Helen Hunter had completed nurse's training when WWII broke out and she volunteered for service.  Barely 5 feet tall, she was first assigned to Home Reserve, but she persisted and was eventually welcomed into the Army Air Force.

As a member of the 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, she met planes flying casualties in from the front and accompanied them to hospitals, including the large installation on Banika in the Russell Islands.

She recalls arriving at the Green Islands Base to meet incoming flights.  The base's hospitality being legendary, she had a Quonset hut to herself with an armed guard at the door.

Among her many poignant memories was missing a C-47 flight to Guadalcanal to keep a date with Bob for a dance that evening.  Her friend Eloise Richardson caught that flight instead.  The plane disappeared and no trace of it has ever been found.  Helen was recently connected with Eloise's nephew Kevin who was seeking anyone with information about her on a 13th AAF bulletin board.

http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/mia.html:                      http://www.nooniefortin.com/earlierwars.htm

She met Bob Weant on Guadalcanal and they enjoyed a wartime romance on that tropical island.  They were married shortly after their return to the United States.

Like Bob Ankers, PT RON 19, and Bob Conner of the 93rd Seabees, she was surprised to find herself reunited with Green Islands alumni over 50 years later at the Presbyterian home in High Point, NC.