Oral History Interview with Helen Gurkow

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Today’s date is May 2, 1995. This is Mark Van Ells, Archivist, Wisconsin Veterans Museum

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses her early life and how she got into the field of medicine. She also discusses being a woman in the professional field during the 1950's and 1960's.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Interesting. Going back to the military, as a doctor in the, was it National Guard or Reserve?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses joining the National Guard, and working in the 13th Evac Hospital unit and the 147th Aviation Attack Helicopter Unit. She discusses the training she undertook to become a flight surgeon.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: At the time the Gulf War broke out, do you recall where you were, what you were doing and all that sort of thing?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses being called up for active duty in late 1990.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: If you would describe for me your transportation overseas from the 13th to Saudi Arabia. How did you get from where to where and--

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses her deployment to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and the Scud missile attacks against the city.

Partial Transcript: Gurkow: And this is the time we started taking Prostigmine.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow continues her discussion of the Scud missile attacks and taking Prostigmine, an "anti-nerve gas pill."

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: And if you would, describe this hospital to me.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses her work at a field hospital during Operation Desert Storm.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Now I want to sort of change subjects here before we move on to the ground war.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses some of the other members in her unit and what she did during time off.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Now in a medical unit I suppose you had a lot of men and women in the same unit?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses some of the challenges women have while serving in the military. She also discusses Saudi relations with women in the military.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: We left off, in the chronology we left off with the ground war about to begin.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses the beginning of Desert Storm.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: But in terms of combat casualties, you were apparently able to handle
whatever had come your way.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses some of the casualties she came across and the soldiers that were treated at the hospital. Also discussed is the POWs that came through the hospital.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: So, the actual ground war didn’t last too long.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses the process for leaving Saudi Arabia and her day-to-day activities while being deployed.

Partial Transcript: Gurkow: This, we would get a sandstorm probably about every six to seven days.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses how sandstorms disrupted some of the hospital work. Also discussed is some of the scavenging done for supplies.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Okay, so your trip home?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses the process for leaving Saudi Arabia and returning home.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: So, you got back, and you went back home and went back to work the next day?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses the demobilization process and working at the demobilization station.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: What about in terms of medical problems?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses some of the medical problems she was diagnosed with as a result of her time in Saudi Arabia.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: I’ve just got one last area that I cover and it involves veteran’s organizations, reunions and those kinds of things.

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses her involvement with the Disabled American Veterans organization and reunions that she has attended.

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Now you went to Vietnam recently, is that right?

Segment Synopsis: In this segment, Gurkow discusses her cultural trip to Southeast Asia. The interview is concluded.