The Healers Educational lesson/theme is about women as nurses and combat medics in the military. This theme focuses on the military combat and trauma nurse and the importance of their service during the Vietnam War, and the bravery of Army medic Monica Brown who risked her life to aid fallen comrades. As a result of her actions, Monica Brown became the first woman to be awarded the Silver Star since World War II for her role as a “healer” during the War on Terror. The college curriculum associated with this theme will introduce academic tools and readings that will offer more detail with reference to the foundational history of military caregivers dating back to the American Revolution; the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901; the combat nurse in Mediterranean and European Theaters during World War II and the trauma and combat nurses in Vietnam. The importance of nurse’s service during World War II and the Vietnam War will be emphasized.
Francoise Bonnell, Ph.D., Director, U.S. Army Women’s Museum, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, (Ret)
Francoise Bonnell, Ph.D., is the director of the U.S. Army Women's Museum at Fort Lee, Virginia. She is an author and a recognized authority in women’s military history.
Marsha Four, Former 1st Lt., U.S. Army Nurse Corps
First Lieutenant Marsha Four served for three years as a U.S. Army Nurse during the Vietnam War. She was stationed on the front lines in a critical care unit and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Elizabeth Norman, Ph.D., Historian, Teacher and Author
Elizabeth Norman, Ph.D., is a historian, teacher and best-selling author who has spent her career telling the stories of nurses and female soldiers during war. Her books include:
Women in War: The Story of Fifty Nurses Who Served in Vietnam.
Tammy Duckworth, Congresswomen, Illinois 8th District, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve
Congresswomen Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is a helicopter pilot veteran of the War on Terror. She was seriously wounded when her aircraft was shot down over Iraq. She still serves in the National Guard and is a Wounded Warrior.
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