Sharon Ann Lane

Sharon Ann Lane (July 7, 1943 – June 8, 1969) was an American nurse and U.S. Army first lieutenant who was the only American servicewoman killed as a direct result of enemy fire during the Vietnam War.[1]

Sharon Ann Lane
Born(1943-07-07)July 7, 1943
Zanesville, Ohio
DiedJune 8, 1969(1969-06-08) (aged 25)
Chu Lai, Vietnam †
Buried
Sunset Hills Burial Park
Canton, Ohio
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1968–1969
Rank First lieutenant
UnitUnited States Army Nurse Corps
Battles/warsVietnam War
Awards

Early life

Lane was born in Zanesville, Ohio, one of three children to John C. Lane and Mary Kathleen (Kay) Lane. She grew up in North Industry, Ohio, and in 1961 she graduated from Canton South High School and entered the Aultman Hospital School of Nursing in Canton. She graduated on 1965 and worked at a local hospital for two years. She then attended the Canton Business College for two years, before deciding to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps on 18 April 1968.[1]

Military career

She joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Reserve on April 18, 1968 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant. She began her training on May 5, 1968 at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She graduated on June 14, 1968, and just three days later reported for duty at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.[1]

Lane's first assignment was with three tuberculosis wards, but after receiving a promotion to First Lieutenant, she was placed in the Cardiac Division’s Intensive Care Unit and Recovery Room. She worked in the ICU until April 24, 1969, when she reported to Travis Air Force Base, California, with orders sending her to Vietnam.[2]

Vietnam war

Lane arrived at the 312th Evacuation Hospital at Chu Lai on April 29. She was originally assigned to the Intensive Care Unit, but a few days later was reassigned to the Vietnamese in Ward 4. She worked five days a week, twelve hours a day in Ward 4, and spent her off-duty time taking care of the most critically injured American soldiers in the Surgical ICU. [1]

Despite nursing in Ward 4 being physically and emotionally challenging, Lane repeatedly declined transfer to another ward. She was adored and respected by co-workers and patients alike.

Death
Press release on the death of 1st Lt. Lane

On June 8, 1969, the 312th Evacuation Hospital was struck by 122mm rockets fired by the Viet Cong. One rocket struck between Wards 4A and 4B, killing two people, including 1st LT. Lane, who died instantly of fragmentation wounds to the chest. Another twenty-seven US and South Vietnamese personnel were injured from the attack.[2]

A memorial service was held for Lane in Chu Lai on June 10, 1969 and a Catholic mass followed the next day. Her body was brought back to US, where memorial services were held for her in Canton, on June 14, 1969. She was buried at Sunset Hills Burial Park in Canton, Ohio.

Among the roughly 11,000 American women who were stationed in Vietnam, Lane was the only one killed by hostile fire during the war while seven other women died in accidents and illnesses.[3]

Awards and decorations
Bronze Star
w/ 'V' device		 Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal
w/ 1 bronze campaign star		 Vietnam Military Merit Medal
National Order of Vietnam
(Officer)		 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
w/ Palm		 Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation

The Daughters of the American Revolution named Lane the Outstanding Nurse of the Year and posthumously awarded her, the Anita Newcomb McGee Medal in 1970.[4]

Legacy
1st Lt. Sharon Lane
  • The 1965 Graduating Class from Aultman's School of Nursing put a plaque, picture, and poem written by a classmate, in Morrow House (the nursing school residence hall) in her honor.[4]
  • The 1970 Class at Aultman School of Nursing dedicated their yearbook to Lane.
  • On October 18, 1970, Faircrest Memorial Junior High School was dedicated to Sharon Lane and four other servicemen from Canton South High School who lost their lives in Vietnam; a plaque for each one was placed at the entrance to the school.
  • A statue to Lane was dedicated in front of Aultman Hospital. This statue was built with funds raised in the community, and is one of the first Vietnam memorials constructed in the US.
  • The Sharon Lane Health Center contains a comprehensive collection of health care and consumer-health materials. Located off the Aultman Hospital main lobby.
  • Aultman Hospital opened the Sharon Lane Woman’s Center in the front lobby of the hospital.
  • The Canton Chapter 199 of the Vietnam Veterans of America officially became the 'Sharon Lane Chapter #199’.
  • Sharon Lane, the roads named at Denver, Colorado and Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
  • Fort Hood, Texas dedicated the Sharon Lane Volunteer Center.
  • Evans U.S. Army Hospital in Fort Carson, Colorado dedicated the Sharon A. Lane Medical Library.
  • A permanent display in her honor can be seen at the Ohio Society of Military History in Massillon, Ohio.

1st Lt. Lane's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial ("The Wall") on panel 23W.[5]

References
  1. "Ohio nurse's legacy lives on 50 years after death in Vietnam". Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  2. "Sharon Ann Lane". Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  3. "Friends recall only nurse killed by hostile fire in Vietnam". Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  4. "Lane, Sharon Ann, 1LT". Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  5. The Virtual Wall.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.