From RANCA to ANCA: Thirty Years of Camaraderie and Service

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From RANCA to ANCA Thirty Years of Camaraderie and Service

The History of the Army Nurse Corps Association: Bringing Army Nurses Together to Preserve the Past, Focus on the Present, and Build the Future From RANCA to ANCA Thirty Years of Camaraderie and Service

The History of the Army Nurse Corps Association: Bringing Army Nurses Together to Preserve the Past, Focus on the Present, and Build the Future

Mary T. Sarnecky, DNSc, RN, FNP Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired) Table of Contents

Foreword...... i Genesis...... 1 Early Days...... 1 The Army Nurse Corps Foundation...... 3 The Founding of RANCA ...... 6 The First Biennial Conventions...... 7 Initial Organizational Activities ...... 11 . Community Hospital...... 13 The Colonel Florence A. Blanchfield Army More Progress...... 14 Social Endeavors...... 17 The Biennial Conventions Continue...... 18 Supporting Collegiate Education, Research, . and Scholarship ...... 23 Changes in The Connection ...... 29 More Biennial Conventions ...... 30 Ways and Means...... 35 Activism and Vitality...... 38 Finale ...... 42 Foreword

I am delighted to present the history of the Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) as written by Colonel (Ret .) Mary Sarnecky, DNSc, RN, FNP ..We are very fortunate to procure the services of the Army Nurse Corps’ most preeminent historian to write this mono- graph, since her perspective is invaluable to provide the discussion of the major trends and processes of the organization ..This work documents the 33-year story of this organization from its inception to current times .. The lessons of Army Nurse Corps Association’s history are rooted in the uniqueness of the members’ ongoing commitment to their military profession .. practical information and inspiration ..I urge all who read the his- It is my hope that those who read this account will find both- perience of this group ..I hope this absorbing history will enhance yourtory toappreciation reflect on the of thededication, Army Nurse focus, Corps and Associationfun of the collective . ex

Jeri Graham, Colonel, U .S ..Army (Retired) President, Army Nurse Corps Association

i The year was 1976 ..The bicentennial United States was commemorating its 200th birthday .. . At the same time, the country was lingering in the doldrums of the Cold War .. The Army was undergoing a renaissance in

Army nurses was marked by predictable doses of stress and strains tem- peredthe traumatic by a prevalent wake of atmosphere the recent Vietnam of spirited Conflict. camaraderie, The daily patriotic existence duty, of way of life as an Army nurse always came to a conclusion with the inevi- tabilityand professional of military fulfillment. separation On or balance, retirement life ...wasBut good. often Nonetheless,after unwelcome that endings come fresh and amazing beginnings .

Genesis The year was 1976 ...At that time, a small enclave of retired Army Nurse

Corps officers resurrected a previously discussed idea—the creation of a- tiveformal partnership--the alliance of retired Retired colleagues. Army Nurse And inCorps the final Association analysis, (RANCA) what began . as a Manysimple, years informal before aspiration RANCA’s actual grew withfounding, time intohowever, a powerful another and attempt effec to shape a similar coalition proved largely unsuccessful ...And several years after that, another savvy collection of retired Army nurses once more proposed forming a military nurse association that would embrace retired

That proposal also faltered prior to becoming a reality ...Planners decided thatnurses such from a group all three would military have the branches—the potential to becomeArmy, Navy, too large, and Air unwieldy Force. and less sociable; could require costly paid staff; and might needlessly attemptreplicate to efforts form a ofunion other of alreadyretired Armyexisting, nurses more took generic root andmilitary ultimately retiree blossomedorganizations . such as The Retired Officers Association. In 1976, a third Early Days The origins of RANCA as we know it today can be traced to a meet- - as, in the autumn of 1976 .. . General Madelyn N .. Parks, then chief ofing the held Army at theNurse Windcrest Corps, Methodistarranged the Church small in gathering San Antonio, with Texthe. assistance of General Lillian Dunlap, a retired Corps chief .. . Attend- ees included retired Colonels Jeanne Treacy and Doris M .. Cobb, and

1 about 46 other retired Army nurses living in the local area .. . The. primary item on General Parks’ agenda was the disposition of a. number of valuable artifacts, memorabilia, and important corps chiefs’ formal portraits that had been on display at Delano Hall, the home of the Wal- ter Reed Army Institute of Nursing (WRAIN) at Walter Reed Army Medical the imminent institutional closure of WRAIN these valuable elements of theCenter Army in NurseWashington, Corps heritage DC. General might Parks at worst expressed be lost heror at concern best be renderedthat with inaccessible in some remote Army repository ...She suggested that the Army. Medical Department (AMEDD) Museum might be an appropriate venue for their permanent display ...But the museum’s location at that time was in a dark, cramped area of the basement in Blesse Hall, building 2264, on the former Medical Field Service School quadrangle at Fort Sam Houston, the Army Nurse Corps historical memorabilia, it would require additional squareTexas. Forfootage the AMEDDand need Museum to be more to be accessible an adequate, . appealing location for After some discussion of these and other topics, the small but deter- - nizations of retired Army nurses to meet two separate objectives ...In the mined ad hoc group finally decided to form two related but distinct orga group dedicated to maintaining a spirit of comradeship and amity among itsbeginning, members they ...Its envisioned primary purpose the first alliance,would be RANCA, to facilitate as a permanent communication social across the membership and keep retired Army nurses in contact with one another by such means as a membership roster, a quarterly newsletter, and a biennial convention ...Other original organizational objectives were to facilitate dissemination of information from the chief of the Army Nurse Corps to its retired members and to support the Army Nurse Corps Foun- dation in its mission of preserving the Army Nurse Corps history ...Since one that deliberately steered clear of dealing with issues and causes, they envisionedthe founders the intended sole intent RANCA of the to secondbe first provisionaland foremost federation, a social entity the Army and Nurse Corps Foundation, as spearheading and supporting the creation of ambitious plans involved establishing a bigger AMEDD museum in an all- newa new, purpose-built more powerful building AMEDD at Museuma prime location at Fort Sam on-post Houston, at Fort Texas. Sam TheseHous- ton ..This then was the genesis of the contemporary AMEDD Museum, a reality of today that never would have come to fruition without the vision, - tive Army nurses .. influence, and diligence of a legion of determined retired, former, and ac 2 The Army Nurse Corps Foundation - tion in September 1977 .. . The group’s original board of directors The state of Texas chartered the Army Nurse Corps Founda . collect memorabilia and to seek and amass funds for the construc- first met in December 1977. Its organizational objectives were to. objects that showcased the AMEDD tradition .. . The Army Nurse Corps. tion of an enhanced AMEDD Museum to safeguard and exhibit . period, only ten years .. . Nonetheless, those few years were highly . productiveFoundation’s .. existence as a tax-exempt organization spanned a short - selves to achieving the group’s objectives .. . Colonel Rita Cleveland A number of retired Army Nurse Corps officers committed them serving as vice-president and Colonel Marian Kennedy acting as. led the foundation as its first president with Colonel Edith Whitelaw . representative of the National Bank of Fort Sam Houston, twenty Army the first treasurer. Other foundation board members included a - ingNurse masked Corps a cheerful officers, personality two civilian and advisory a delightful members, sense of and humor, the recalled former chiefs of the Army Nurse Corps. Colonel Cleveland, whose dignified bear She later discovered that, in her absence, the group had elected her as its presidentthat she was ...In not that present capacity, at the she foundation’s organized a first large organizational group of Army meeting. Nurse Corps retirees in San Antonio who then collected names and addresses and prepared thousands of solicitations for donations that were mailed out to AMEDD active and retired personnel, other military members, and interested civilian benefactors .. the contributions made by many of the early, hard-working volunteers ... Lieutenant Colonel Margaret Canfield’s active participation typified fund-raising correspondence, performed various types of data entry such asShe recording served on donations the foundation’s and registering executive supporters, board, addresseddeposited funds and mailed at the bank, and later volunteered for countless hours of service at the museum’s items of interest to members of the AMEDD, and other artifacts ...The prof- gift shop—a small retail boutique that featured military medical books, As scores of Army nurse retirees carried out various similar and other assignedits from the responsibilities gift shop added associated considerably with to the the foundation, museum’s coffers.the curator of

3 Armythe existing posts ...AMEDDHe discovered Museum that investigated active and earlier retired efforts soldiers undertaken and the par by- various Army corps to build branch-specific museums at other far-flung When construction of the particular facility reached completion, the group thenticular deeded branch’s the benefactors museum building originally to the financed local Army almost authorities all these museums. who sub-

Simultaneously, General Dunlap was working behind the scenes to gain thesequently backing undertook of a few powerful responsibility allies ...forShe maintenance conferred with and General staffing. Spurgeon Neel, the commander of Health Services Command, with the Brooke Army commandant of the Academy of Health Sciences, soliciting their support ... Medical Center hospital commander, and with General Charles Pixley, and that of the AMEDD corps chiefs ...He also asked that land be made availableGeneral Pixley for the in new turn museum wrote the at thesurgeon corner general of Harry asking Wurzbach for his and approval Stan- ley Roads on post at Fort Sam Houston ...That request met with approval .. At the 1982 RANCA convention in San Diego, California, RANCA members in attendance voted to support a pledge totaling $50,000 for the mu- - timeseum’s of buildingthe 1982 fund. reunion, They the specified foundation that thealready money had be collected used to defray $21,000, ex penses incurred in erecting a library within the museum complex. At the For a while thereafter, only a few small donations trickled in ...To elicit morethe bulk contributions, of which they RANCA invested mailed pro out tem a special in two request Certificates letter of in Deposit.Novem- ber 1983 asking individual members to donate to the RANCA pledge ...The mailing resulted in a bountiful response ...In March 1984, the foundation realized its goal of raising the entire sum of $50,000 .. On 1 May 1984, Colonel Cleveland passed the president’s gavel to Colo- nel Virginia Brown ...Assisting Colonel Brown as vice-president, secretary, and treasurer respectively were Colonel Ellen Gann, Lieutenant Colonel period of Colonel Cleveland’s tenure, the group also collected almost 200 ArmyRegina Nurse Schiffman, Corps-related and Mr. historical F.R. Kirkpatrick. heirlooms In destined the more for than future seven-year display within the museum ...At the same time, the foundation had a healthy account balance of $31,000 ...It subsequently resolved to contribute another grant of $25,000 to the AMEDD Museum Foundation for the design and planting of a display area called the Army Nurse Corps Memorial Garden ... This serene setting on the facility’s grounds was dedicated to the memory of all deceased Army nurses ...The intent was that, “a tranquil garden area

4 seen immediately by visitors as they enter the museum [would] be a re- minder of all Army Nurses who have given so much over the years ”. In donating $50,000 for the library and $25,000 for the display garden, the

AMEDDArmy Nurse Museum Corps ...However, Foundation the wasfoundation the first made group more to step donations forward to andthe AMEDDrealize their Museum original as time fund-raising passed ... Fromgoals and1984 finalize to 1987, their additional pledges contri to the- butions totaled $42,327 ...Clearly, Army Nurse Corps volunteers did not were not limited to monetary gifts and historical artifacts ...Also included inonly their reach endowment but actually were exceeded their very their personal pledges. and And special their gifts contributions of time and talent .. - tors deemed the work of the trailblazing Army Nurse Corps Foundation completeAfter oneand decadethe organization of the foundation’s was formally existence, and legally the board disbanded of direc in 1987 ...The board declared that the goals of the foundation had been ac- werecomplished. subsequently Moreover, transferred its purposes to the had AMEDD been fulfilled Museum above Foundation and beyond ..Fu- expectations. Consequently, the foundation’s remaining financial assets-

Corpsture fundraising Foundation, became wrote: the exclusive responsibility of the AMEDD Mu seumThose Foundation. who worked Colonel so hardBrown, to getthe thefinal organization president of started the Army and Nurse then continued to work throughout the years to ensure its success should be commended for a job well done ...Also, many thanks to all the Army Nurse time and money ...The Army Nurse Corps members should be very proud ofCorps their officers contributions and friends toward who makinghave supported an Army the Medical organization Department with their Mu- seum a reality . Years later General Dunlap revealed her motivation to work so assiduously for the preservation of AMEDD history and the creation of the new AMEDD museum .. . Her sentiments echo those of all .

