Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Ann Catherine Cunningham.
Ann served in the Army Nurse Corps with the 44th Medical Brigade and 68th Medical Group. In an interview for the Veterans History Project, she shared her experiences as a operating room nurse during the Vietnam War.
Inspired by President Kennedy’s speech and a missionary doctor, Ann was earnest in her desire to use her medical training to help others. She recalled, “They don’t draft women, but I wanted to serve my country too.” She enlisted in 1966 and two weeks out of basic training, was deployed to Vietnam.
One of her assignments was the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi, Vietnam, set up in support of the 25th Infantry Division. Ann said of her time in Vietnam, “I’d really been thankful I’m a nurse, because there are people alive because of what I did, and I think that that in itself right there changes you. I hope it’s made me a better person and maybe a little bit more sympathetic.”
Ann later became involved with the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and other Veteran’s organizations in the hopes of continuing to help and heal others. She is proud to have served. “I’d probably do it all over again. Even if I knew I was going to be such a mess afterwards.”
Ann passed away on September 2, 2007.
We honor her service.
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much of the information as you can put together with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating for how to create the best submission.
Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
Graphic created by Carl J. Valentino: Carl J. Valentino is a student at the University of Delaware with a Major in International Business and a Minor in Graphic Design.
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Mr. Charles R. Dobson,
All of us Veterans if we can prevent taking way too many pills the better our health will get.
Request from your Primary care Provider a consultation to a VA Pain Clinic or out of the VA PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC.
The VA has mandated for Doctors at the VA Clinics and Hospitals to stop prescribing opioid pain medication, it sounds too excessive to have you on such amount of pain medications.
This Pain Medication is beginning to show the negative effects of being under those drugs for a prolong time.
Other Options to back pain is laser of nerves and even burning nerve endings (all non-invasive surgery) done with lasers
As for your bladder licking, I would advise getting pineapple juice at any store try it for a week, it might start working in days.
I am not a Doctor, I do have postgraduate education
I’m not doing well at all. my back is so bad a Paine Dr. has me taking Hydrocodne 10-325MG every four hours & Hudrocodone one tab Twice a day. this is a real bad pain and bearable with this meds.
my dogs got my Hearing-Aid so I’m having an awful time trying to communicate with anyone. I’m hopping the VA will replace them
I’m fairly certain they will. been having more trouble with my kidneys that are leaking some times it’s way out of control & that’s embarrassing, I don’t mind saying so…