Hosking, Irene
Posted on 14 September, 2021 by in Veterans By Name, H
5 August 2019
This bio of Irene Hosking is written by Larry Martin from memory and notes of our DVD interview at her home in Owosso Michigan in July 2012.
Irene was born in April of 1919. She still lives in her own home in Owosso Michigan as of this date. The last time I talked to her a few months ago she had a young woman living in her home to assist her. Irene is still very active in Veteran’s affairs in her community. She has been President of her local VFW or American Legion.
Irene enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps on May 15th 1942 after completing her Registered Nursing course in February of 1940. She spent two weeks on a ship full of men going to Australia with no Naval escort. In her words she was treated very much like a lady and there was no “bad language” that she ever heard. On a less serious note she became a “shellback” when she crossed the equator, but a male Dr. friend took all of the abuse and there is a lot of abuse heaped on the men during that time when they crossed the equator. I am sure the Navy no longer allows this type of treatment since we are so politically correct anymore. It is a shame because I have had many men tell me about the experience which was nothing more than a initiation into a club. She landed in Sydney Australia. When ever she entered a room of patients she would hear one of the men holler out “Mrs. Hosking is present and she would hear it repeated until all of the men knew that there was a lady was there”. Irene told me that the men could usually take the horrible wounds but if they received a “Dear John” letter they would just turn over sob and sometimes just give up and many died.
Irene told me about a man named Red Cowan who lost both legs but wanted his buddy treated first before he “Red” was treated. Irene was married to Louis Hosking who was in the service doing ordinance work in Belguim, France and Germany. They had no contact accept letters for two yrs. Irene also knew a nurse named Marsha Gates who was a POW of the Japanese at Santo Thomos in the Philippines.
Irene spoke of the problems PTSD that she had after the war because of the horrible wounds that she had witnessed. She said she be laughing then crying uncontrollably.