The Eight Women on The Wall: Nurses Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
The names of eight women, all nurses (seven from the Army and one from the Air Force), are inscribed next to their fallen brothers on The Wall in Washington, D.C.
(L to R: 1st. Lt. Hedwig Orlowski, 2nd Lt. Carol Drazba, 1st. Lt.Sharon Lane, Capt. Mary Klinker, Capt. Eleanor Alexander, 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Jones, 2nd Lt. Pamela Donovan, LTC Annie Graham)
Each dedicated themselves to taking care of the wounded and dying.
See their faces and remember their names. These are their stories.
1st Lt. Sharon Ann Lane of Canton, Ohio.
1st Lieutenant Sharon Ann Lane, U.S. Army was killed by a rocket explosion on June 8, 1969, less than 10 weeks after she arrived in Vietnam. Assigned to the 312th Evacuation Hospital, 1LT Lane was working in the Vietnamese ward of the hospital when the rocket exploded, killing her and her patients. She was from Ohio and her name can be found on Panel 23, Line 112.
2nd Lt. Pamela Dorothy Donovan of Brighton, Massachusetts.
2nd Lieutenant Pamela Dorothy Donovan, U.S. Army died of a rare Southeast Asian virus on July 8, 1968. Born in Ireland, she was assigned to the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Qui Nhon. 2LT Donovan is remembered on Panel 53W, Line 43.
Lt. Col. Annie Ruth Graham of Efland, North Carolina.
Lieutenant Colonel Annie Ruth Graham, U.S. Army suffered a stroke on August 14, 1968. She was from North Carolina and was the Chief Nurse with the 91st Evacuation Hospital in Tuy Hoa. Her name can be found on Panel 48W, Line 12.
Capt. Mary Therese Klinker of Lafayette, Indiana.
Captain Mary Therese Klinker, U.S. Air Force was part of an on-board medical team during Operation Babylift. Her flight was carrying 243 infants and children when it developed pressure problems and crashed while attempting to return to the airport. Captain Klinker was killed on April 4, 1975, just three weeks before the Fall of Saigon. A native of Indiana, she is remembered on Panel 1W, Line 122.
2nd Lt. Carol Ann Elizabeth Drazba of Dunmore, Pennsylvania and 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Ann Jones of Allendale, South Carolina.
2nd Lieutenant Carol Ann Drazba, U.S. Army was killed in a helicopter crash near Saigon on February 18, 1966. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she is remembered on Panel 5E, Line 46.
2nd Lieutenant Elizabeth Ann Jones, U.S. Army was flying with 2LT Drazba and was killed in the same helicopter crash near Saigon. She was assigned to the 3rd Field Hospital. 2LT Jones was from South Carolina and is remembered on Panel 5E, Line 47.
Capt. Eleanor Grace Alexander of Rivervale, New Jersey and 1st Lt. Hedwig Diane Orlowski of Detroit, Michigan.
Captain Eleanor Grace Alexander, U.S. Army had been working in a hospital in Pleiku to help out during mass casualties from Dak To when her plane crashed on the return trip to Qui Nhon on November 30, 1967. She was with the 85th Evacuation Hospital. She was from New Jersey and is remembered on Panel 31E, Line 8.
1st Lieutenant Hedwig Diane Orlowski, U.S. Army was on board with Capt. Alexander when their plane crashed on its return trip to Qui Nhon. She was assigned to the 67th Evacuation Hospital, 1LT Orlowski was from Michigan. She is remembered on Panel 31E, Line 15.
These eight women embody selfless love, sacrifice, and courage. They are American heroes who volunteered to serve their country.
They joined the over 265,000 American women served during the Vietnam era. Approximately 11,000 served in Southeast Asia. Close to ninety percent were nurses. A small number of women served in civilian capacities, such as the American Red Cross and the USO. More than 50 civilian American women died in Vietnam. Others worked as physicians, air traffic controllers, intelligence officers, clerks and in other capacities.
It wasn’t until November 1993 that the patriotic service of all women was honored in the nation’s capital at the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.
A grateful country remembers.
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thank you all for your sevices for a wounded gi they were comforting eyes they saw while they were being worked on
I was until 2005 of the ignorant mindset regarding women n the military. I wasn’t alone, the military itself in 1972 had women assigned to the traditional roles, such as medical n admin. The OD Green fatigues were unlike today’s issue, the female issue was designed for females as was their basic issue boots.
Fast forward to 2005 my weekly PTSD group one week had 4 new veteran’s. Female’s from the 1st wave of the 2003 War in Iraq. Their shared experiences moved me, especially after learning of SP4 LORI ANN PIESTEWA KIA March 2003. Today I’m promoting our female HEROES. I’m hoping everyone will also.
