#VeteranOfTheDay Army Air Force Veteran Mary Sue Templeton Gates

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Air Force Veteran Mary Sue Templeton Gates. Mary served during World War II and the Korean War from February 1943 to 1963.

After Mary completed nurse’s training in 1938 at Grady Hospital in Georgia, she moved to New York to pursue a postgraduate degree in obstetrics when she instead decided to enlist in the Army Air Force in February 1943. Starting off assisting surgeries and training medical personnel going overseas, Mary went on to graduate from flight nursing school at Bowman Field in Kentucky. Mary would continue to move throughout her years of service as a flight nurse from Kentucky to Texas, Guam, Bermuda, Massachusetts, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Mary worked at 6208th ASAF Hospital and was chief nurse with the 831st Squadron in Guam.

Mary retired in 1963 to spend time with her husband and travel North America. They later settled at the Army Residence Community in San Antonio,Texas, where she continued to be active in the Retired Officers Association and Women’s Overseas Service League throughout her retirement. Mary passed away in the Army Residence Community in March 2005.

We honor your service, Mary!

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 information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn 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 by Julia Wang: Julia Wang is an Economics and History of Architecture Major with a Certificate in Civic Leadership at Rice University.