2nd Lt. Ellen Ainsworth graduated from the Minneapolis Eitel Hospital School of Nursing in 1941 prior to her enlistment in the Army Nurse Corps in 1943.

In March of 1942, she entered the U.S. Army Nurses Corps. She served at the Station Hospital at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, until the end of the year when she was assigned to Fort Sam's 56th Evacuation Hospital in Houston, Texas. The hospital was soon sent to Bizerte, Tunisia, located in North Africa, and several weeks later was relocated to Anzio, Italy.

2nd Lt. AInsworth "was on duty in a 56th Evacuation Hospital ward near the Anzio beachhead on 10 February 1944 when she was severely wounded during the Battle of Anzio. During an enemy artillery bombardment, a shell hit the hospital. Despite the severe damage to the hospital, Ellen calmly moved her patients to safety. She 'instilled confidence in her assistants and her patients, thereby preventing serious panic and injury. Her courage under fire and her selfless devotion to duty were an inspiration to all who witnessed her actions.' She died 6 days later and was the only Wisconsin woman to die from enemy fire during World War II.

She was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for bravery, and the Purple Heart.

In her honor, a nursing care building at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, Wisconsin is named Ainsworth Hall. A dispensary at Fort Hamilton, New York and a conference room in the Pentagon also are named in her honor. "

She was interred in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno Lazio Region, Italy, Plot: Plot C Row 11 Grave 22.

She was awarded the Silver Star for the calm courage she displayed in caring for her patients during the bombing. Headquarters, 5th Army, General Orders No. 72 (1944) See Notes

Ainsworth, Ellen Gertrude, 2LT