I realized the importance of trying to preserve [our] history and make itthe known… Army Nurse But so Corps much officers of it is who lost helped and it towon’t make be the found museum if we adon’t reality. do something about it, because the people who made it are going to be gone . I think this is one thing that General Spurgeon Neel and I have talked about related to our museum ...We feel an obligation to try to get that history, that we were part of making, recorded and available to the museum…

5 We have talked about lessons learned ...We learn from our history, and we have to have it available to us .. At the same time these Army nurse retiree-activists were working tirelessly to establish the Army Nurse Corps Foundation and implement - tious manner . their charter goals, they also were launching RANCA in an equally expedi The Founding of RANCA Following the autumn 1976 get-together at the Windcrest. Methodist Church in San Antonio, the small but motivated band of retir- of forming an organization of retired Army nurses ...They selected Colonel Cobbees decided to act as to the form group’s a fact-finding president withcommittee Colonel to Marian ascertain A ..Tierney the feasibility serving as secretary and Colonel Sally Rawlins Hayes as vice-president and treasurer ...Other members of the initial board of directors who served prior to

Anderson, Ann B ..Cost, and Augusta L ..Short and Colonel Whitelaw ...The originalthe first biennialcohort resolved election toof discoverofficers included the level Lieutenant of popular Colonels interest Alma among B. . answer this question, Colonel Cobb devised a questionnaire in. Novemberretired Army 1976 Nurse while Corps working officers in a in little creating room aat formal the back association. of her house To survey to over 2,400 retirees ...It asked the retirees if they would support andthat participateshe jokingly in dubbed the proposed “the first RANCA unofficial organization RANCA office.” ...Over She 1,100 mailed replies her those responding, 1,053 favored forming a retiree organization while 28 opposedfilled Colonel the idea Cobb’s ...Of mailbox the total and number they were of Army overwhelmingly nurses who positive.wrote back, Of 928 sent contributions of from $1 to $20 to subsidize the costs involved in the original mailing .. Encouraged by the survey results, Colonel Cobb implemented the

Lieutenant Colonels Cost and Anderson teamed up with Colonel Cobb on thisnext project step of ..Thethe developmentaltrio received advice process, and thebacking creation from of Lieutenant RANCA’s by-laws. Colonel

- mentAnderson’s and the husband, U .S ..Army a Judge JAG Association Advocate General and the (JAG) Women’s officer. Army The Corps Fort Sam As- sociationHouston JAG shared office facsimiles added their of their recommendations constitutions toafter serve studying as writing the docu tem- plates. Soon, this industrious threesome finished writing RANCA’s initial 6 version of organizational by-laws . The original document outlined a number of fundamentals ...It estab- memberslished San were Antonio, those Texas, who ashad the retired site of from the corporation’sactive or reserve main service office. asIt Armyspecified nurses two .. levels. Associate of membership—regularmembership applied to and two associate. sub-categories Regular of Army nurses ...First it included those still on active duty who were eligible had served previous tours on active duty and were honorably discharged ... Thefor retirement legal directives and secondly, also made those provision former for Army annual Nurse membership Corps officers dues, who set soon thereafter at $5 per year ...They directed that a biennial meeting take place as well as any necessary special meetings called by the president, board of directors, or more than ten percent of the voting members ...Addi- tionally, the by-laws vested authority for managing the corporation in the

- calhands regions of a boardof the country of directors—the ...These areas president, represented vice-president, Army nurses secretary, resid- ingtreasurer, in the northeast,and no less the than middle five directors states, the representing southeast, the various central, geographi and the western states ...The by-laws named all former chiefs of the Army Nurse Corps as honorary members of the board, serving in an advisory capacity ...They also provided guidelines for the formation and conduct of committees, detailed necessary financial points, and identified a process for amending the by-laws. The final organizational step involved forwarding Augustthe document 1977 .. to the state of Texas for its seal of approval. State officials promptly chartered RANCA and issued a certificate of incorporation in The First Biennial Conventions convention, set to take place in 1978 ..Lieutenant Colonel Alice Weinstein and TheColonel board Erna then Thompson turned their volunteered thoughts to organizingserve as the the convention first biennial co- chairs and this proved an onerous responsibility because of the limited time available to plan the meeting ..In spite of many challenges, the duo coincide with Fiesta in San Antonio on 14 and 15 April 1978, thinking that thismet wouldwith great allow success. those attending They organized the convention the first tobiennial also take convention part in the to Fiesta celebrations ...However, the city was entertaining throngs of visitors at the same time and that made finding7 a large block of accommodations - tendees at the Broadway Plaza Hotel on Loop 410 where a single room fordifficult. one person The committee was available searched for $26 and a locatednight ... RANCAlodging arranged for most forof the buses at to transport the attendees to various activities ..The Academy of Health Sciences hosted the convention meetings in the Blesse Auditorium at Fort Sam Houston where 326 enthusiastic registrants converged ...Colonel Treacy described the opening ceremonies as “solemn, colorful, and inspir-

Antonio mayor and Major General Kenneth Dirks, the Academy of Health Sciencesing, [and] superintendent; befitting our organization.” both welcomed Opening the attendeesspeakers included...General the Parks, San the chief of the Army Nurse Corps, presented a contemporary update on the status of the Army Nurse Corps ...Colonel Cleveland, president of the Army Nurse Corps Foundation; Major General Kenneth D ..Orr, chair of the Steering Committee of the AMEDD Museum Foundation; and Colonel Te- resa Touroney, representing Army Nurse Corps recruiting, all addressed the group ...Thirteen of the Army nurse Prisoners of War (POWs) in the - ference ...They shared with the group memorabilia from their years of de- tentionPhilippines including during a World number War of II items were thethey honored had crafted guests out at ofthe the first scarce con resources available to them while prisoners ...They used the articles to sustain themselves throughout their internment at the hands of the Japanese Army ...One such item, for instance, was a knitted undergarment that one of the nurse POWs fashioned with improvised bamboo knitting needles, substituting string for yarn ...Other elements of the convention program included a luncheon honoring the POWs and a reception paying tribute to the current and past corps chiefs ... A nominating committee composed of one member from each geographical area had conferred and prepared a slate of candidates earlier for - tha L ..Lark, Lieutenant Colonels Elizabeth M ..Breitung and Evelyn V ..Kay, the first election of RANCA officers. The committee included Major Mar directors elected at the convention in accordance with the organization’s by-lawsand Colonels included Margaret Colonels A. Ewen, Jeanne and Treacy, Mary C.president; Quinn. The Stella first Bryant, officers vice- and president; Catherine Betz, secretary; and Doris Cobb, treasurer ...Compris- ing the team of elected regional directors were Major Edith Aynes, Colo- nels Nellie Henley and Mildred I .. Clark, and Lieutenant Colonels James Downey and Marion Steinhilber ...At the post-convention board meeting, the board appointed a number of committee chairpersons ...Those accepting the appointments included Colonel Louise Rosasco, Constitution and

8 Bylaws; General Dunlap, Nomination; Colonel Ewen, Newsletter; Colonel Kennedy, Finance and Budget; Lieutenant Colonel Margaret Connolly, Membership; Colonel Doris Frazier, Historian; Colonel Erin Cannon, Me- - sistant Secretary . morial Blanchfield Army Hospital; and Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, As- ments Committee ...In that capacity, she put forth several suggestions for Colonel Rosasco served as the first chair of the Rules and Amend proposed that the membership consider a provision for honorary mem- bershipamending status the by-laws.for civilians The who first, had originally made important submitted contributions by Colonel toClark, the cause of Army nursing ...The second submission asked that Army Nurse included in the regular membership category as opposed to the associate groupCorps ..officersAnother still proposal serving raised on active the question duty but of establishingeligible for retirementa category forbe lifetime membership ...Those in attendance considered all of these submis- sions during the proceedings of the 1978 convention ...However, they took - conventionno action, deciding . that the points merited more extensive study and re flection. They recommended that the ideas be re-considered at the 1980 notedIn retrospect,that spending Colonel so much Treacy time affirmed with dear that oldthe friendsgroundbreaking “was a special 1978 treatRANCA .. .. .!” convention It was a unique “was a opportunity magnificent “to and renew memorable old acquaintances occasion.” and She to get caught up-to-date” with former comrades in arms ...Colonel Treacy - vention “was a dream come true ”. aptlyThe concluded second biennial that for RANCAher and convention all the attendees, took place the firstat the biennial La Mansion con del Norte Hotel in San Antonio from 27 to 29 April 1980 ...It also was a well-attended meeting ...A total of 630 members registered for the event - dance at the luncheon, featuring a presentation by former Philippine POW andwhile retired approximately Army nurse 600 Lieutenant actually were Colonel present H .R .. Brantley,at the gatherings. totaled 730 Atten par- ticipants .. The meeting’s celebrated guests were ten Army nurses who served during World War I ...At the convention banquet, an emotional high point occurred when mistress of ceremony Colonel Betz introduced these personal backgrounds ...The membership honored each of the ten with a spiritedhonored standing veterans ovation and provided ...“There details was hardly of their a dry wartime eye in experiencesthe audience” and as each rose to acknowledge the audience recognition ..

9 of directors designated Colonel Rose V ..Straley as the new RANCA presi- dentThe with membership Colonel Barbara voting E to..Earle select serving new officers as vice-president, and the incoming Colonel board Betz functioning as secretary and Colonel Marjorie J ..Wilson assuming the responsibilities of treasurer ...Among the new regional directors were Colo- nels Katherine R ..Jump, Margaret E ..Weydert, Julia E ..Decker, and Edith M .. Nuttall, and Lieutenant Colonel Elsie G ..Reap ...Those accepting appointments as committee chairpersons were Colonels Elizabeth A .. Blomer, Constitution and Bylaws; Jennie Caylor, Nominations; Maurice Hensley, Finance and Budget; Mary Quinn, Historian; Mildred I ..Clark, Memorial, - ter; Marian Waterhouse and Gladys Johnson, 1982 Convention; Lila Bosch andBlanchfield Becky Glisson,Army Hospital; Assistant Margaret Secretaries; A. Ewen, and LieutenantPublic Relations-Newslet Colonel Agnes Thompson, Membership .. One noteworthy resolution generated from the membership at the 1980 convention involved a donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to be erected in the future on the mall in Washington, DC ...RANCA voted to contribute $140 to this fund in lasting homage to the nine Army Nurse inscribe the names of the nine fallen Army nurses on the monument’s memorial,Corps officers the structure who died designed in the toVietnam spring War.from Thethe groundsum would as the be Vietnam used to Veteran’s Wall . In 1982, the third biennial convention took place in San Diego, Califor- nia ...A total of 507 RANCA members participated in the conference ...The

General Hazel W ..Johnson who represented the Army Nurse Corps, Colo- nelextensive Clara L program .. Adams-Ender involved who a number spoke about of speakers, recruiting including matters, Brigadier Colonel Maude Smith who paid tribute to deceased Army nurses, Colonel Ewen who shared reminiscences about the evolution of the Connection newsletter, Lieutenant Colonel Madeline Ullom who briefed the audience about POW and veteran’s health care, General Dunlap who updated on the status of the AMEDD Museum Foundation, Colonel Cleveland who outlined progress within the Army Nurse Corps Foundation, and Colonel Clark who pre-

