25 YEARS IN U.S. ARMY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31841, 20 November 1968, Page 2

25 YEARS IN U.S. ARMY

Dietetics was a profession with broadening horizons; the scope of food service was widening with the increase in world population and the higher standard of living enjoyed in some countries today, said Mrs Barbara House, who has served as a dietitian in the United States Army for 25 years, in Christchurch yesterday.

Mrs House, who was a | lieutenant-colonel for nine years, received the Legion of Merit, the highest honour awarded to women serving in the military forces, when she I retired recently. Bom in Cambridge and educated at Auckland, Mrs House obtained a home sci-

ence diploma at the University of Otago before going to the United States. As one of 22 student dietitians then, she took an internship at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, an 800-bed general

Officers elected.—Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Federated Business and Professional Women’s Club. President, Miss M. E. Grant; vice- ! president, Miss S. Lilly: secretary, Miss K. J. Osborne; minute secretary, Miss E. Witty; treasurer, Miss M. L. Roxburgh: conveners of committees, Miss E. L. Stanley (catering), Mrs E. M. Dickson (membership), Mrs E. M. Aitken (programme), Misses N. S. Brown (publicity and bulletin), E. Silby (rooms), D. Murray (social services).

hospital noted for its medical research programmes. After completing the oneyear course, Mrs House became eligible for membership of the American Dietetic Association. That was in 1937. “In those days, dietetics was a relatively unknown profession in New Zealand and, although I returned home for a few [months, I went back to Ame■rica to work,” she said. [ In 1943, legislation was 'passed to allow British subjects to be commissioned with the American military forces, jand Mrs House was offered a [commission as a second lieutenant. Before the Second World War, dietitians did not have military status in the regular army. Now, women have been receiving equal pay for equal rank for many years in the United States. Mrs House served in Europe during the war and again from 1959 to 1963. She also held positions at the West Point Military Academy in New York State, the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre and the SurgeonGeneral’s office in Washington, D.C. Her second term in Europe was as a dietetic consultant for the United States Army surgeon in Heidelberg, Germany. She was in touch -with dietitians in military hospitals in Germany, France and Italy and visited the American medical facilities there about twice a year. “My work included establishing standards of performance for hospital food service operations, conducting training programmes, and giving a final review of the nutritional adequacy of the menu planned for United States troops stationed in Europe,” said Mrs House. On her return to America, before her retirement, she was chief dietitian at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital at Denver, Colorado Previously widowed, Mrs House met her present husband at Heidelberg. A retired colonel, he served many years with United States military posts in Europe. They have lived for the past three years at Heidelberg. “It is a charming old university town and we are enchanted with it as a residential area," Mrs House said. “However, we will probably go back to our home in Virginia eventually.” They are in New Zealand primarily to visit friends from Mrs House’s student days. In Dunedin, they will stay with Dr Elizabeth Gregory, Emeritus Professor of the Home Science School.