Mary L. Hester
Bio
Mary L. Hester was born in 1929 in Howe, Indiana. While in nursing school, recruiting officers visited her class and asked them to consider joining the service. After she passed her state boards, she entered the service and began her military nursing career at a veteran’s hospital stateside. She volunteered to go to an Air Force base in Colorado, underwent flight nurse training, and from there, volunteered to go to Japan where she flew missions to Korea to evacuate injured soldiers. While in Japan, she met her future husband Kenneth, and they both returned home shortly before the Armistice was signed. In 1997, Mary and Kenneth returned to South Korea where they received a medal from the government.
Video Clips
Describing Flight School and Her First Incoming Soldiers
Mary Hester describes how she went to flight school, what they learned, and how she volunteered to go to Japan to help with injured soldiers. She becomes emotional when she remembers the first plane of injured soldiers and how her chief nurse told her they came to work, not to cry. She recalls the quick on-the-job training she received that day.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrkUcaDtPZM&start=221&end=395
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/mary-hester#clip-1
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Discussing Her Duties as a Flight Nurse
Mary Hester speaks about her typical flight shift as a flight nurse, flying from Japan to Korea to evacuate injured soldiers. She discusses the types of patients and injuries they might see as well as describes the manner in which soldiers would be loaded onto the planes, depending on what type of plane they used on that flight. She recalls the amount of hours she flew as a nurse as well.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrkUcaDtPZM&start=481&end=697
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/mary-hester#clip-2
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Revisiting Korea
Mary Hester reflects on her revisit to Korea in 1997, alongside her husband, Kenneth, who was also a Korean War veteran. She marvels at the progress South Korea has made and discusses how meaningful the trip was. She expresses how meaningful the gratitude from the South Korean people was to her and her husband.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrkUcaDtPZM&start=1343&end=1476
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/mary-hester#clip-3
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Photos
Copy of Report of Separation for Mary Hester
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.pm0001001/?r=-0.842,0.093,2.684,1.274,0
An image of a painting by Kenneth Hester of a sailor kissing a woman
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.pm0003001/
[Front]: Portrait of Mary Hester in uniform Photo Album
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=1
![[Front]: Portrait of Mary Hester in uniform Photo Album](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/iiif-service_vhp_0324_032449_ph0001001-full-pct_100-0-default.jpeg)
[Front]: Mary Hester standing outside near an aircraft
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=2
![[Front]: Mary Hester standing outside near an aircraft](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-standing-outside-near-an-aircraft.png)
[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester kissing aboard an aircraft
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=3
![[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester kissing aboard an aircraft](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-and-Mary-Hester-kissing-aboard-an-aircraft.png)
[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester sitting aboard an aircraft
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=4
![[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester sitting aboard an aircraft](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-and-Mary-Hester-sitting-aboard-an-aircraft.png)
[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester standing outside on an air base
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=5
![[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester standing outside on an air base](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-and-Mary-Hester-standing-outside-on-an-air-base.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester taking care of a patient in a bed aboard a C-47
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=6
![[Front]: Mary Hester taking care of a patient in a bed aboard a C-47](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-taking-care-of-a-patient-in-a-bed-aboard-a-C-47.png)
[Back]: Mary Hester taking care of a patient in a bed aboard a C-47
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=7
![[Back]: Mary Hester taking care of a patient in a bed aboard a C-47](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Back-Mary-Hester-taking-care-of-a-patient-in-a-bed-aboard-a-C-47.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester kneeling near some Asian children
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=8
![[Front]: Mary Hester kneeling near some Asian children](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-kneeling-near-some-Asian-children.png)
[Front]: Children in a damaged building
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=9
![[Front]: Children in a damaged building](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Children-in-a-damaged-building.png)
[Front]: The outside of a damaged building
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=10
![[Front]: The outside of a damaged building](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-The-outside-of-a-damaged-building.png)
[Front]: A group of children standing outside near some trees
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=11
![[Front]: A group of children standing outside near some trees](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-A-group-of-children-standing-outside-near-some-trees.png)
[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester's wedding photograph
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=12
![[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester's wedding photograph](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-and-Mary-Hesters-wedding-photograph.png)
[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester's fiftieth anniversary photograph
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=13
![[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester's fiftieth anniversary photograph](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-and-Mary-Hesters-fiftieth-anniversary-photograph.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester attending patients aboard an airplane
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=14
![[Front]: Mary Hester attending patients aboard an airplane](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-attending-patients-aboard-an-airplane.png)
[Front]: Kenneth Hester standing in uniform
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=15
![[Front]: Kenneth Hester standing in uniform](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-Hester-standing-in-uniform.png)
[Front]: Kenneth Hester standing in uniform
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=16
![[Front]: Kenneth Hester standing in uniform](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-Hester-standing-in-uniform-2.png)
[Front]: Kenneth Hester standing in uniform, standing near an airplane
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=17
![[Front]: Kenneth Hester standing in uniform, standing near an airplane](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-Hester-standing-in-uniform-standing-near-an-airplane.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester standing on a ladder to an aircraft
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=18
![[Front]: Mary Hester standing on a ladder to an aircraft](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-standing-on-a-ladder-to-an-aircraft-.png)
[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester standing next to each other near an aircraft
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=19
![[Front]: Kenneth and Mary Hester standing next to each other near an aircraft](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-and-Mary-Hester-standing-next-to-each-other-near-an-aircraft.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester standing outside near an aircraft
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=20
![[Front]: Mary Hester standing outside near an aircraft](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-standing-outside-near-an-aircraft-2.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester standing in uniform outside
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=21
![[Front]: Mary Hester standing in uniform outside](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-standing-in-uniform-outside.png)
[Front]: Kenneth, in uniform, and Mary Hester, in civilian clothes, standing outside
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=22
![[Front]: Kenneth, in uniform, and Mary Hester, in civilian clothes, standing outside](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Kenneth-in-uniform-and-Mary-Hester-in-civilian-clothes-standing-outside.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester attending patients aboard an airplane
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=23
![[Front]: Mary Hester attending patients aboard an airplane](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-attending-patients-aboard-an-airplane-2.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester kneeling near some Asian children
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=24
![[Front]: Mary Hester kneeling near some Asian children](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-kneeling-near-some-Asian-children-2.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester holding an ID placard, possibly for an official identification photo
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=25
![[Front]: Mary Hester holding an ID placard, possibly for an official identification photo](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-holding-an-ID-placard-possibly-for-an-official-identification-photo.png)
[Front]: Mary Hester, outside in civilian clothes
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=26
![[Front]: Mary Hester, outside in civilian clothes](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Mary-Hester-outside-in-civilian-clothes.png)
[Front]: Portrait of Mary Hester in nurse's uniform
Mary L. Hester Collection (AFC/2001/001/32449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc2001001.32449.ph0001001/?sp=27
![[Front]: Portrait of Mary Hester in nurse's uniform](https://koreanwarleg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Front-Portrait-of-Mary-Hester-in-nurses-uniform.png)