WAGONER — Inez Combites Hood graduated from Wagoner High School in 1938 and began nursing school. In 1942, her life changed forever as she traveled from small town Oklahoma, first to North Africa and then to Italy.

Hood was one of two veterans addressing students and veterans attending an assembly at the Wagoner High School Performing Arts Academy on Wednesday afternoon. The other speaker was school nurse Monica Stuart, who served as a nurse at a stateside hospital during the Vietnam War.

Hood said that while she saw sites like the erupting Vesuvius volcano, and some pretty countryside during her tour of duty, the picture she painted of life during the war was not a pretty one.

Anzio Beachhead had been a farming community before the war, she told students. By the time her hospital unit arrived there, the area had taken on the name “Hell’s Half Acre.”

“And it really was that bad,” Hood said.

The hospital she worked in had been transported to the field in dozens of big trucks.

“When we first got there, the Germans were still bombing, almost day and night,” Hood said. “We had more than 3,200 patients in 30 hours.”

The surgical room had eight surgical tables that alternated with major surgeries and minor surgeries, she said. Nurses worked 12- and 18-hour days to treat the wounded.

Emily Sewell, president of the Student Council, which organized the program, said this is the third year she has participated in helping get the event together.

She said she has seen her fellow students’ appreciation of veterans grow each year as they got to know the veterans who attended.

One of those at Wednesday’s event was Howard Eubanks, who recognized Hood when she took the stage. He had known her from their high school days in Wagoner. He went there to the 10th grade and dropped out to join the service.

He said he really enjoyed seeing the students participate in a program filled with patriotic music.

Reach Liz McMahan at 918-684-2926 orClick Here to Send Email