Navy Nurses at Sea: Life and Duty Aboard the USS Repose (AH-16)

At Sea—Navy Nurses Stand In Formation as USS Repose Enters Subic Bay. | GGA Image ID # 233197f5e9

✨ Review & Summary: Navy Nurses at Sea on the USS Repose (AH 16)

📖 Context & Overview

This article captures life aboard the USS Repose (AH-16), a U.S. Navy hospital ship deployed during the Vietnam era. With 19 Navy nurses—most of them volunteers—it highlights not only their medical responsibilities but also the personal and cultural experiences of women serving afloat.

The piece gives voice to Lieutenant (jg) Leanna Crosby, a graduate of St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Denver, who had served at Oakland Naval Hospital before embarking. Her story reflects the broader professionalization and expansion of women’s naval roles, combining advanced medicine with the unique rhythm of sea duty.

📌 Key Highlights

1. Life & Duty on a Hospital Ship 🏥⚓

Nurses staffed specialized wards, like orthopedics, replicating shore-based hospital standards afloat.

Their work included direct patient care and training Navy corpsmen in medical procedures.

Navy nurses created a community at sea, with Crosby noting, “It is like living and working in a community where we have started our own society.”

2. Professional Opportunities ✈️🌍

Service aboard Repose offered nurses a blend of career development and travel.

Ports-of-call created a sense of anticipation and cultural curiosity; the women often prepared by researching destinations or consulting shipmates.

3. Spirit of Camaraderie 💙

Crosby emphasized the strong bond among the nurses: “It’s like one big family … I have never been anywhere where nurses get along so well.”

This reflects not only morale but also the unique challenges and solidarity of women serving in close quarters at sea.

On board the U.S. Navy hospital ship USS Repose (AH 16), there are 19 Navy nurses, most of whom are volunteers, and for many, it is their first trip on a Navy ship. They are looking forward to the travel and excitement that the months ahead will bring.

LTJG Leanna Crosby is typical of the Navy nurses aboard Repose. Miss Crosby, a graduate of the St. Luke's School of Nursing in Denver, Colo., has been in the Navy for two years and was previously stationed at the U. S. Naval Hospital, Oakland, Calif., before reporting aboard the hospital ship.

Like many nurses, she had worked in a stateside hospital for a year. Recognizing that she could work in her field and travel as well, she decided to choose the Navy as her career. "The sea service is just what I was looking for, and I enjoy the assignment. It also provides an opportunity to work in the best-equipped hospitals," Miss Crosby said.

Her primary duty is that of a nurse in charge of Repose's orthopedic ward, much the same as it would be in a shore-based hospital. "After we've spent some time at sea, there is a tendency to forget that we are afloat, as treatment and care of patients is the same as in a shore-based hospital," she added.

In addition to her regular duties, she also instructs Navy corpsmen in nursing procedures, care of patients, and use of medical equipment aboard the hospital ship.

Nurse Crosby's feelings about her shipboard duty reflect the thoughts of many of the nurses aboard: "It is like living and working in a community where we have started our own society. The sea is very relaxing; I enjoy this type of duty very much and feel it is a choice assignment for a Navy nurse."

The ports USS Repose may visit in the future interest the nurses, and Nurse Crosby is no exception. She reads about different places and asks the travel veterans aboard what each place is like. "It is difficult to imagine many of the ports we may visit. There is always an air of excitement when the ship heads for a new one," she exclaimed.

When asked about the other nurses aboard, Miss Crosby said: "It's like one big family; I have never been anywhere where nurses get along so well—they're just great."

Standing By—USS Repose (AH 16) Sails Along the Coast of South Vietnam. | GGA Image ID # 2331ab55f2

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Navy Nurses in Formation: Standing on deck as the USS Repose enters Subic Bay, symbolizing discipline and unity.

Nurse Crosby Escorts a Patient: A candid view of direct patient care aboard ship.

Nurse Hill with Corpsman: Demonstrates teamwork between female nurses and male enlisted medical staff.

USS Repose off South Vietnam: A striking reminder of the geopolitical backdrop in which these nurses served.

🎓 Relevance for Educators & Researchers

Teachers & Students: Provides a case study in gender integration and non-combat naval service, complementing lessons on Vietnam and Cold War history.

Historians: Highlights military medicine and the often-overlooked role of women at sea, crucial for understanding Navy logistics and morale.

Genealogists: Offers names and duties of individual nurses, a valuable entry point for family research.

Military Studies: Demonstrates how Navy hospital ships mirrored civilian medical practice while operating in combat-adjacent zones.

🔑 Key to Naval Ranks Encountered

LTJG — Lieutenant, Junior Grade (O-2), a junior commissioned officer rank.

📖 Dictionary of Terms & Abbreviations

AH-16 — Hull classification for a hospital ship (16th in its class).

Corpsman — Enlisted Navy medical specialist trained to assist doctors and nurses.

Orthopedic Ward — Medical unit specializing in bones, joints, and rehabilitation.

Subic Bay — Major U.S. Naval Base in the Philippines, central to Pacific fleet operations.

🌟 Final Thoughts

This page is more than a snapshot of Navy medical operations—it is a portrait of women at sea who balanced professional expertise, adventure, and community aboard one of the Navy’s most important hospital ships. For those studying the Navy’s history, gender in the military, or family ties to the service, the USS Repose account provides a rare and humanizing glimpse into life afloat for Navy nurses. 👩‍⚕️⚓💙