Annie Ruth Graham Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army |
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Lieutenant Colonel Annie Ruth Graham, from Efland, North Carolina, was a veteran of World War II and Korea, and was the Chief Nurse at the 91st Evacuation Hospital, Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. She suffered a stroke on August 14, 1968 and was evacuated to Japan where she died four days later. She was 52. She was buried with full military honors at
Arlington National Cemetery.
She served as a Nurse in the United States Army. In 26 years of service, she attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She began a tour of duty in Vietnam on November 16, 1967. On August 14, 1968, at the age of 51, Annie
Ruth Graham perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam.
Colonel Graham died in Viet Nam on August 14, 1968. Her last post was Chief Nurse at 91st Evacuation Hospital, 43rd Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade, Tuy Hoa. She was never married, and had no children. She was buried in the nurse's section of Arlington
Cemetery. I am putting together a scrapbook of my Great-Aunt Ruth. If you
knew her, or knew of her, I would appreciate anything you would like to
say to add to the scrapbook. Thanks for any
DECORATIONS:
RANK: Second Lieutenant March 1942
ASSIGNMENTS: General Duty Nurse 3/1942 - 11-1945 Station
Hospital, Fort Jackson, South Carolina,
Born November 7, 1916 in Efland, North Carolina
"Greetings! "This Christmas finds me a long, long way from North Carolina. I arrived in Saigon on 18 November and almost immediately departed for Tuy Hoa (pronounced Too-ey Wah) where our hospital (400 bed) is located directly on the beach of the South China Sea which is perfectly beautiful but quite treacherous. All buildings here are tropical type and the hospital is cantonment style. It is monsoon season now so we have torrential rains at times. The climate is quite humid but the nights are really rather pleasant. Getting used to my new outfit (tropical fatigues, jungle boots, and "baseball cap") is not as "exciting" as in World War II but I'm quite sure I'll manage to survive it all! Our nursing staff consists of 59 nurses (12 male) who of our enlisted personnel seem very well trained and apparently have been doing an excellent job. "The tour of duty here is 12 months so I plan to be home for Christmas next year. "I hope you have had a good year and that your Christmas is filled with joy and the New Year with more happiness than you could possibly wish for. "Hope, too, that everyone will pray for peace. Love, Ruth" Lieutenant Colonel Annie Ruth Graham died at the Tachakawa Air Force Hospital, Japan, on the fourteenth of August 1968. Ruth was admitted to the 91st Evacuation Hospital
at 10:30 p.m. on 8 August, after suffering what appeared at first to be
a fainting spell. Upon admission to the hospital her illness was diagnosed
as a subarachnoid hemmorrhage. Due to the seriousness of her condition
she was evacuated, with one of the physicians in attendance, to the U.S.
Air Force Hospital at Tachakawa Air Force Base, Japan, where, despite every
effort to save her life, she died at 9:55pm on the fourteenth of August.
Is awarded posthumously to LEIUTENANT COLONEL ANNIE RUTH GRAHAM, N727004, ARMY NURSE CORPS - UNITED STATES ARMY Lieutenant Colonel Graham distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service during the period November 1967 to August 1968 while serving as Chief, Nursing Service, 91st Evacuation Hospital, 43rd Medical Group, 44th medical Brigade in the Republic of Viet Nam. In this position Colonel Graham was responsible for the entire nursing service for an active four hundred bed inpatient and outpatient medical complex. She personally controlled and coordinated all nursing care, and through her diligence and close supervision, the admission, treatment and disposition of patients were handled in an expeditious and efficient manner. During the enemy's Tet Offensive and other mass casualty situations, she was continually present and worked tirelessly in organizing and directing all nursing activities. Her meticulous attention to detail and astute planning ensured the smooth functioning of her staff during these critical periods. Colonel Graham developed and implemented a comprehensive and intensive training program of instruction for ward personnel, which significantly enhanced the technical ability of her staff. Displaying a sincere interest in the welfare of the Viet Namese civilians, she often spent her off duty hours visiting the nationals who, as innocent victims, suffered the consequences of the war. Through her forceful leadership, keen foresight
and unrelenting determination, Lieutenant Colonel Graham contributed immeasurably
to the medical support mission in the Republic of Vite Nam. Her professional
competence and outstanding achievements were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon herself,
her unit and the United States Army.
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