Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields California State Guard Base Hospital No. 1 (Marion Davis War Work Hospital) Within a month of the attach on Pearl Harbor, actress, philanthropist and mistress of media mogul William Randolph Hearst; Marion Davies began the process of helping to actively defend California against a potential Japanese attacks and possible invasion. On 9 January 1942, Ray Van Ettisch, Managing Editor of the Los Angeles Examiner provided Hearsts personal assistant, Joseph Willicombe a “copy of [the] letter Gov. [Culbert] Olson sent yesterday to Miss Davies”: “I have just been advised by Brigadier General Joseph O. Donovan, the Adjutant General of the State of California, that you have turned over the Marion Davies’ Foundation Hospital in Southern California to the First Medical Battalion, California State Guard. “I understand that you have also made available all of the facilities and equipment so that we can use these facilities as a State Guard war base hospital. “As Governor of the State of California and on behalf of the people, I want to thank you for this splendid contribution in making this hospital available to the Guardsmen whose sole goal and main objective is to aid and protect life and property during our present war emergency.” On 13 January 1942, Miss Davies turned over the keys of the Marion Davies Childrens Clinic located at 2101 Barry Avenue in West Los Angeles to the State of California for use as a military hospital and garrison for the California State Guards 1st Medical Battalion. This unit was later expanded and redesignated at the 1st Medical Regiment. Initially established as the California State Guard Base Hospital No. 1, it was renamed as the Marion Davies War Work Hospital by California State Guard General Order No 53, dated 24 July 1942. The site is now Brawerman Elementary School West. For her efforts the state commissioned her a Captain, Nurse Corps in the State Guard. She was allowed to wear a unique uniform, to include a cape, by the Commander of the 1st Medical Battalion, Major Frank Nolan. Captain Davies and her War Committee, which counted many of Hollywoods elite as members, worked hard to support the hospital. Members of the Hollywood community often volunteered and donated money and equipment to the hospital and the 1st Medical Regiment. An example was Hollywoods Temple Israels donation of a 1939 Packard Ambulance to the hospital. On 15 April 1942, Hollywood turned out to support the hospital (and the 1st Medical Regiment) at a large fund raising gala held at the Hollywood Palladium. Hosted by Davies and Hearst, ensured that actors such as Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, Robert Montgomery, Hedy Lamar, Rita Hayworth and many others. For more information about Captain Marion Davies and here service in the California State Guard, CLICK HERE. Images Due to the relationship between Miss Davies and William Randolph Hearst, the Los Angeles Examiner, a Hearst newspaper, photographed some of the activities of the hospital. These photographs are now part of the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 23:24:34 +0000
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