It’s very good to honor all those willing to serve their country. Vietnam war is just one of the wars with many heroes being overlooked. Including those like these nurses, who weren’t carrying a gun or those who die years later courtesy of chemicals used like Agent Orange. With friends and relatives serving our nation from WWII to the present, even as a Quaker, admiration for their commitment to our true freedom exists.
Was on R&R in Japan in 1967 and met a nurse that was stationed in my area which was Chu Lai. Very nice lady. Some gave all. RIP
I enlisted in the USAF Nurse Corps in 1969. At that time there were so many volunteers for service in Viet Nam that one could not be assigned there. Thank you to these Brave Americans and to the compilers of this report. God Bless America.
Though one of eight American military nurses who died while serving in Vietnam, Sharon Lane was the only American nurse killed as a direct result of hostile fire
Reblogged this on Survival Experte , Rabbiner and Journalist Achim Levi / אתר הישרדות מומחה אחי לוי הרשמי.
What’s your point Joe Oliver? They all died while serving our country in war…
Though one of eight American military nurses who died while serving in Vietnam, Sharon Lane was the only American nurse killed as a direct result of hostile fire
NEVER FORGET——-HOOYAH
In June 1966 I sustained a gun shot wound to the chest while serving with the Marines south of Da Nang. I will never forget the great care I and others received from the nurses, and the kindness they showed. They were great. I will never forget them.
1st Lt Sharon Lane was a graduate of AULTMAN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING and a statue to honor her stands in the courtyard of Aultman Hospital … I also graduated from Aultman in 1992 at age 42 … their 100th anniversary … my main choice of AHSofN was due to an article in the Akron Beacon Journal about the dedication if this statue … I passed it often and said a prayer of thanks for Sharon … but, I remember reading that Sharon was the first nurse killed in Vietnam … God Bless her always
Thank you for your service is absolutely not enough but let me start with that. You are Patroits to aspire an look up to.
Warmest regards
Kent E Rouse
Thanks to you …. Each of you.
These are the kind of women all women should strive to be. They are true heroes and gave their lives to help save wounded soldiers.
Thank you all for your sacrafices. Bless you all and your loved ones. WELCOME HOME…from a Marine Brat
Was at phi bai Vietnam was treated at an aid station in the middle of nowhere I could not believe the was a red cross nurse there that treated me hats off to these ladies they were just as brave as any soldier acutely in my eyes they were angels and deserve to be treated like any other heros
These are the angels we soldiers wake to find when God decides our work on Earth is not through. Thank you nurses for your service and your sacrifices.
As an aero evacuation nurse in Afghanistan I honor the sacrifices made by these courageous
nurses. I followed in the footsteps but could never fill their shoes. Sharon Lane was my inspiration. RIP brave and gentle soul.
I served with Mary Klinker while stationed at Clark in Phillipines. Miss her Smolensk and sense of humor
On a medivac from NSA VN, to Japan, Guam, I know we landed in Clark. Thank you for being there! Then to Alaska, McGuire & St Albans. I’m fine. 2/69 … I have thought of the eight nurses most my life.
I read Lt Lane was killed at a Leper Colony.
I admire we Americans that took the babies and people.
I was a medic with the 45th. surgical hospital 69/70 served with many fine nurses!
God Bless these courages women.
I served in ‘Nam between 64 and 65, during the earlier years of Vietnam’s escalations, thus my mission was ground and air support, not given to direct battle field service, yet was not freed of this war’s horrendous impact on myself and on all who served our country, which is why I salute these 8 nurses who represent but a small fraction of these true heroines whose unsung valor and dedication had allowed for our wounded to recover from their wounds and eventually return home to their loved ones, yet most sadly were not welcomed as brave warriors befitting their rightfully earned recognition, but this goes with other stories found in my published memoirs (The Book of Ray) to which book sales go toward assisting agencies who support our veterans current needs. RJ McBride USAF, Tan Son Knut Air Base,Saigon.
I am proud to know a nurse who served in Vietnam and still a friend today! Thank you Paulette!!!
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Ruth Graham was my great aunt and I’m very proud to see her recognized. She was a kind and generous woman and she took care of soldiers but she took great care of her family too.
Eleanor Grace Alexander rests in the same cemetary as does my brother, PFC. Michael C. Roell…both died in ’67: my brother, 26 May and Eleanor, 30 November. Often, I walk up from my brother’s grave to pay a visit to Eleanor’s. I keep an eye on Eleanor’s grave as I Michael’s.
Sad that I never knew this existed. Know a woman from my city and she proudly served in Vietnam. She told us stories about bad days which she said she wont forget! I salute you Paulette! Thank You!
5/23/69 I was wounded and sent to the 71st in Pleiku. During incoming right on the hospital grounds, a nurse appeared in the night with flashlight, 45, steel pot and guts. cuz of the tubes etc we couldn’t be put inder the beds, So she put flak jackets on us. 1 round hit right outside the ward. I never have forgotten this example of care and bravery. And a shout out to a great nurse at Walter Reed; Ann Glackin!