CECIL JOSEPHINE COCHRAN
Rochester, N. Y.

Cecil Josephine Cochran was born in Le Roy, N. Y, January 12, 1894, daughter of Elliott P. Cochran. She was graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Training School. Entered the service at Rochester, N. Y., May 10, 1918, at the age of 24 years, as a Red Cross nurse. She was sent by the Red Cross Organization to Huntsville, Alabama. When she arrived there, the Field Agent told her of the terrible epidemic of pneumonia which was raging, and gave her the opportunity to turn back, but she insisted on going into action to aid the suffering and dying boys. After faithfully nursing ten days among the soldiers, she contracted the disease and died of pneumonia a week later, October 15, 1918, at Huntsville, Ala. Her body was brought back to Batavia, N. Y., where a military funeral was held in her honor and she was then taken for burial to St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Le Roy, N. Y.

Official notice from the American Red Cross, Washington, D. C, signed Clara D. Noyes, Director, Department of Nursing, announces: “A bronze medal and citation has been awarded, posthumously, by the Red Cross, to Miss Cecil Josephine Cochran.”

Three other Rochester Nurses lost their lives in the service during the influenza epidemic: Miss Lillian Frances Cupp, who died of pneumonia at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga., October 7, 1918; Miss Catherine Rose Connelly, who also died of pneumonia at
Camp Gordon, October 16, 1918; and Miss Anna Marie Williams, who died of pneumonia contracted in the line of duty at Vichy, France, October 16, 1918, while serving with Base Hospital No. 19.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 10/21/1918

From “World War Service Records Rochester and Monroe County, NY” The Du Bois Press, Rochester, NY – published by the City of Rochester, 1924

© Daniel DeMarle 2018