Remembering the Nurses Who Served: Honoring Military Nurse Veterans This Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, we pause to honor the incredible nurses who have served our nation — on the frontlines of war, in field hospitals, and in every corner of the world where compassion met courage. These nurses didn’t just treat wounds — they offered hope, humanity, and strength in the darkest of moments.

From the battlefields of the Civil War to the military hospitals of World War II, and through to the conflicts of modern times, nurse veterans have embodied the very soul of nursing: service, sacrifice, and steadfast care. Their stories remind us that healing is as vital to freedom as any act of valor.

Today, we remember and celebrate these remarkable military nurses whose courage and compassion changed the course of history:

Military Nurse Veterans

• Aleda E. Lutz – One of the first female flight nurses and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. She flew over 200 missions evacuating wounded soldiers before losing her life in WWII.thenmusa.org

• Clara Barton – Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” Barton provided critical care and supplies to soldiers during the Civil War and went on to found the American Red Cross, forever changing disaster relief and humanitarian care.thenmusa.org

• Florence Blanchfield – A veteran of both World Wars and the first woman to achieve full rank as an Army officer. She led the Army Nurse Corps during WWII and fought for equal pay and status for nurses.

• Grace Elizabeth Farley – Served in the Army Nurse Corps as part of the 231st Station Hospital during WWII, providing skilled, compassionate care to soldiers in wartime conditions.

• Harriet Tubman – Beyond her heroic work with the Underground Railroad, Tubman served as a nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War, caring for soldiers and freed slaves.

• Hazel Johnson-Brown – Broke racial barriers as the first Black Chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and the first Black female brigadier general, serving from 1979 to 1983.

• Joan A. Furey – A Vietnam War Army nurse who earned the Bronze Star for her service. She later became a national advocate for women veterans and PTSD awareness.

• Linda Norman – Served during the War in Afghanistan and later used her military benefits to pursue nursing leadership roles at VCU Health, embodying lifelong service.

 

• Mary Ann Bickerdyke – Established more than 300 field hospitals during the Civil War and risked her life to save wounded soldiers. After the war, she fiercely advocated for veterans’ rights and recognition.

• Nancy Leftenant-Colon – The first Black woman to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps after desegregation. She served during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, opening doors for countless nurses of color.

 

• Opal Grapes – Joined the Army Nurse Corps in WWII and tended to wounded soldiers in England, exemplifying compassion and composure under pressure.

• Sharon Ann Lane – The only American servicewoman killed by enemy fire in Vietnam. Her courage and dedication continue to symbolize the sacrifices of women in military nursing.

• 1st Lt. Louise Lomax – 1st Lt. Louise Lomax joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1943, serving at the Tuskegee Army Air Field alongside the Tuskegee Airmen and earning the World War II Victory and American Campaign Medals.

• Maj. Della Raney – Served with distinction as an African American Army nurse at the Tuskegee Army Air Field during WWII, paving the way for future generations of Black nurses in military service.

This Veterans Day, we honor these nurses — and all military nurses — for their unwavering dedication to both country and humanity. Their service reminds us that behind every act of valor is a healer’s heart.

🤔Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!