Collections Archive – World War II Mosquito Boots

Among the uniforms, photographs and military medals on display at the Women’s Memorial is a simple pair of brown leather boots. Like many other uniform items, the fact that they were worn or used by military women would seem to earn them a place at the Women’s Memorial. But this pair of boots tells a special story of women’s military history. 1LT Esther (Mellotte) Nelson, US Army Nurse Corps, was outfitted with these boots prior to shipping out for overseas duty at the 23rd Station Hospital, Leopoldville, Belgian Congo, in July 1942. For Nelson and her fellow nurses, life at the 23rd held two challenges. Duty in the heart of Central Africa came with malaria-carrying mosquitoes and few options for protective clothing. At that time, Army women’s uniform issue included skirts, but no slacks or trousers. The innovative solution was custom-made, thigh-high boots, dubbed “Mosquito boots.” Fastened by garter belts, Mosquito Boots were worn under the nurses’ skirts after sundown to protect their legs from mosquitoes. Though she only spent nine months in the Belgian Congo, Nelson held onto her custom-made togs through her tour in the European Theater, from April 1943 to Oct. 1945, and beyond. After more than three years of overseas service—twice as long as her stateside service—Nelson was discharged in Feb. 1946. She returned to her home state of PA where she worked as a registered nurse.

Overseas with the Military: World War II, 1941-1945
Nelson donated her Mosquito Boots to the Women’s Memorial Collection in 1997; and they are now part of the permanent exhibit Overseas with the Military: World War II, 1941-1945. Located in the Memorial’s Exhibit Gallery, this case is one of three that focus on World War II; and it tells the story of women’s overseas service through text, artifacts, images and uniforms. The Mosquito Boots are among the artifacts in the “Around the World” section, which highlights women’s service outside the contiguous United States, in locations like North Africa, Europe, Greenland, the Pacific Islands and the Far East. This exhibit case also includes sections on the 87 military women prisoners of war (POWs), servicewomen who came under enemy fire and women’s roles at war’s end.

Servicewomen, their families and friends who are interested in donating photographs, artifacts, documents or uniform items to the Women’s Memorial Collection, should contact Britta Granrud, Curator of Collections at curators@womensmemorial.org or by calling 703-533-1155 or 800-222-2294.