Hospital ...The reunion’s theme focused on all things Hawaiian and those attendingsented a slide the festivitiesshow showcasing celebrated on the 35new Army Blanchfield nurses inArmy attendance Community that served in Hawaii on the Day of Infamy, 7 December 1941 ...At the gala ban- décor and menu followed an island motif ...Colonel Katherine R ..Jump, mis- quet, aloha attire and tropical flowers were very much in evidence and the 10 the Pearl Harbor veterans, emphasizing “the humor in an otherwise very stressfultress of ceremonies, day ”. shared excerpts from letters and memoirs written by place at the 1982 reunion ...Those accepting their new responsibilities in- cludedInstallation Colonels ofMercedes RANCA’s M new ..Fischer, officers Gladys and Eboard ..Johnson, of directors Alice M also..Metzger took and Virginia L ..Brown, who respectively would serve two-year terms as the organization’s president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer ...Among the directors were Colonels Mary C ..Quinn, Gertrude I ..Mahn, Ramona E .. Delaney, and Barbara Costello, and Lieutenant Colonel Eleanor L ..Gordner ... The members appointed to serve as committee chairs were Lieutenant

Nominations; Colonel Hensley, Finance and Budget; Lieutenant Colonel AgnesColonel Thompson, Henrietta Pfeffer,Membership; Constitution Colonel andClarine Bylaws; Weighill, Colonel Historian; Nellie Henley,Colo- - lations, Newsletter; Lieutenant Colonel Steinhilber, 1984 Convention; and Colonelsnel Clark, Bosch Memorial and Glisson,Blanchfield Assistant Army Hospital;Secretaries Colonel ...The 1982Ewen, Convention Public Re was a fun-filled,Initial poignant, Organizational and informative event. Activities to develop in both scope and sophistication .. . Many of the slowly but steadilyIn the increasing months afterbody theof members first biennial convinced convention, their friendsRANCA to continued join and the organization’s numbers multiplied ...By July 1978, RANCA boasted a

1979, it claimed 1,635 members ...In May 1980, it tallied a cohort of 2,006 dues-payingmembership RANCAof 1,573. members After a ... yearIn years and to a come,half of the existence numbers in stabilizedFebruary around the 2,000-member mark and rarely deviated by more or less than 300 members ...In spite of this seemingly robust numerical strength, the organizational leadership had abiding concerns about the long-term viability of the group ...They gloomily observed that “If this [RANCA] lasts for - tors recognized that a sizable contingent of the group represented World War20 years, II era we’ll Army do Nurse well.” Corps The astute veterans, founding almost officers all of whom and board were of moving direc passing away ...Clearly it was imperative that new blood step forward to into elder status and each year a significant number of these heroes were that end, they once again encouraged each and every RANCA member to fill the steadily depleting ranks of the charter generation of members. To 11 A handful of structural changes evolved as the organization matured ... Inrecruit December just one 1983, more the participant Board voted to swellto grant the voting existing privileges ranks. to associate - - members and decided to create an executive board—the RANCA presi dent,In vice-president, the organization’s treasurer, infancy, and editorsecretary—who Colonel Ewen could producedimplement and of ficial actions between regular board meetings. Its heading featured the organization’s handsome new logo designed by Majormailed Dorothy the first Baltzo, commercially an orb enclosing printed newsletter, the Army Nurse volume Corps 2, number caduceus 1. superimposed on a representation of the oil lamp Nightingale used in the spun out as the origin of the circle’s border that enclosed the organiza- Crimea to illuminate her way on the battlefield. The tail of a large “R” the newsletter included a section labeled “Personal Items” that listed re- queststion’s title—Retired for information Army from Nurse various Corps individuals Association. seeking And thefor thewhereabouts first time, of former Army nurse associates ...For instance, Marzelle Beavers Moore was searching for Trinidad Gamez ...And another correspondent sought clues in her quest for an Army nurse nicknamed “Hoboken” who served at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital in 1951 ...Another section of

- ly,the Colonel newsletter Ewen called noted attention that, “we to need the adeaths catchy of title six forformer this publication,”Army Nurse announcingCorps officers. that, Later “your this suggestions section would are welcomeevolve into ”. The“Parade best Rest.”idea quickly Final came from Colonel Clark who proposed calling the newsletter, “The Con- nection,” inasmuch as it actually served to connect the membership ...On that note, Lieutenant Colonel Edna F .. Stappenbeck of Whitesboro, New York, wrote that even though “I’m ‘up here’ in the northeast, I now have ‘a connection’ to the past, present, and future” of the Army Nurse Corps . The second issue of the Connection’s volume 2, distributed in Novem- ber 1978, incorporated several additional improvements ...It included a “Roundup Time” with newsy items from various members in the assort- ed geographical regions, a section devoted to membership and address meetings ...This issue also represented the beginnings of an enduring as- sociationchanges, andwith another Carolyn that D .. Putnamoffered assnippets the publication’s of information editorial from assistantthe board ... A long-time friend and supporter of the Army Nurse Corps who also was

General Dunlap’s close friend and sister, Ms ..Putnam assumed the chal- executive secretary for the Brooke Army Medical Center commander and 12 - lenge of doing the final typing of the manuscript and delivering it for print Anding. earlySome inyears 1993, later Lieutenant in March Colonel 1985, Lieutenant Sheila McCann Colonel added Canfield her literary joined voicethe original to the editorialConnection duo as and an lentassistant her efforts editor ...andColonel expertise Ewen as concluded co-editor. the Volume 2, Number 2 issue of the newsletter by sharing that she had her witty, down to earth fashion that she “never did trust those new-fan- gledencountered gadgets ”.some She furtherglitches advisedin the “computerized all members tomailing inform list,” RANCA confiding if they in moved or changed their name, reminding readers that we “are working on it, but right now none of us can read your mind!!!” The Colonel Florence A. Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Early in 1978, General Parks resolved to honor Colonel Florence A .. - lenging World War II era, in a meaningful way ...General Parks wished to Blanchfield, the respected chief of the Army Nurse Corps during the chal naming the newly erected Fort Campbell, Kentucky, hospital in her mem- orycommemorate ...She asked Colonelfor RANCA’s Blanchfield’s assistance special ...The contributionsorganization enthusiastically to the Army by responded after Colonel Cobb initially contacted about 125 members, who in turn notified their Army friends and acquaintances asking all to petition the authorities to name the facility after Colonel Blanchfield. The Fortletter-writing Campbell crusadepost commander, snowballed Major and General an avalanche John A of..Wickham; letters filled and nuthe- merousmailboxes congressmen of the surgeon and general,senators Lieutenant ...General Wickham, General Charles who would Pixley; make the - the final decision to name the hospital, could not ignore the deluge of re quests. As he told the hospital commanding officer, he received so much Marchmail from 1978 Army to dedicate nurses thethat hospital he would as abe permanent terrified to memorial call the institutionto Colonel anything but the Blanchfield Hospital. General Wickham did decide in

ArmyBlanchfield. nurses, This both was active not and the retired, first instance then raised of an funds Army to hospital subsidize bearing a por- the name of an Army nurse, but it was the only existing facility so named. lobby ...The contemporary surgeon general, Lieutenant General Bernhard trait and a bust of Colonel Blanchfield for the military treatment facility’s

13 HospitalT. Mittemeyer, on 17 and September a host of 1982 dignitaries ...The state-of-the-art and Blanchfield facility family remainsand friends to- officially dedicated the Colonel Florence A. Blanchfield Army Community day in living testimony to the contributions of Colonel Blanchfield and all Army Nurse Corps officersMore who have Progress served across the ages. Indications of healthy organizational growth and change continued to emerge as the board of directors continually fostered essential innova- tions ...In 1980, the RANCA membership continued to total slightly over -

2,000 but the increasingly complex work of the association could no lon Cobb’sger be reasonablyback room accommodatedto Colonel Wilson’s within garage the confines ...But after of anyone’sa time, even private the home. The miniscule RANCA office had moved previously from Colonel atspace Weidner afforded Road in San a garage Antonio becamethat served inadequate. as a central Accordingly,business point, the board arented dedicated a small work 300 place, square and foot the office prescribed in the NCOA location building for the on consolidation IH 35 North

- of records and office materials. Several board members donated items- to furnish the space—a large desk, chairs, and electrical devices—a type waswriter, not letter widely opener, publicized and clock. ...Neither Since was the officeany mail did notreceived function at that as a locatypi- tioncal business ...Instead office all association with regularly mail scheduled arrived at hours,the permanent its exact whereabouts RANCA Post was consistently busy ...Almost daily, Colonel Wilson processed dues there whileOffice otherBox 39235, volunteers Serna and Station, assistant in San secretaries Antonio. Nonetheless,spent countless the hoursoffice preparing the membership roster, packing the printed version in mailers, applying address labels, and sorting the parcels into mailbags by zip code ... in the company of her much-loved puppies, “T .R ”. and a “fat white, sassy” The Connection editor, Colonel Ewen, assisted in these and other efforts- againcanine, ... The“Punkin,” new facility who functioned was located as the at 8209team’s Roughrider, official “watchdog Suite #100E, and pro in thetector.” Windcrest Almost areathree of decades San Antonio later in.. . With2008, virtually the ANCA equal office rent, moved the oncenew location . officeAlso offered in 1980, three the rooms, board plentyvoted ofto parking,increase and annual a superbly dues from convenient $5 to

1 4 $10 ...This doubling of dues was based on the December 1979 budget that - revealed an operating income of $9,000 that equaled the operating ex membershippenses of $9,000. roster Ever-escalating increased twofold expenses within also a triggeredtwo-year theperiod change. ...While For formerlyexample, thecosts total involved outlay in for printing publishing and themailing Connection the Connection was $500 and per the is- - ing and mailing the much-heavier membership roster and the attached, sue, in 1980 the expenditure grew to $1,000 to $1,200 quarterly. Produc board noted that without the typing that was done by volunteers in the labor-intensiveupdated by-laws process, called for the an price expenditure tag for all ofof anthe estimated printed outreach $10,500. publi The- cations would be prohibitive .. The board of directors meeting in San Antonio in September 1984 was two-month study to determine the feasibility of using a computerized systeman exceptionally to manage productive RANCA’s administrative gathering. The operations board decided ..One toyear authorize later, the a Connection revealed that RANCA’s records were in the process of being “computerized by purchasing computer services from the National Bank of Fort Sam Houston ”. Once the process was complete, it reported, “statis- tical information can be made readily available ”. The computerization was fully implemented in December 1985 ...However, a few glitches remained ... In March 1986, several members who were not actually delinquent with their dues received erroneous notices that they were in arrears ...The Con- that have not yet happened, we apologize ...We are continuing to perfect ournection data addressed and the resultant these difficulties, output of statingthe computer that, for ...Please “this and bear other with errors us ”. The 1984 board also resolved to study the possibility of funding and updating the Army Nurse Corps “Highlights in the History of the Army Nurse Corps” history pamphlet .. This proposal never achieved fruition ... - lationship with the Vietnam Nurses Memorial Project that would evolve intoThe boardthe Vietnam also agreed Women’s to examine Memorial and on clarify the mall the in nature Washington, of its future DC ...Sev re- approvederal months the later funding the executivefor an annual committee medal ofto therecognize board votedthe outstanding to grant a financial contribution to the project. Also in 1984, the board of directors

Army Nurse Corps graduate of the AMEDD Officer Advanced Course. This medal had been in existence for over 20 years but the original financial support for its purchase was exhausted in 1984. On 14 December 1984, Colonel Ewen presented the first RANCA-supported1 5 version of the medal to that year’s honor graduate Captain Patricia Saulsbery .. . A number of RANCA members attended the award ceremony at the Academy of Health

