Ethel Thor Nelson was born on June 30, 1910. In 1930 she graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing. She joined the Army and was stationed in the Philippines when World War II erupted. She served in field hospitals on Bataan and Corregidor before being captured. She was one of the "Angels of Bataan and Corregidor” – the US Army and Navy Nurse Corps women who served in the Battle of the Philippines in 1941-42. When Bataan and Corregidor fell, 11 Navy nurses, 66 army nurses, and 1 nurse-anesthetist were captured and imprisoned in and around Manila. They continued to serve as nurses in various POW camps until they were finally liberated in February 1945. Her husband, Carl (Ted) Nelson preceded her in death in 1983. They lived on a farm near Spanaway. Ethel lived in the Tacoma Lutheran Home apartments for 18 years. After Ethel retired from nursing, she continued her nurturing and helping ways her entire life. Ethel died on February 15, 2002 at the age of 91. She is now buried in the Fir Lane Memorial Park, Spanaway, Pierce County, Washington, USA.

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