars of the 20th Century. Some significant statistics:
• 1,625 World War I
• 9,225 World War II
• 925 Korean War
• 1,531 Vietnam War
• 212 Prisoners of war
• 2,036 Missing in action
• 56 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 134 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 6 Medal of Honor recipients
• 9,225 World War II
• 925 Korean War
• 1,531 Vietnam War
• 212 Prisoners of war
• 2,036 Missing in action
• 56 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 134 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 6 Medal of Honor recipients
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