1997, the award underwent a metamorphosis ...At that time, the Advanced CourseSciences ceased and congratulated to be a permanent the recipient change of of the station first assignment“RANCA medal.” and be In- came a temporary duty course .. . Along with this change came another of course completion ...Thus, no one student was named the outstanding graduatemodification ...Consequently, as students theno longerRANCA earned Medal evolveda numerical into gradea formal at therecogni time- in the realm of nursing practice while serving at the level of a major or lieutenanttion bestowed colonel on a ... distinguishedThe medal was Army renamed Nurse the Corps RANCA officer Advanced who excelled Nurs- nurse at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Medical Intensive Care and Coro- narying Practice Care units Award. ...Major Its firstHunt’s recipient “commitment was Major to theDonna nursing Hunt, research clinical head pro- her spirit of volunteerism” were the basis for her recognition ...The second, 1999,cess and RANCA to scientific-based Advanced Nursing nursing Practice practice, Award her teachingrecipient expertise, was Lieuten and- ant Colonel Gemryl Samuels, the chief of Community Health Nursing at Brooke Army Medical Center ... - mance of Army nurses ...In 1987, the board voted to sponsor the Colonel KatherineRANCA F sponsored..Galloway Distinguishedother awards toNurse recognize Award excellence ...Presented in annuallythe perfor at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, the recognition hon- year, Lieutenant Colonel Jude Larkin won the distinction for his “integrity, dedicationored the exceptional and competence” service ofand a nurse his contributions assigned to that“to theinstitution. advancement That of nursing practice ”. The RANCA director of Region 2, Lieutenant Colo- nel Connie Ferebee, presented the commendation ...RANCA underwrote - played the engraved name of each year’s award winner . the expenditures for the purchase of the Galloway Award plaque that dis were equally ready to implement needed change ...They voted to charge a Officers attending the October 1985 meeting of the board of directors also decided to levy a $15 charge for delinquent renewals from continuing $15 initiation fee for those applying for first-time membership. The board The latter penalty for overdue renewals also would demonstrate recogni- members. These charges would partially offset escalating mailing costs. process the late renewals and to mail reminders to those whose fees were tion of the extra time and attention required of the volunteer office staff to 16 overdue ...Then-president Colonel Frazier reasoned that it was “only fair that these costs be borne by the responsible member ”. A second major by-laws ...The group voted to open associate membership to all active duty Armymodification nurses thatwith resulted at least from16 years this meetingof active had federal to do service with the .. . This, RANCA the aboutboard thebelieved, continued would survival “tend toof ensurethe organization [a] continuing and intendedinflux of membersto “reach in the future.” The RANCA board was always anxious and apprehensive retirement ”. the active duty Army Nurse Corps Officers by involving them [well] before Social Endeavors From the organization’s earliest days, RANCA’s guiding organizational principles stressed the importance of its social role ...The emphasis on this priority continued as years passed ...In 1984 when she accepted the RANCA - philosophicalpresidency, Colonel preferences Frazier clearly wrote, favored “RANCA activities exists to geared celebrate to sponsoring and com reunions,memorate preserving our mutual old experience friendships, as Armyfacilitating Nurses.” congenial The organization’s communication, sharing memories, and maintaining interpersonal connections as the group’s pivotal standard ...Other functions such as supporting advances in personal and professional knowledge, bolstering worthwhile programs, taking stands on controversial issues, and delving into internal Army Nurse Corps concerns assumed a far distant second place in RANCA’s or- der of priorities ...On one occasion in 1986, the board addressed the ap- prehensions of several members “who asked what RANCA is doing to stop members “that RANCA, the organization, is not, repeat, not a lobbying groupthe ‘erosion ”. The ofboard retirement advised benefits’.” those who The were governing disturbed body about reminded the current these

Obviously, the organization declined to involve itself, as a group, in that state of retirement benefits might well “react as individuals” to this issue.-

Museumcontroversy. through There the were mechanism a few exceptions of the Army to the Nurse purely Corps social Foundation, focus, how theever, drive that towere have exemplified the Fort Campbell in the organization’s Community Hospitalpatronage named of the in AMEDD a trib- nurses on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, DC, and the sponsorshipute to Colonel of Blanchfield, the RANCA the medal support for theorganized outstanding to recognize AMEDD fallen Advanced Army Course graduate ...

17 In 1983 however, RANCA set out on another venture that expanded- periencingtheir previously acute set personnel activity shortageshorizons. ...ItAt floated that time, a suggestion the Connection that RANCA pub- lishedmembers an entryhelp to under recruit “Miscellaneous Army nurses inItems,” a period that when delineated the Corps a “Proposal was ex of Assistance Which May be Provided by RANCA Members in Army Nurse Corps Recruiting ”. It simply proposed several channels for giving assistance to Army Nurse Corps recruiters such as (1) visiting college and university campuses with Army Nurse Corps recruiting personnel, (2) providing mentorship for potential or new Army Nurse Corps accessions, (3) world-wide education obtained via travel .. acting as centers of influence at nursing functions, and (4) disseminating The Biennial Conventions Continue The fourth RANCA convention convened in sunny Orlando, Flor- ida, on 15 April 1984 ...A total of 568 members enjoyed the opportunity to meet with their companions from earlier days ...They listened atten- tively to the presentations of speakers at the meeting ...Among those ad- dressing the reunion were Brigadier General Connie L ..Slewitzke, Colonel Maude Smith, and Colonel Robert J ..Allen, USAF, a representative of the grant RANCA life memberships and the organization voted on the amount ofNational dues such Security an option Briefing would Team. entail Colonel ...The issue Cobb then discussed went to a theproposal board toof directors for approval and the board ultimately voted against implement- - ties involved in dealing with such a system would place an onerous bur- ing the change. It concluded that the bookkeeping and clerical complexi den on its small staff of office volunteers. At the 1984 reunion, General vice-president,Johnson installed secretary the new and slate treasurer of officers—Colonel ..The newly elected Frazier, regional Lieutenant direc- torsColonel included Downey, Lieutenant Colonels Colonel Hensley Ferebee, and Bosch—respectively and Colonels Ernestine as president, Bolduc, Virginia Nellis, Kathryn Nellis, and Lacadia Clarke ...In addition, the president announced her choice of appointees to chair the various committees ... They included Colonels Thompson, Galloway, Ewen, Althea Williams, Mar- ian Barbieri, Clarine Weighill, Costello, Margaret Bailey, Weydert, and Glis- son who each assumed responsibilities for the Membership, Nominating, Public Relations, Bylaws, and Finance-Budget committees and who served as Historian, Convention, Convention ’86 chairperson and Assistant Sec-

18 retary ...Colonel Frazier summarized the spirit of the reunion, writing that new ones, and to refresh old memories ”. Another attendee, Wooda Nicho- lasit “was, Carr, asenlarged always, on a thesephenomenal sentiments experience when he to recalled: see old friends, to make RANCA Convention ’84 will probably linger in my mind for a long time ...For one thing, there were more men present ...At the banquet on emerged three Army Nurses with whom I served in Tokyo, Japan, at the 8167thour final Army evening, Hospital three back of us in were 1952 at ... Thosethe same three table. Angels From of Mercymy past, had there not changed one bit in my mind’s eye ...We spoke of Big and Little Switch, of fireworks on the smelly Sumida River, and of walks along the Ginza. Also generalduring my [Connie military Slewitzke] career I met...Despite several all high-ranking medical warnings, officers, I reallybut this didn’t was washthe first my time hands in untilmy life later I ever that shook same handsevening with . a charming one star lady It was a time again to renew friendships which emerged from the past; to walk the corridors of time in retrospect, yet being fully aware of the present ...Amid the clinking of glasses, the laughter, the greetings, one one caught the mournful cry of a train whistle beyond a rice paddy in Ko- rea;also theheard snap the of sound a drill ofsergeant’s gunfire as voice it echoed on the across parade a grounds cornfield at in Fort France, Sam Houston; the scratch of an instructor’s piece of chalk on a blackboard ... Thanks again RANCA, for allowing me into your inner circle . The 5th Biennial RANCA convention assembled from 11 to 13 April 1986 during cherry blossom time in the nation’s capital ...Colonels Bailey and Weydert managed all the local arrangements ...The Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, provided the hospitality, meeting areas, and lodging for the 533 registrants ..The RANCA president, Colonel Frazier, opened the meetings with a tap of the gavel followed by the Army - nel Cobb led the audience in the pledge of allegiance and Colonel Quinn Color Guard of the 3rd Infantry (Old Guard) posting the colors. Next Colo by Lieutenant General Quinn Becker, the surgeon general; General Slewit- zke,offered chief an of invocation. the Army Nurse There Corps; then followedEunice Cole, introductions president ofand the greetings Ameri- severalcan Nurses short Association, movie features and otherincluding local “We officials. Were There,”After the a videoconclusion that in of- spiredthe business pride inmeeting, the Army a mini-film Nurse Corps, festival and took “They place. All CameAttendees Home,” viewed that vividly portrayed the austere experiences19 of the World War II nurse POWs in the Philippines. That Saturday afternoon, the attendees explored the area’s many cultural offerings and historical monuments. One spellbound- visitor commented on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, finding it “so very well backdone, many simple, memories dignified, .…It and hasn’t beautiful. improved It did with bring age tears ”. to my eyes.” An otherOn shared the second her observation day of the meeting, that “getting Colonel caught Brown in D.C.updated traffic attendees brought on the Army Nurse Corps Foundation while General Dunlap spoke about

Foundation and the Army Retirement Residences in San Antonio and Po- tomac,the AMEDD Maryland, Museum also Foundation. briefed attendees Representatives on their institutions from the Army...Colonel Distaff Ad- ams-Ender, chief, Department of Nursing, gave a slide-tour of Walter Reed Army Medical Center ...The Honorable G .V ..(Sonny) Montgomery, U .S ..Rep- resentative from Mississippi, was the featured speaker at that day’s luncheon ...Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays subsequently installed the newly - ant Colonel Downey, vice president; Colonel Amy D ..Geissinger, secretary; andelected Colonel officers. Bosch, They treasurer included ...The Colonel new regional Sally Travers, directors president; were Lieutenant Lieuten Colonels Charlotte Matthias, Connie Ferebee, and Rose Munchback and - mittee consisted of Colonels Elizabeth Rogers Ballew, Miriam Gately, and LieutenantColonels Ruth Colonels Satterfield Mary and L ..Pritchard, Joanne Farrell. Kathryn The Nellis, new nominatingand Robert comBur- ton ...Following the 1986 reunion, Colonel Travers selected a number of new committee chairpersons and re-appointed a few seasoned veterans to their previously held positions ...Those who accepted special committee responsibilities were Lieutenant Colonels Elizabeth Kewley and Kathryn Nellis who served as membership and nominations chairs respectively ... editors of the Connection and as public relations chairs ...Rounding out theColonel panel Ewen of committee and Lieutenant chairpersons Colonel Canfield were Colonels continued Barbieri, their service Weighill, as Costello, Helen Mackey, and Joan Hickman each of whom assumed their history, convention, amendments and by-laws, and assistant secretary . individualIntroduced roles with spearheading the catchy title groups of “Washington dealing with State finance in ’88,” and the budget, 1988 RANCA convention took place in Seattle at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel from 13 to 14 May ...Colonel Sybil Mercer and Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth crowd of 345 registered members attended the convention ...The opening DeLamater served as co-chairpersons of the sixth biennial event. A large meetings led by president Colonel 20Travers featured greetings proffered Center ...Brigadier General Clara L ..Adams-Ender then addressed the group inby alocal video-tape Seattle officialspresentation and representatives ..As mistress of fromceremonies, Madigan Colonel Army MedicalLeanna Clutter led the festivities of the Saturday evening banquet and the occasion’s musical accompaniment involved entertainment by vocalist, pianist, and accordion player Lucy Mitchell ...The Sunday morning business meeting dealt with committee reports and foundation updates ...Finally, included Lieutenant Colonel Downey, the new president, and Colonels JeanneColonel Hoppe, Cobb led Geissinger, the installation and Barbieri, of new the officers. new vice These president, elected secretary, officials and treasurer respectively ...Regional directors newly installed were Lieu- tenant Colonels Esther Bongiovanni and James Sokoloski and Colonels all were in accord that each convention was a decided improvement upon itsMartha predecessor Johnson, and Mary that Rose this Troniar Seattle meetingand Ruth was Satterfield. unsurpassed The amongattendees all the biennial conventions . The setting for the 7th Biennial convention that met from 25 to 27 May 1990 was the Radisson Hotel in the Mile High City of Denver ...Attendees numbered 377 ...A trio of co-chairmen was instrumental in planning the event ...They were Lieutenant Colonels Dave Bartelt, Marge Varner, and Jan Bachmeyer ...The Friday night Icebreaker set the meeting in motion and one attendee wrote, “we ate, we drank, and we chatted ...Now, what more could we ask?” The Saturday morning business meeting commenced with drill and ceremonies, greetings, and speakers ...The treasurer’s statement chair counted membership at a high of 2282 ...That evening Colonel Hoppe servedaffirmed as that the RANCAmistress continued of ceremonies to operate at the in Saturday the black. banquet The membership ...Those at- who later led a sing-along session featuring old favorites and new tunes ... Thetending evening savored ended fine with dining a rousing to the accompaniment chorus of the Army of pianist Nurse Bud Corps Kreuzer An- them ...More committee reports ensued on Sunday morning followed by an address given by the chief of the Army Nurse Corps, General Adams-Ender ... Lieutenant Colonel Downey subsequently installed the newly elected of- and Patricia Silvestre as the new president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurerficers. They .. . Regional included Directors Colonels Rosemaryassuming McCarthy,their new Barbieri, mantles Waterhouse,were Major Mary Miner, Colonel Martha Johnson, Lieutenant Colonels Ruth Kulvi and of ceremonies at the Sunday luncheon marked by more “good fellowship Schiffman, and Colonel James Herman. Colonel Barbieri was the mistress 21 and camaraderie ”. The convention concluded after the luncheon ...“Good- byes were said, but also was heard, ‘See you in Philadelphia’ ”. The Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia hosted the 8th Bi- ennial RANCA convention 22-24 May 1992 ...Colonel Lena M ..Tague and Lieutenant Colonel Charlotte Matthias served as co-chairpersons of the

