The Biography of May Buelow Alm - In Progress
May Alm... Witness in History

May Buelow Alm was born in Alberta, Canada, on March 21, 1916. During her early years, May experienced the loss of her mother in the 1918 flu epidemic and fought to complete her education while living in a farming community that viewed a woman’s role as being wife and mother. May began a full nursing career in 1934. She enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps during WWII and cared for wounded troops in the European theater of operations. In 1956, May became a widow with three young children to raise. She remained single and raised her family while pursuing a full-bodied career as a nurse, retiring in 1981. Today, May is a vibrant, dynamic senior, who continues to embrace life with vigor and delight.

May's biography will embrace not only the unique story that has been her life, but will also explore the major world's events she has witnessed. This book will provide an historical exploration of the 1918 flu epidemic while reflecting upon its very personal impact on a young child. It will also explore the growth of nursing, including the early development of the Army Nurse Corps, its expansion during World War II, and its continued growth throughout the decades of May's career. The biography will also look closely at other wars May witnessed, including the current war in Iraq and the role of today's soldiers and nurses.

There are many ways to describe May Alm: lively, engaged, petite, beautiful, honest. She has a distinguished, positive outlook on life and could easily be the recruiter’s poster for healthy aging.

May was born in a quiet farming community in Alberta, Canada, on March 21, 1916. In November 1918, her peaceful life was altered forever when her mother suddenly died during the flu epidemic. May’s father was ill equipped to care for May and her infant brother and placed his two young children in the capable hands of their grandparents. Throughout the balance of her childhood, May was shuttled back and forth between Canada and Washington State, between her paternal and maternal families. By the time she was nearing high school graduation, May had grown into a strong-willed and capable young woman. These attributes would serve her well throughout the challenging years of her adult life. Having faced loss and hardship throughout her childhood years, May was well prepared to face the new challenges of her young adult years.

As the journey of May’s life unfolds, one is filled with respect and appreciation for what one woman can accomplish…completing nursing school against financial and social odds, joining the Army Nurse Corps and volunteering for overseas duty during World War II, and raising three young children as a widow after the sudden death of husband.

Listing the steps in the path of May’s life does not describe the richness of her years, however. The biography of May Alm will nourish the reader’s curiosity about how a woman raised in such arduous childhood conditions, who has been challenged by so many hardships, could bring a spirit of tenacity and joy to every aspect of her senior years.

Note: In an effort to provide a more complete accounting of May’s military years, I am seeking contact from the following individuals who might be interested in being interviewed for her biography: