Rock Island National Cemetery

Although I never met MAJ Elizabeth Anne Maes (deceased), a link to her information was posted to the Center for Women Veterans and appeared on the newsfeed of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWV - News Update on July 25, 2023. There were further links to MAJ Maes' webpage on this Veterans' Legacy  Memorial. Although the picture of her engraved tombstone displays a reference to 'WWII Korea,' which in and of itself is compelling, what I learned in reading her biography made an even larger impact on me:  she was 1LT, Chief Nurse of Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor!  1LT Maes was honored for her role in this horrendous mass casualty situation, especially with regard to the scope and efficiency of the Operating  Room services. Her subsequent service in the Marianas was also meritorious. iLT Maes left some huge shoes to fill. I honor her many sacrifices and achievements and thank her for her service to the Army Nurse Corps. She was one of many esteemed ANCs who set the bar for patriotism and service and paved the way for those of us to follow in her footsteps. Today is my 71st birthday. At age 18, while the Vietnam War was "winding down," I was notified that I had won an Army Nurse Corps scholarship, which included 4 years of enlisted service while earning a BSN degree from the University of Maryland, residing in and going to didactic classes at Delano Hall and doing our clinical rotations at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (and other area military and civilian medical facilities), commissioning as a 1LT, with a continued service commitment of 3 years. I stayed in the active US Army for nearly 12 years, after which I transferred to the Army Reserves. I retired as an LTC the same year that MAJ Maes passed. RIP, MAJ Maes...I salute you, I thank you, and I give you a 'virtual hug' for your honor, valor, and your commitment to humanity. When all is said and done, that's what it's all about.

ELIZABETH ANNE MAES

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