It featured, “hugs, tears and happy greetings ...... as folks would spot some- reunion. The first official component of the convention involved a mixer. one not seen in years.” The next day began with the opening ceremonies “theincluding Army a Nurse welcome Corps by .. the .. .Today reincarnation and Tomorrow of Ben ”. TheFranklin. business Next session Brigadier fol- lowedGeneral ... LieutenantNancy Adams, Colonel chief Alof theStreilein Army was Nurse the Corps Saturday presented night’s a briefing,banquet master of ceremonies with background and dancing music provided by the Greater Kensington String Band ...Sunday morning another business - fully attending all the sessions was Skippy, Lieutenant Colonel Dorcus Ir- win’smeeting hearing took placeear dog with ...Skippy various especially briefings enjoyed and committee the banquet, reports. decked Faith out in an elegant black bow tie ...Another special guest was Lieutenant Colonel Laura Goodale Ridge, a 1936 Army School of Nursing graduate who had attended every RANCA convention to date. A first-ever mail-in ballot was andthe instrumentBarbara Kishpaugh, used for electingwho would the benew serving RANCA as officers president, and vice-presi directors.- dent,The incoming secretary officers and treasurer were Colonels...The regional Barbieri, directors Mary were Lou Colonels Spine, Bolduc, Betty Antilla and Doris James and Lieutenant Colonels Jean Houghton, Kulvi, - vention, declaring it was the “perfect combination of greeting old friends and Marthareminiscing Baker. about RANCA’s the good new presidentold Army summedNursing daysup the ”. Itfun-filled made “for con a great time ”. The 9th Biennial convention was held from 8-10 April 1994 in the Hyatt Regency Hotel on San Antonio’s Riverwalk .. Coordinators for the

Members in attendance numbered 419 ...The Saturday morning business meetingconvention opened were with Lieutenant the “rousing Colonels martial Mary music” Cavagnaro played by and the Fifth Schiffman. Army - ies, General Adams provided an update on the contemporary status of the corpsBand. and After introduced the official the greetings newest and Army welcomes Nurse Corps offered Reserve by local general dignitar of- dancing followed, highlighted by chanteuse Colonel McCarthy’s “sultry ficer, Brigadier General Marilyn Musacchio. An evening of fine dining and 22 vocal rendition” and her lively dance movements ...Sunday morning’s business meeting concluded all the committee reports and thereafter Colonel - nels Spine, Maryrose F ..Tronier, Bolduc, and Kishpaugh, newly elected to Cobb installed the new panel of officers and directors. They were Colo regional directors were Major Miner, Colonel Antilla, Lieutenant Colonels Nancythe offices M ..Christ of president, and Larry vice-president, W ..Moss, and secretary, Colonel Alyce and treasurer. J ..Frelin ... AIncoming humor- ous and poignant presentation by guest speaker Dr .. Amy Freeman Lee thoroughly captured the attention and tickled the funny bones of all in attendance at the Sunday luncheon ...Dr ..Lee noted that when she views -

Army nurses she sees “epoxy” because “there is an obvious and percep theirtual bond country between ”. Members all present.” were in She overall also explainedagreement that, that in the her biennial view, Army con- nurses demonstrated heroism because they “sacrificed in the service of an over abundance of love and friendship visibly and emotionally per- ceptible”vention was to alla huge present success. for the “There 1994 were Convention many hugs, ...One a floodunique of featuretears, and at this reunion was the participation of the members of the Retired Army Medical Specialist Association in some of the activities, notably the social events, forSupporting the first time. Collegiate Education, Research, and Scholarship The autumn of 1986 marked the inauguration of the RANCA Educa- tional Fund ...At that time, the board of directors voted to set up a fund whose resources would be awarded “to established scholarship, research

- antand/or Colonel chair Augusta projects” Short existing Scholarship at various Fund collegiate at Incarnate schools Word of nursing. College SchoolThe first of such Nursing scholarship in San Antonio, to benefit an fromeducational this outreach institution was theattended Lieuten by - onel Short was a friend to all and a highly esteemed Army nurse who had retiredmany past in Sanand Antoniocontemporary ...Such Armya tribute Nurse seemed Corps an officers. appropriate Lieutenant acknowl Col- edgement of her lengthy, dedicated service both to the Army Nurse Corps and to RANCA .. In 1987, a very generous but anonymous donor contributed a substantial sum to the RANCA Educational Fund in memory of an Army nurse ...

23 year,That thecontribution fund awarded put thetwo fundadditional on a soundgrants financialin accordance footing with and its blazed objec- the trail for future financial support of nursing scholarship. In its first Nursing Research Conference held annually at the University of Virginia attives. Charlottesville, The first award Virginia of $1,000 .. . The was second earmarked donation, for thealso Phyllis totaling Verhonick $1,000, went to the Theresa S ..LaPlante Research Support Fund at the University of Utah College of Nursing in Salt Lake City, Utah .. Also in 1987, RANCA established the Army Nurse Corps Scholar Fund

- mentat the ofUniversity nursing scienceof Texas ... Fromto promote 1987 tonursing 1995, scholarshipit supported and a number research. of investigationsOver the years, undertaken the fund made by eleven significant participating contributions nurses to ..The the recipients advance of the award in 1991 were the Harriet H ..Werley Nursing Research Fund at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing that received a grant of $1,000 and the School of Nursing Scholarship Fund at the South Dakota University in Brookings, South Dakota, whose grant totaled $2,000 and was designated to subsidize scholarships for basic nursing students ... Up to this point in time, the education fund had awarded $13,000 for nurs- nurses ...The 1992 research grant went to Margaret H ..Brackley and Ann ing scholarships, research and/or chair projects, or efforts to recruit Army Caregiver Intervention ”. Both researchers were faculty members at the Duffy-Kajs to subsidize their investigation entitled “Content Analysis of a scholars fund award went to two other faculty members at the University University of Texas, Health Science Center in San Antonio. In 1995, theof Texas, Health Science Center—Doctors Mary Anne Matteson and Adri anne Dill Linton. The grant was intended to finance data collection for- their study of chronic pain experienced by dementia patients. In 1992, the RANCA education fund refined and clarified their pur orpose, chairs goals, paying and tributecriteria. to TheArmy fund’s nurses newly ..Its updated stated purpose goals were was to to award offer fiscal support to established nursing scholarship funds, research projects, be based on the interest earned by the corpus funds and the donations receivedat least $2,000 from benefactors as a yearly minimum....The monetary The stipendmaximum would annual initially award go would to the school that, in turn, would select the best candidate for the award ...The school had to (1) operate an approved baccalaureate nursing program, (2) have been receptive and supportive of Army Nurse Corps recruitment efforts, (3) provide access to an established24 ROTC program, and (4) have Nursingtax-exempt in Tucson, status. ThatArizona, same and year, to twothe Pam donations Demaree of $1,000and Mike each McGin were- nismade Memorial to the Mary Scholarship F. Jeffries Fund Award in Nursing at the Universityat East Carolina of Arizona University School in of herGreenville, death from North leukemia Carolina. ...The Lieutenant latter two Colonel nurses, Mary Department Jeffries ofwas the an Army Army civilians,Nurse Corps perished officer in serving an air crash at Tripler while Army on duty Medical . Center just prior to The 1993 chairman of the education committee, Colonel Spine, recommended providing scholarship awards to three institutions that year ... Grants in the amount of $1,000 each went to the University of Virginia, Phyllis J ..Verhonick Nursing Research Conference Fund; the University of

Nurse Corps Scholars Fund; and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, SchoolTexas, Health of Nursing, Sciences Harriet Center H ..Werley at San Antonio,Nursing ResearchSchool of FundNursing, . the Army The 1994 education committee directed that three scholarships be awarded in the amount of $1,000 each ...Recipients included the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Smith Scholarship Fund at Austin-Peay Col-

Virginia ...Also, the board voted to award a $500 runner-up award to the lege in Clarksville, Tennessee, and the George Mason University in Fairfax, outstanding ROTC nurse cadets . 1st ArmyOver theRegion years, Cadet the CommandRANCA scholar for educational fund continued expenses to provideincurred sig by-

1990, the RANCA scholar fund supported research implemented by Joyce nificant financial assistance to a number of nursing research projects. In on Depression, Morale and Self-Esteem in Aged Women ”. The fund also Taylor Harden. Her study was entitled “The Effect of Movement Therapy in nursing at the University of Virginia in 1991 .. supportedDuring the1995, scholarly a number efforts of benefactorsof five doctoral made and noteworthy five masters contribu students- tions to the RANCA Educational Fund .. . The fund used these monies to - - oryfurther ...The support Greater nursing Washington, education. DC, members Colonel Blanchfield’s attending their sister, 1995 Ruth RANCA Orn dorff, donated more than $17,000 to the endowment in her sister’s mem amounting to $450 in support of the fund’s purposes ..These gifts and the ongoingspring luncheon contributions shared made the firstby a longof their list ofannual donors monetary served as gifts, the basisthis one for - tion committee and RANCA vice-president, Colonel Troniar, noted that the fund’sthe financial principal aid hadprovided. risen to By a substantial1996, out-going total ofchairperson $80,000 . of the educa

25 In 1995, the RANCA Educational Fund dispersed $12,500 in scholarships to a myriad of recipients ...The awards went to the University of Ala- bama, the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, Brigham Young Univer- sity, the College of St ..Scholastica in Minnesota, East Central University of Oklahoma, the University of San Francisco, and the ROTC 1st Region Cadet Command . The organization also set aside $1,000 in 1995 to fund a scholarship

Captains Patrick and Rosemary Smith ...These two Army nurses, assigned to memorialize two Army Nurse Corps officers who died on active duty— murder during a robbery in their Clarksville, Tennessee, home in January 1987to the ... FlorenceThe scholarship A. Blanchfield stipulated Army that Community the educational Hospital, subsidy were shouldvictims goof to a nursing student “with military ties and a love for medicine and nurs-

Tennessee’s, Austin Peay State University--Michael Linkus, Alayne Skin- ner,ing.” and Among Janet theGraham first ...toLieutenant receive the Colonel award Joann were Matteson, students aat friend Clarksville, of the deceased couple, presented the scholarship . In 1996, the education committee allocated $12,000 as scholarships - tion committee’s proposal to award scholarship grants in the amount of to six recipients. One year later in 1997, the board sanctioned the educa the sum of $2,000 each to Marymount, Florida State, and Columbus State Universities$8,000 to five and schools $1,000 of eachnursing. to South The Dakotacommittee State recommended and Yale Universities allotting .. Steadily arriving donations added to the principal held in the educa-

