" Arial; was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. " Arial; "She was 7th of eleven children. " Arial; "Her parents were Croatian immigrants. " Arial; "She attended St. Rochus Catholic Grade School, Garfield Junior High School and Johnstown High School where she graduated in 1938. " Arial; "She graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in 1942. " Arial; "She joined the United States Army as a second lieutenant in 1943 and was a member of the 107SUPth/SUP Evacuation Hospital (Mash) Unit that trained in Fort Devens, Massachusetts. " Arial; "She served as an operating room nurse on Omaha Beach, at the Battle of the Bulge where her unit treated the first of 25, 000 casualties to pass through that hospital. " Arial; "She remained on active duty and worked as a general duty nurse at the Veterans