april august chilean soldier served war pacific born lived poverty life working early age time war pacific began years old orphaned twice widowed second husband executed military killing soldier tried pass man enlist soldier failed given position unofficial military nurse marching alongside sell food drink caring wounded battles despite given role fought alongside men unit battles late san_francisco battles care wounded men drew attention chilean commander chief provided official recognition rank sergeant continued serve army duration war famously courageous battle war returned civilian life died obscurity aged considered chile greatest heroes war service widely known death early life born april daughter carpenter father died young moved mother started learn mother trade mother married older man age husband died year marriage mother died time left family headed port town mines area travelled passenger ticket bought selling nearly possessions working met chilean living military band married aged tried executed september year killing soldier drunken brawl found body dumped railway tracks took gold ring finger wore rest life execution widely protested chilean population resented seen government military service february chilean forces entered welcome local population beginning war pacific peru locals enlisted enlisted soldier avenge husband man slipping unnoticed amid patriotism deception long saw disguise immediately curved figure feminine beauty said nonetheless allowed army nurse positions available women army time women effectively served sold food drink supplement soldiers basic rations staying camp marching operations nurse present immediately battles care wounded sent unit chile campaigns war officially soldier supposed participate combat deter fighting alongside men regiment noted great skill rifle fought amphibious landing fierce ensuing assault position november battle san francisco november looked men unit nursing wounded battles risk times save captured soldiers abused hearing deeds commander chief chile military general summoned meet officially authorised wear uniform gave rank pay sergeant lit second sergeant later moved served battle continued provide water exhausted men lines received slight wound soldiers enter city evening soldiers cavalry regiment recalled riding town horse raising rifle passed crying chile battle stricken time illness picked prisoners war cared wrote letter friend assuming deathbed nonetheless later writers said present battle weeks later ordered mass killing captured account inscribed memorial dead january fought battle battle entered city captured contemporaries chile recognised heroism common soldiers served looked nun charity men said gone far woman taking rifle praised dedication bravery hatred killed husband gave free advice risk return quietly poor home restart life real woman manual labor caring relatives work needle exchange years adventures revolver honored beloved machine follow advice remained army end war fighting july battle war men like right unusual risk woman time chilean killed captured war later life legacy end war returned birthplace knew actions war men served alongside remembered appeared unveiling monument common chilean plaza received enthusiastic applause years illness died common room hospital august aged widespread recognition came death august years death col wrote article dedicated brought attention praised highest terms saying chile glorious time exceeded chilean women years death number poems written including featured works patriotic literature street near plaza named honour turbulent years 1970s historical chilean women embraced symbols conservative left wing women political organisations modern times described chile greatest heroes war pacific remains kept general maintained compared chilean earlier war confederation praised courage came
Irene Morales