1998 Biennial Convention in Orlando, Florida ...In 1999, the RANCA board oftion directors fund. The authorized fund netted an injection$2,000 from of cash the rafflesthat brought and auctions the corpus held ofat the fund to $105,000 ...That same year, the education committee budgeted a total of $10,000 to be given in scholarships ...However, only two universities Inapplied December for the 2000, grants. the As scholarship a result, those committee two schools, granted Texas an Christianaward of $2,500University to theand Universitythe University of Portland of Texas inat ElOregon Paso, receivedand $2,000 $2,000 each each. to the ofUniversity $1,000 in of January Texas, Health 2001 withScience the Center winning and cadet the University a ROTC student of Incarnate at the UniversityWord, both of in Vermont San Antonio, ...At the Texas. same The time, 1st ANCA ROTC awardedRegion was the the Universities recipient of Colorado and San Francisco scholarships of $2,000 each . The education fund awarded a grand total of $30,000 in scholarships

26 recipientsin 2003. That included was the students maximum at Austin total approvedPeay State by University, the board Duke of directors Univer- sity,to be University dispersed of annually. Florida, Howard Each specific University, award Loyola amounted University, to $3,000 Montana and State University, Northern Illinois University, University of the Incarnate

Word, University of Portland, and the University of Texas, San Antonio. Lieutenant Colonel Moss, chair of the education committee, clarified the passed,award process more and in 2003. more He of explainedthe student that recipients the school had applied some for type the of grants con- nectionand subsequently with the Army selected Nurse the Corps beneficiary ...Lieutenant of the Colonel scholarship. Moss added As years that the need for that connection was “an issue with a number of members,”

Early in 2004, the education committee reiterated their criteria for awardingand expressed scholarships his hopes ... Firstthat thispriority trend went would to continue.those who planned to enter the Army Nurse Corps in any component--Active, Reserve, or National

- ingGuard. programs Next innot descending funded by theorder Army, of priority AMEDD were enlisted those members who previously working forserved an unfundedin any Army baccalaureate component, Armydegree Nurse in nursing, Corps officers nursing attending students nurs with an immediate family link to the Army, and lastly, those who had served previously in the Army Reserve or National Guard ..That same year, the committee awarded $27,000 in scholarships to nine schools of nursing ... The schools receiving the grants were Howard University, Washington, DC; Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida; the University of Portland, Oregon; Curry College, Milton, Massachusetts; Bellarmine University, Lou- isville, Kentucky; Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Ten- the Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana; and Lewis University, Romeoville,nessee; the University Illinois .. of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas; In July 2005, The Army Nurse Corps Association’s (ANCA) education committee, then chaired by Colonel Gerry Goethals, awarded $3,000 in - - lumbia’sANCA scholarships Howard University; to five schools—the the College ofUniversity Saint Scholastica of Alabama-Tuscaloo in Minnesota; andsa, Alabama; the University the University of Portland of Texas, in Oregon San Antonio, ..One year Texas; later the in District 2006, ANCAof Co awarded scholarships of $3,000 each to ten schools ...President Colonel - nor generosity continue to support this major endeavor ”. Janet Southby noted that, “sound program and fiscal management and do 27 The education committee awarded ten scholarships worth $3,000 each in 2007 ...In all, the committee received 21 applications ...That same year, several collegiate schools appeared on the list of successful grant ap-

- plicants for the first time. Among the newcomers were Milwaukee School Nursingof Engineering, & Health School Professions, of Nursing, in Philadelphia; in Milwaukee; Nebraska Seattle MethodistPacific Univer Col- legesity, Lydiaof Nursing, Green theNursing Josie Program, Harper Campus, in Seattle; in DrexelOmaha; University, and Montana College State of University, College of Nursing, in Bozeman ..The remaining recipients of the 2007 scholarship awards were Brigham Young University in Provo; Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio; Mercer University in Atlanta; Mil- ligan University in Tennessee; and Kennesaw State University in Georgia . The board voted to increase the annual total payout of scholarship money in 2008 from $30,000 to $35,000 .. . It also directed that all ten scholarships awarded in 2008 be given in memory of Captain Maria I ..Or- tiz, an Army nurse who perished in Iraq in 2007 as a result of indirect worth $3,500 each be awarded in honor of another Army Nurse Corps enemy fire. In 2009, the board gave instructions that all ten scholarships- nel Richard Berretini, of the Pennsylvania National Guard ...Once again, scholarshipsofficer who died for $3,500from wounds each went incurred to ten in institutions Afghanistan, of Lieutenant higher learning Colo committee’s previously set criteria . for specificWith the students advent withof 2009, links the to theeducation Army thatcommittee matched resolved the education to im- mindsplement of severalthe ANCA modifications membership, to the its board scholarship of directors, program. the academic A modicum in- stitutionsof confusion intending about theto apply, application and interested and selection students process ...These existed widespread in the uncertainties seemingly led to a decline in the overall quality of applications ...Consequently, the board of directors made changes to clarify the the application requirements ...These obliged the student to complete an entire process in June 2009. Modifications involved explicitly spelling out- able written documentation about the proposed educational curriculum ... Additionallyextensive application in 2009, andthe mandatedboard voted the to selected grant fourteen school to scholarships offer consider for $3,000 each in the upcoming year 2010 ...All of the scholarships awarded in 2010 were to be bestowed in honor of Army nurse Captain Gussie M .. Jones who died in Iraq on 7 March 2004 of non-battle related causes ..

28 Changes in The Connection RANCA’s newsletter, the Connection, underwent a sweeping change in - theits leadership pleasure of staff working in 1994. with Atthe that membership time, Colonel in Ewen,the production Lieutenant of Colothe Connectionnel Canfield, ”. andThe brilliantCarolyn andPutnam dedicated announced trio then that stepped they were down “giving to take up a well-deserved rest from their editorial labors of almost seventeen years ... In leaving the newsletter and becoming an “editor emeritus,” Colonel Ewen wrote, “we leave with regret but there comes a time when oldsters (who’s old?) must step aside and we .. ..do .. so willingly ”. She concluded that it had been “a rare privelege [sic] to have been in on the birth of The Connec- tion ...But after 16 years, it is time to cut the umbilical cord!” Replacing the not-so-old guard were newly appointed editor Colonel Walter Mika, his daughter Rosemary who volunteered her services as typist, and assistant editors Lieutenant Colonels Theresa A ..Washburn and Clare M ..Karabasz ... In 1998, Colonel Mika passed the editorial baton to Colonel Nickey Mc- Casland who agreed to assume the ultimate responsibility for the Connec- tion ...In 1998 and 1999, Colonels Mary M ..Messerschmidt, Marie K ..Moore,

- torand and Catharine was replaced R. Carpenter by Colonel each Alicejoined Demarais the staff and to function Lieutenant as assistantColonel Wynonaeditors. ByBice-Stephens 2002, Colonel ...Colonel Moore Demarisleft the Connection edited regional staff newsas assistant and Lieu edi- tenant Colonel Bice-Stephens wrote expanded news articles and features. The Inpurpose 2005, Colonel of Colonel Andrea Caldwell Caldwell Berndt’s Berndt regular joined contributionthe Connection was staff to and began writing her extremely popular column, “The ANCA Network.” - nelsprofile Barbara ANCA Penn members’ and Jane exploits Hudak in and the Lieutenant civilian community Colonel Brenda and serve Roup as .. a sourceAnother for networking.intriguing column The first appeared rendition in the of the Connection column featured in June 2006Colo ... The author entitled this column, “Lean on Me ”. Under Colonel Sharon Richie-Melvan’s byline, the feature presented the content of oral histories recorded by Army nurses who were currently serving in combat or had served in hostile circumstances in the past ...The June 2006 piece high- - res and Francisco Dominicci ..The Connection editor, Colonel McCasland, continuallylighted the experiencesintroduced specialof two activeinnovations duty nurses—Captains to improve the publication Clifton Tava ...In

29 - ticles in the Army Nurse Corps Newsletter ...This feature allowed readers toSeptember easily access 2006, fascinating he added informationa helpful information from current box recappingand past issues recent . ar

Claudia Bartz’ column, “Research, Literature, and Arts Corner,” made its Another exciting addition to the Connection occurred when Colonel- viewed recently published volumes and articles related to military nurs- debut in 2009. The first iterations of this feature summarized and re- ing andIn another health improvement,care. The resource the Connection also identified became several available websites in 1998 for lo in ancating audio in-progress format for or membersfinished research who were with visually a military impaired perspective. or for those who simply preferred that method to access the information ...Volunteer readers, Colonels Pat Sylvestre and Lucy Jarma, narrated the Connection issues for the audiocassette version ..In 2008 after ten years of faithful service, both of these helpers relinquished their recording tasks ...Lieutenant Colonel Rhonda Morris subsequently stepped forward to become the new reader . More Biennial Conventions The 10th biennial RANCA convention took place in San Francisco, California, from 24 to 26 May 1996 with 215 members of the organization in attendance ...The location of the convocation was the San Francisco -

Airport Marriott Hotel. All attending were extremely pleased with the ar rangements made by the “two Jims”—Lieutenant Colonels Jim Downey Mayand Jim1996 Sokoloski—who ..The second day’s successfully meeting planned opened andwith coordinated remarks from the Brigaentire- dierevent. General The pre-convention Bettye Simmons, board chief meeting of the Army convened Nurse on Corps, the first and day, greet 24- ings from Colonel (promotable) Patricia Anderson who represented the Army Nurse Corps reserve elements ..Additional presentations followed over the previous two years ...On Sunday, 26 May 1996, the general mem- bershipwith each meeting outgoing assembled board member and the offering committee a summary chairpersons of their gave activities their reports ...Colonel Beverly Glor outlined plans for convention 1998 in Or- lando, Florida, and Colonel Antilla discussed the tentative arrangements for convention 2000 which was to be located in the Washington, DC, area ... General Slewitzke announced the 18 October 1997 grand opening of the Women in Military Service for America monument and encouraged every-

30 one to mark the date and plan to attend the celebrations ...Colonel Cobb, then passed the gavel to the new president, Colonel Beverly Greenlee- Davisthe first ..Other RANCA newly president, elected boardinstalled members the new included officers Colonels and Colonel Darlene Spine K .. McLeod, Eily P ..Gorman, and Marian J ..Walls who accepted their assign- ments as vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively .. . Those selected to serve as regional directors were Colonels Anna K ..Frederico and Mary V ..Frank (later replaced by Colonel Antilla), Lieutenant Colonels Christ and Moss and Colonel Frelin . Two short years later, 142 RANCA members attended the 11th bienni- atal conventionFlorida’s Disney in Orlando. World The...The locale Saturday chosen business for this meeting exceedingly opened warm with but a fun-filled 21 to 24 May 1998 reunion was the Buena Vista Palace Resort did not reach a quorum, no voting took place ...Nonetheless, several is- suesnumber came of committeeunder animated and officer discussion reports. and Since were the postponed number forof attendees delibera- tion at the autumn board meeting ...One recurring concern had to do with the continuing survival of RANCA whose membership rolls at that time stood at 2,037 ...Two Disney World Production ensembles, the Brooklyn Skyline and Four for a Dollar, entertained those attending the banquet on Saturday evening with a collection of memorable musical renditions ...On Sunday, General Dunlap shared the latest information on the progress of - ing Washington, DC, convention committee briefed the group on future reunionthe AMEDD plans Museum .. . Colonel fundraising Cobb formally and construction installed the efforts new and the returning upcom president and vice-president, Lieutenant Colonel Moss, secretary, and ColonelRANCA officersWalls, treasurer who included .. . The Colonelsnew regional Greenlee-Davis directors were and McLeodLieutenant as Leon Deisering, Colonel Mary K .. Gwaltney, Major Carole Mussler, Colo- nel Robert Guida, and Lieutenant Colonel Sandra McLeod ...Following the reunion’s concluding luncheon, the attendees disbanded and returned to.

