|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diane Radlowski
U.S. Army Nurse Corps,
3d Field Hospital,
Saigon, Vietnam 1970-1971
D.O.V.E. Fund member since 2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 1970, the Army Nurse Corps was looking for nurses who had clinical experience to serve in a
special 13-month program. I chose Vietnam, partly because I felt that I could help the men sent
there. I arrived at 3d Field Hospital in Saigon in November, 1970.
It certainly was an eventful year in my life, being in a totally different culture, in the Army
and living in a war zone. Our hospital was in a former school house. Meeting Americans from all
parts of the country, and Puerto Rico was an education in itself. We worked 12 hour shifts but
that was fine as there was not much else to do on a small base. Like all the nurses, I knew
that my experience did not compare to what the men in the field had to endure; all the nurses
had some “survivor's guilt”. Seeing the soldiers suffering from a myriad of medical and emotional
problems, I continued to doubt the purpose of this war. However, our nursing expertise was needed.
The men coming in were often happy to see a “round eye woman” as a reminder of home.
Over the years, I thought of Vietnam often and finally returned in 2013 with my youngest son.
It was an enjoyable trip, but the poverty could not be ignored. Later that year, I attended a
program sponsored by D.O.V.E. Fund and was impressed with what this small group was doing to
help the Vietnamese people. I went on to join the Board and returned to Vietnam in 2016 with
my husband, Ed who also became a Board member in 2016.
Ed and I returned to Vietnam with the D.O.V.E. Fund in 2017 and look forward to continue
our work helping the people of Vietnam.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
