Posted on: Guernsey Co. Oh Obituaries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Oh/GuernseyObits?read=74 Surname: SIGMAN, DISS, WHITIS ------------------------- The Daily Jeffersonian Cambridge, Ohio (Guernsey County) Saturday Evening March 4, 1944 Cambridge Girl Dies In Overseas Service First Lieut. Blanche SIGMAN, 36, daughter of Joseph SIGMAN, of East Cambridge, and frequently cited for distinguished service with the U. S. Army Nurses Corps, was killed Feb. 7 when Germans made a cowardly attack upon the American field hospital on the Anzio, Italy, beachhead. A telegram from the war department at Washington, D. C. was received by her father, announcing his daughter's death. Several nurses were victims of the German bombs in the attack, as well as wounded American troops. Since the bombing of the American field hospital, of which Lieut. SIGMAN was in charge of the nurses, relatives and friends of the Cambridge girl have anxiously awaited word from her. No message was received until her father got the telgram Friday which disclosed her death. Lieut. SIGMAN was born in Cambridge township and graduated from Byesville high school in 1926. She went to New York City where she trained for three years in Bellevue Hospital and then she served as traveling nurse in Buffalo, N. Y. Returning to Ohio, Miss SIGMAN became county nurse with headquarters in Akron. It was while residing there that she enlisted in the army nurses corps on July 1, 1942. One year ago in February she went overseas. She served with distinction with the American forces in North Africa and had charge of the nurses attached to a field hospital on the invasion of Sicily. She also discharged similar duties on the invasion of Italy and often exposed herself to enemy fire in order to give first aid to American boys who fell wounded. Lieut. SIGMAN was aboard a hospital ship bombed in the Mediterranean several months ago and was credited with saving the lives of four nurses when the vessel sunk. When the Anzio beachhead attack was made, she landed with the invading troops and assisted in setting up the field hospital. There she remained on duty until the German bombs ended her useful career. The death of Miss SIGMAN was received with sorrow by her many friends in Cambridge and Guernsey county. The last letter received by her father was dated January 25 and referred to the Christmas presents sent her. He had written her at least once a week since she had been in the service. The deceased leaves her father, Joseph SIGMAN; six brothers, Richard, R.D. 4; Robert, Ravenna; Ronald, R.D. 4; Roger, serving with the medical corps at Great Bend, Kan.; and William and Franklin, of the home; two sisters, Mrs. Dorathy DISS, East Cambridge, and Miss Sarah SIGMAN, of Akron, and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert WHITIS, East Wheeling Ave.