Coloneltheir homes, Glor and having Majors thoroughly Carol Mussler enjoyed and an excellentJoyce Weigand experience and . Colonellanned Barbieri and carried . out by the convention committee—Chaiman The nation’s capital was the locus for the 2000 biennial convention ... This 12th reunion meeting took place 24 to 29 May at the centrally located J W. .. Marriott Hotel in downtown Washington .. . The meeting was dual featured welcoming both RANCA and the Walter Reed Army Insti-

31 two sessions that awarded continuing education credits ..The convention’s themetute of wasNursing “yesterday, (WRAIN) today, attendees. and tomorrow,” This was with the afirst vintage reunion 1776 to townoffer crier who announced the founding and history of the Army Nurse Corps and represented “yesterday ”. The greetings signifying “today” came from

Lieutenant Angela Serronico who described future challenges symbolized an official of the District of Columbia. And lastly a brief homily by First Corps chief, addressed the general membership, discussing issues and the status“tomorrow.” of the CorpsNext, Brigadier ...Brigadier General General William Dorothy Bester, Pocklington the new served Army Nurseas the mistress of ceremonies for the Saturday night banquet that was relished to the accompaniment of the Soldiers Chorus of the U .S ..Army Chorus and the Army Field Band’s Volunteers combo ...The Sunday morning business meeting witnessed a general membership vote on two pending actions, both of which passed ...Henceforth, the organization’s title would be “The Army Nurse Corps Association” and the organizational logo dropped its resolution and a second by-laws change both passed by a decisive margin ... Thelarge second distinctive action “R” had and to the do word with the“Retired” mechanism from its for exterior dissolving border. the orga This- nization, should such an option became necessary in the future ...Founding

McLeod, Audré J ..McLoughlin, Spine, and Walls, who each would serve as president,president Colonel vice-president, Cobb then secretary, installed and the newlytreasurer elected .. . Also officers, installed Colonels were Colonels Lucille Smith, Catherine Call, Jane L ..Hudak, Robert A ..Guida, and Carole A ..Burke, all regional directors ...The convention concluded with a Sunday luncheon and an address by Lucille Joell, past president of the American Nurses Association ..An impressive total of 691 attendees took part in the 2000 biennial convention ...Of these, 253 were WRAIN gradu-

Boston, Massachusetts, was the site for the 13th biennial convention thatates ortook former place WRAIN over Memorial faculty or Day staff. weekend, 23-27 May 2002 ...The Bos- ton Park Plaza hotel hosted the event and Colonels Frederico and Bolduc oversaw all the arrangements along with their hard-working committee ... Many of the 149 attendees enjoyed the popular tours of Boston, its harbor,

ANCA meetings ...The Saturday morning business meeting opened with a colorLexington, guard Concord, in the garb and of other Minute historic Men ...sites,Colonel that McLeod took place then prior presented to the awards to two long-serving members--Colonels Cobb and Kishpaugh-- for their lengthy service and contributions to the organization ...General

32 Bester addressed the meeting, presenting an overview of the current day Army Nurse Corps ...Lieutenant Colonel Moss served as master of ceremonies for the Saturday night banquet while the Heritage String Band provided entertainment in the form of Revolutionary and Civil War music ... The Sunday morning meeting set the stage for the changeover to newly new president Colonel McLoughlin, president-elect Lieutenant Colonel Moss,elected secretary officers. Colonel CobbSpine, conducted and treasurer the induction Major Patricia ceremony Prellwitz of the ... Colonels Lucille Smith, Gerald Goethals, Gail Croy, Barbara Sullivan, and Carole Burke also accepted their new or continuing responsibilities as regional directors . - tion met on 27-30 May 2004 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel on the Riverwalk in SanSporting Antonio a theme ...Colonels of “As Greenlee-Davis Big As Texas,” andthe 14thDonna biennial Wright ANCA served conven as co- chairs for the 2004 reunion ..The meeting captured the attention of 188 registrants ...After the opening ceremonies, Colonel McLoughlin presented awards to Colonels Antilla, McCasland, and Quinn for their lengthy support to ANCA ...General Bester presented an update on major changes and challenges confronting the Army Nurse Corps ...Colonel Carol Reineck served as the Saturday evening banquet’s mistress of ceremonies and opened the

Metro Chorus provided harmonious entertainment ...In keeping with long- dinner with a memorial reflection candle lighting ceremony. The Alamo directors at the Sunday morning business meeting ...The newly elected of- standing tradition, Colonel Cobb installed the new slate of officers and president elect, Robin Hightower, secretary, and Walls, treasurer .. . Re- gionalficers were directors Lieutenant included Colonel Colonels Moss, Sandra president, F ..Stabingas, Colonels Goethals Janet R. (throughSouthby, May 2005, with Claudia Bartz serving from June 2005-May 2007), Jeri I .. Graham, Judith R ..Pesetski (through May 2007), and Sharon F ..Bystran ... The newly installed president, Lieutenant Colonel Moss, presided over the Sunday luncheon ...The meeting adjourned and attendees made their way back home with fond memories of another successful meeting . In October 2004, the board of directors met and decided to alter certain aspects of the template previously used to plan biennial conventions ... The origins of this change were twofold ...The declining number of attendees at the biennial meetings was one prime area of concern ...The other impetus for making a change was feedback obtained from former attendees ... In accordance with the majority of their suggestions, the board voted to build more social occasions into the conference program, allowing great-

33 er opportunities for interaction and visiting with old acquaintances and friends ...This would allow less scheduled time for business meetings and speakers ...With this change, the board announced, the conference would transition from being strictly considered a convention to assuming the format and tone of a reunion ...Another consensus was to avoid the Me- daymorial holiday Day weekendweekend inled scheduling to this decision the biennial ...Additionally, meeting. the Excessiveboard resolved heat, scheduling conflicts, and greater competition for facilities on the three Vegas reunion . to hireThe a 15thconvention biennial planner convention/reunion for the first time met to on manage the strip the in upcoming fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Flamingo Hotel from 2-4 May 2006 ...To obtain the very best hotel rates, the board and convention committee intentionally scheduled the reunion for mid-week as opposed to the weekend ..ANCA members in attendance totaled 153 ..Less like a convention and more of toura reunion, of the Lasthe Vegasthree-day Boulevard meeting strip featured ...On Wednesday extra time morning, for socializing. president At the opening event, members gathered for an informal mixer followed by a then presented Colonels Messerschmidt and Walls with the ANCA Distin- Lieutenant Colonel Moss offered his “State of the Association” address. He- guished Service Awards for “their selfless, generous service.” Next, Colo- dent,nel Cobb president installed elect/vice the newly president, elected secretary,officers—Colonels and treasurer Southby, ...Newly Graham, elect- edHightower regional anddirectors Gerta alsoHowell were as installed new incumbents and included for the Lieutenant offices of Colonel presi Norma Small, Colonel Claudia Bartz, Lieutenant Colonel Amy Johnston, Major Catherine Oakley, and Colonel Stan Jacques ...The grand Wednesday plenty of opportunities to mingle, renew old friendships, and swap war storiesevening ”. receptionThursday morning and dinner featured also wereregional relaxed, breakout informal meetings events followed “with of the Army Nurse Corps-- Major General Gale Pollock ...Shortly thereafter, theby brunch, 15th ANCA a program biennial led reunion by Colonel adjourned Bystran, .. and a briefing by the chief The 16th biennial reunion, with a theme of “Army Nursing Around the World,” gathered in Tacoma, Washington, from 31 July to 2 August 2008 ... At the elegant Hotel Murano, 145 registered for the reunion organized by Colonel Southby and Alice Conway, CSEP ...At the business meeting, Major General Pollock delivered the keynote address, Colonel Graham presented a progress report on the ANCA strategic plan, and a Distinguished Ser-

3 4 Patricia Horoho presented a “stirring and informative talk” at the gala banquet;vice Award a was“Tell presented Your Story” to presentationLieutenant Colonel collated Canfield. by Colonel Major McCasland General episodes during their careers that illustrated the reunion theme; a suc- cessfulhighlighted silent many auction ANCA arranged members’ by recollectionsColonel JoEllen about Vanatta; unique, and significant tours to Madigan Army Medical Center hosted by Colonel Paul Kondrat, the Glass Eye Studio and Blake Island State Park in Seattle were included ...Colonels in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom on a panel entitled “It’s Not YourGail Ford Mother’s and Judy War Lee ”. The and audience Major Andy was Price very recounted moved by their their experiences emotional, compassionate presentation ...The U .S ..Army Freedom Team Salute Pro- gram took the opportunity to present a number of well-deserved awards

McLoughlin, McCasland, Ruth Ray, Luciana Jarma, Maude Smith, and Lieu- to members for their exceptional service. These included Colonels Cobb, graciously agreed to maintain a long-held ritual by installing the new of- tenant Colonels Moss and Canfield and Major Joan Lankford. Colonel Cobb elect; Hightower, secretary; Colonel Caroline Rakiewicz, treasurer; and re- gionalficers, namely,directors Colonels Colonels Graham, Roy Harris president; and John Bartz, H ..Sherner; vice-president/present and Lieutenant Colonels Norma R ..Small, Amy L ..Johnson, and Margaret M ..Kulm . The 17th biennial convention/reunion is to be convened from 23-25 July 2010 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, . Virginia ...The theme of “Army Nursing Around the World” once again is to serve as the theme for the reunion’s program ...A capital area team of coordinate the reunion activities ...Highlights of the meeting will empha- ANCA members led by Colonel Sharon Feeney-Jones expects to plan and take pleasure in a splendid, memorable reunion! size “networking, reminiscing, and visiting with old friends.” All expect to Ways and Means At the October 1992 board of directors meeting, those present cast

March issue of the Connection ...This change was intended to keep all in- their votes to print an organizational financial section annually in the - formed of RANCA’s “fiscal capability” and explain the organization’s “three- nancepronged scholarly fiscal design.” awards, The and three(3) the financial convention elements fund, were“a hedge (1) againstthe operat any ing fund, generated from annual dues, (2) the education fund, used to fi 3 5 unforeseen shortfall in biennial convention budgeting ”. The March 1993 - issueThose of the present Connection at the incorporated October 1993 the board first meeting rendition analyzed of the organizaa motion totion’s increase financial RANCA’s spreadsheet. dues as recommended by Colonel Eugenia Vineys, chair of the Financial and Budget Committee ...The board discussed and unanimously approved the motion to raise the dues from $10 to $15 ...This - printinghike represented and mailing the firstthe Connection,increase in dues was sincethe rationale 1981. The for fact the that uptick RAN in duesCA was ...Adding expending to the $11 impetus per member was the fact in operating that interest costs, on thepredominantly organization’s in

1993-1994investments timeframe was trending ...During down that while two-year all expenses budget were cycle, rising it recorded steadily. an RANCA continued to balance its income versus its expenditures in the- ing of the Connection accounted for the greatest outlay of funds, creating income of $50,224 and matching expenses of $50,224. Printing and mail - costs of $23,807 over the two years. The next highest disbursement fell into the category of administrative costs—office rent, insurance premi- rectorsums, telephone and committee bills, supply chairpersons needs, and represented charges for the a safetythird biggest deposit charge box— which all totaled $9,097. Travel expenditures incurred by the board of di of $7,486.From 1994 This throughorder of 1995, priority the organizationfor expenses prosperedremained allfairly the consistent more ..The across the span of the organization’s fiscal history. of $29,755 ...This overage yielded a carryover balance of $46,839 into the newtreasurer two-year tabulated budget RANCA’s cycle, in incomethe 1996 at budget $76,494 year and ..Once listed again expenditures the great-

