Helen Fairchild was an American nurse who served as part of the American Expeditionary Force during WWI. In 1913, Fairchild graduated from Pennsylvania Hospital and worked as a nurse. After the United States joined WWI, Fairchild and 63 other nurses from the hospital volunteered for the American Expeditionary Forces. In 1917, Fairchild went on to her posting in France at the Pennsylvania Base Hospital. She volunteered for front line duty for the Third Battle of Ypres and moved to a casualty clearing station in Dozinghem. She served as a combat nurse and was exposed to heavy shelling and the use of mustard gas. The casualty clearing station was later bombed by German aircrafts and the medical staff was evacuated. As a result of her combat experience, her medical history of abdominal pain got worse, and was vomiting after every meal. After she passed away, an examination revealed that her exposure to mustard gas and chloroform during her posting contributed to her passing.