|
Nell
Louise Phelps |
|
02/2007 I’ve done research for several years on a story that is especially egregious to me – it involves a woman, now deceased, named Nell Louise Phelps, popularly known as “Johnnie.” The real story: Phelps enlisted in the WAC in late 1943, spent two years on active duty, and was released (honorable discharge) in late 1945. She rose to the rank of corporal (nothing wrong with that) and was variously a clerk, truck driver, and light vehicle mechanic. She served entirely in the USA. In the spring of 1946 she reenlisted. After spending several months at bases in the USA she was sent overseas to Frankfurt, Germany, arriving in October 1946. She retained her rank (corporal) and continued in junior enlisted assignments (clerk, driver). Don’t know what happened in Germany, but she only stayed four months before being returned to the USA for hospitalization (Feb 1947). She wasn’t released from the hospital until the fall of 1947. She left the army for good when her enlistment was up in the spring of 1948. The claims are repeated in various books, and include (in various combinations): landing on an unnamed beach (vaguely suggestive of Normandy) where she saw her lesbian lover blown to bits before her eyes, service in the Pacific as a combat medic where she “did everything” including going out and bringing ‘em back in. Somewhere along the line she claims to have received Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. From the Pacific she went to Europe where she was an MP at the Nuremberg Trials. Following her stellar performance at the trials, she claims that she went to Frankfurt, where, as a sergeant, she was in charge of transportation for General Eisenhower and worked in his outer office. Then, she continues, a directive came to the Supreme Allied Commander that he was to discharge all homosexuals. General Eisenhower called (Non) Sergeant Phelps in to tell her to identify the lesbians in the WAC Detachment. She supposedly stands up to him and says if she does that her name will head the list and he’ll loose his best troops…Ike tells her to forget it. Phelps also claims that something like 90% of the WAC detachment in Frankfurt was lesbian. Now, not only does this fail to pass an initial smell test, but it is physically impossible (as so many fakes are). Wacs did serve in Europe (from 1943 on) and in the Pacific (from summer 1944 on), but were not involved in combat operations. 16 Wacs did receive the Purple Heart, but all received the medal for wounds received during buzz bomb attacks in London (they are known by name). No Wacs were wounded in action otherwise. About 20 (or so) nurses did die as a result of combat related causes. But Phelps never claims to have been a nurse (and certainly wasn’t). There were no women combat medics in WW-2 anywhere. Women served in many medical fields, but they weren’t “medics.” The Nuremberg trials ran from about Oct or Nov 45 to the same time frame in 46. Since the real Phelps arrived in Frankfurt in October 1946, she wasn’t at the Nuremberg trials. Now a small point, General Eisenhower left Germany in the fall of 1945 – he returned to Washington DC to reluctantly become the Army Chief of Staff. He wasn’t anywhere near Frankfurt when Phelps briefly served there. Phelps was prominent in the California gay and lesbian community. I’m not sure when she began telling her story, but it appears in the video “Before Stonewall” which I seem to recall was in the 1980s. She is quoted in Randy Shilts book, _Conduct Unbecoming Gays and Lesbians in the Military_. I’ve read that Shilts was a careful researcher, but the book was published after his death, and it’s very possible that he was not able to follow through on some of his research. She’s also one of about 40 women featured in Mindy Pomper’s video (done about 19991) called “Free a Man to Fight.” In this case a friend who has also done extensive research on Phelps wrote Pomper the real story, but Pomper found the story in a couple of books, so disregarded the information. It’s such a powerful story that it’s clear many want to believe it’s true. Pomper includes another woman whose story is mostly fabricated, Ruth Carstens Helbig. It’s a shame because Pomper otherwise did a reasonably good journalistic report on WW-2 military women. Phelps story, very much abbreviated, also appears in Allan Berube’s book, _Coming Out Under Fire_. In fact, his version is so brief that it seems to me that he smelled a rat. Phelps was picked up by Lillian Faderman in _Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers_. Mary Ann Humphreys features the most complete (and the most egregious) version of Phelps story in her book _My Country, My Right to Serve_. Diana McLellan repeats the story in _The Girls: Sappho Goes to Hollywood_. Emily Yellin includes the touching story in _Our Mothers’ War_. I corresponded with Yellin – her excuse was that even though she thought it flakey, she found it in several books so assumed someone had checked it out. Humphreys went so far as to sponsor an event to honor Johnnie Phelps -- the heroine herself was honored in a gala event. It appears likely that this story got to biographer Piers Brendon who wrote _Ike His Life & Times_. He cites Eisenhower’s indecisiveness as a commander as a major fault with his leadership, and in an otherwise well sourced book includes an unsourced incident where General Eisenhower fails to purge lesbians from the Wac detachment – it looks remarkably like Brendon used the Phelps claim in his analysis. As far as I can determine the source for Phelps story is Phelps herself. Where it can be traced back, the comments are attributed to interviews with Phelps. Of course, once published, the published work becomes the source as far as many are concerned. I have copies of her army qualification record and many more details. She’s a fake.
By the way, recently was able to help the USAF reply to a request by an Australian for information about the courageous story of Karen Rose Mast. I was delighted to provide the real story! As far as I know she is still alive and no doubt still receiving veterans’ benefits. Best wishes!!
Pat Jernigan |