$11,877 for the two-year period ...The convention fund money market ac- countest expenditures posted assets were of $11,988the costs while involved the educationin producing fund the had Connection $80,000 onat hand ...RANCA also claimed a reserve fund of $22,075 ...By 1997, RANCA’s the conservative, money-wise approach, so typical of Army nurses, were net worth was approximately $200,000. The characteristic frugality and reflected in the organization’s overall financial status. tasksIn ... 1996,The organization a new Compaq partially computer purchased became the a computer,part of RANCA’s its peripher office- als,equipment. and furniture, It’s presence with funds greatly graciously facilitated donated administrative by General andDunlap financial ...The Connection noted that Colonels Messerschmidt, assistant secretary; Kathy

36 Deuster, chair of the membership committee; and Walls, treasurer; were deriving the most use from the new system while simultaneously having the “most fun!” Second Lieutenant Christopher Rivera, an active duty Army nurse and an acclaimed “computer whiz,” installed the hardware and loaded the software, transforming the whole system into a functional unit ...The new computer’s antique predecessor, an old word processor, was consigned to retirement, “creaking with age!” - nancially solvent organization ...On the positive side of the ledger, it count- RANCA’s calendar year 1999 balance sheet once again revealed a fi- rate education fund showed an income of $20,996 ...Additionally, the fund ed a sum of $107,312 on hand. Expenditures totaled $55,173. The sepa- onstrated a balance of $3,854 ...Finally, RANCA’s Reserve Fund claimed a held a certificate of deposit worth $110,000. The convention fund dem With the turn of the new millennium, RANCA/ANCA became the ben- certificate of deposit whose value was $26,382. In the year 2000, the group welcomed a legacy from the estate of Colonel Roseeficiary Kudletz of several ...The deceased organization former deposited members’ that last gift wills into aand special testaments. educa- decision was to utilize the bequest for future dissemination in the form oftion collegiate fund managed nursing by scholarships a financial management..A second inheritance group. The came intent to ANCA of that in 2001 from benefactor Lieutenant Colonel Maracine Perreault .. . A nurse anesthetist and veteran of World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Perreault was a charter RANCA member ...She passed away in August 2000 ..Both of these substantial gifts further empowered ANCA in its quest to subsidize nursing education and scholarly activity ... stability of ANCA ...The general operating fund had a comfortable income The 2001 treasurer’s report once again verified the growing financial assets of $202,859 and the convention fund counted a balance of $14,520 ... ANCAof $274,916 also claimed with expenditures solid investments of $47,860. totaling The $707,691 education .. fund reported In 2004, the organization’s treasurer and the Edward Jones account

- representative overseeing the group’s investments examined the annual- financial report. They concurred that, based on their audit, ANCA’s over membershipall fiscal status that was ANCA’s rock solid.total net This worth assessment at $1,082,622 of the organization’s.49 . fis cal standing was reaffirmed in 2005 when the treasurer reported to the higher cost of running the organization precipitated the escalation from In 2007, ANCA posted its first dues increase in fourteen years. The 37 $30 to $40 for a two-year membership. This was yet another example of inANCA’s the value prudent of its fiscal assets approach and but and also keen in the business stability sense. of its portfolioAcross its . three decades of existence, ANCA’s overall financial picture developed not only Activism and Vitality The actions taken by the board of directors at their December 1991 meeting also demonstrated the steady rate of organizational progress that had become a hallmark of RANCA ...They approved implementing a mail-in ballot to allow all members, not only those attending the conven- agreed to subsidize enrollment of the former Army Nurse Corps POWs in tion, to vote for the slate of candidates running for RANCA offices. They-

Armythe Women nurses in who Military were Service World Warof America I veterans Memorial or World but War limited II POWs the maxi have theirmum RANCAamount dues to be waived expended .. to $2,500. They approved the motion that In 1992, outgoing president, Colonel McCarthy, advanced four recom- - tive director, (2) transforming the vice-president’s position into that of president-elect,mendations. She (3) suggested involving (1) the creating regional a position directors in RANCAin raising for anfunds execu for the educational fund program, and (4) nominating RANCA members for appointments to the AMEDD Museum board and forming a small cadre of RANCA members to advocate for nursing in the AMEDD museum’s ar- chives and displays ..The board of directors reviewed and ultimately disap- proved all these motions at that time ...However the board did approve al- tering the vice-presidential role, combining it with that of president-elect at a later date . In 1996, members of the organization raised the idea of soliciting the U .S ..Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in recognition of the Army Nurse Corps centennial in February 2001 ...The board of directors voted to support this initiative ...It asked all RANCA members to corre- spond with their friends, relations, neighbors, veteran’s groups, civic or- ganizations, sororities and fraternities, alumni associations, and church membership, soliciting their support in a letter writing campaign ...The

Service would not view an Army Nurse Corps stamp as marketable ..Sad- lyboard that acknowledgedprediction contained that, without more thanextensive a grain popular of truth backing, ...In the the spring Postal of 1998, the U .S ..Postal Service authorities rejected the Army Nurse Corps

38 request ...Refusing to accept such a stunning defeat, RANCA renewed their - campaignefforts and for initiated an Army a Nursedrive to Corps reverse postal that stampdecision was through conclusively a second aban let- donedter-writing . crusade. Regrettably, that effort also ended in failure and the Also in 1996, the board approved certain by-law changes ...It agreed to eliminate the customary pre-convention board meetings and authorized changes in the structure of committees ...Additionally, the directors sanctioned the purchase of AMEDD Museum bricks to recognize former and current Army Nurse Corps chiefs ...They also began scrutiny of the by-laws governing the requirement for active duty Army nurses to have completed ten years of service to be eligible for RANCA membership ...Those in favor of changing this prerequisite reasoned that former but not retired members of the Army Nurse Corps did not have to meet such a time-in-service criterion ...They simply had to have served for any period of time and been discharged honorably ...After considerable discussion and study, the board decided to amend the by-laws to allow active duty members to join RAN- CA at any time in their career . The autumn board meeting in 1998 was the venue utilized to debate the viability of the organization and its failure to recruit new members several other crucial issues. The first was an ongoing concern regarding board acknowledged that an increase in membership must come from the much beyond the usual watermark of approximately 2,000 members. The associate membership category, in favor of regular membership for all membersactive duty .. .ranksThereafter, and voted all RANCA to expand members the membership were regular by eliminating members and the - chairmanshipeligible to run offor the office. education Another committee, change in formerly the by-laws a responsibility combined the of theof vice-president,fice of vice-president became with a free-standing that of president-elect. entity, no longer As a consequence, a major element the of the vice-president’s responsibilities .. In 2001, the board voted to fund an ANCA chair for the Women in Mili- tary Service for America Memorial auditorium in Washington, DC ...One year later, the 2002 board meeting met in San Antonio on 12-13 Octo- ber ...The group conferred and decided at that point to develop a strategic plan for ANCA, concluding that this analytical process would evaluate the board thus scheduled a strategic planning conference for 27-29 June 2003 organization’s existing status and offer a vision for future growth. The at Lazy Hills Guest Ranch in Ingram,39 Texas. The leadership created three chaired by Colonel Wright, a Vision-Mission Committee led by Colonel McLoughlin,committees toand prepare a Survey for theDevelopment meeting—a Team Retreat organized Planning by Commission Lieutenant Colonel Moss ...Attendees at the strategic planning conference formed a working group of 24 members including ANCA board members, committee chairs, past presidents, and Active, Reserve, and National Guard through the means of a survey posted to all ANCA members ...Colonel Herb component Army nurses. The general membership offered their input-

Coley, a retired Medical Service Corps officer, led the assemblage as facili- tator. The ad hoc group examined ANCA’s mission and purpose and then identified initiatives. They used a SWOT analysis format, identifying or- tionalganizational prospects, strengths, to preserve weaknesses, ANCA’s opportunitieshistory, to support and threats. and preserve Next, the Armyplanners Nurse formulated Corps legacy, strategic to foster objectives—to literary, educational, provide social research, and and educa ar- tistic ventures, and to disseminate information for and maintain a liaison with the chief of the Army Nurse Corps ...Small, breakout teams developed strategies to achieve these objectives . At the same fruitful 2002 board meeting, Colonel McLoughlin also ap-

- cording,pointed Lieutenantand transcription Colonel of Debora oral histories R. Cox as concentrating the ANCA historian. on ten ANCA’sAmong charterLieutenant members Colonel ...The Cox’s board first of efforts directors were approved the planning, several interviewing, other motions re produce, and sell shirts with the ANCA logo, to amend the by-laws to open honoraryto improve advisor ANCA’s positions efficiency for and all productivity.Army Nurse Corps They alsocomponents, voted to design,to con- vert Connection issues to a PDF format for online access, to incorporate links to the portraits of former Army Nurse Corps chiefs and superinten- - tors of the organization, and to contribute $100 to the Cathedral of the Pinesdents inon Rindge, the website, New Hampshire,to conduct orientationto support renovationfor new officers of the and Women’s direc Bell Tower .. In 2006, ANCA conceived and began implementation of another processworthwhile for ANCAeffort—the members Mentoring to sign upProgram. and act asColonels mentors Bartz, to active Hightower, duty Armyand Eileen nurses Malone ...They volunteeredsuggested composing to lead the and effort. publishing They an formalized Army Nurse the Corps Mentoring Handbook and video ..Additionally, they constructed a survey to solicit interest in the program and mailed the questionnaire to

40 all ANCA members ..Over 250 ANCA members consented to participate as the world ...In 2007, Colonels Bartz, Hightower, and Malone participated in severalmentors videoconference for those serving discussions as active duty with Army active Nurse duty Corps Army officers nurses around in the Army Nurse Mentoring Special Interest Group and resolved to create an - tiate a column focusing on mentoring issues in both the Army Nurse Corps andexpert ANCA contact newsletters list, develop ..Before a user-friendly long, such abrochure column onappeared mentoring in both and inithe newsletters ...It utilized a question/answer format for topics and dilem- questions pertaining to useful resources, the active duty to retirement transition,mas that cropped and the up pursuit frequently. of post-retirement The first column employment dealt with ..Subsequent retirement features discussed questions about company grade professional development and graduate school opportunities for Army nurses .

Resiliency Program that met on 1-2 May 2009 at the Fort Fisher Air Force RecreationIn a similar Area vein,in North ANCA Carolina provided ...This significant meaningful support program, in the proposed Veteran’s by ANCA and approved by both Colonel Susanne Clark and General Horoho, represented a weekend of activities to assist Army nurses with the challenges of reintegration following duty in Iraq and Afghanistan ...Twelve ac-

- encestive duty and Army observations Nurse Corps under officers the benevolent from five guidancemilitary treatment of two facilitators facilities ... Feedbackmet with five from in-country the program’s Vietnam attendees Army nurse was veteransenthusiastic and sharedand uniformly experi positive . The board of directors appointed Colonel Constance J ..Moore as ANCA historian in 2008 ...Colonel Moore followed in the footsteps of Lieuten- historical endeavor and contributed original, enlightening columns with a historicalant Colonel focus Cox toin thethis Connection position. Both ...Both officers made advocatedimmense contributions for the cause toof the writing and publication of the ANCA history .

41 Finale This then is the story of the group that began its life as RANCA and later transformed itself into ANCA ...In 1977 its charter members managed to incorporate, in spite of several unsuccessful attempts to form an organization in the past ...RANCA then was able to thrive in a climate where were a persistent source of concern ...It provided a medium for Army Nurse challenges such as inadequate financial assets and membership numbers theCorps foundation officers to and rekindle development and maintain of the AMEDD very special Museum, social to relationships promote the designationforged in earlier of the lives. Army It hospitalafforded at Fortmembers Campbell the opportunity in tribute toto Colonelespouse - ans, to support the highest level of nursing scholarship, to champion con- temporaryBlanchfield, Army to encourage Nurse Corps and objectives, sustain various and to memorials mentor and to encourage honor veter ac- a tapestry, social activities and service projects were themes interlaced throughouttive duty Army the Nurse three-decade Corps officers. long saga Like of filaments RANCA/ANCA of gold ... Inwoven short, through a vital blend of camaraderie and altruism characterize the general membership and form the unique essence of the Army Nurse Corps Association .