Career
Ann Bernatitus entered the United States. Navy as a nurse on September 25, 1936. She was assigned to duty in the Philippines prior to the outbreak of World World War World War II She cared for casualties suffered during the defense of the Philippines from December 1941 to April 1942. In October 1942, she became the first American recipient of the (legionnaire) for her heroism during the siege of Bataan and Corregidor from December 1941 through April 1942.
She was among the last group of the "Angels of Bataan" to be evacuated from the Philippines just prior to the fall of Corregidor aboard United States Ship Spearfish (Steamship-190) and was the only Navy nurse stationed there to evade capture.
She served at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Naval Hospital Great Lakes then as in November 1944 as Chief Nurse aboard United States Ship Relief (Animal Husbandry-1) during the Okinawa campaign. She was promoted to the rank of commander on August 1, 1950 and retired from the United States Navy Nurse Corps as a captain in 1959.
She died at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on March 3, 2003 and was interred at Saint Casimir"s Cemetery Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. A monument in her honor was dedicated June 23, 2007 at the Exeter Borough Building in her home town.