Army Nurse Corps History Home

In July of 2011, LTC (P) Nancy Cantrell was selected as the Army Nurse Corps Historian and made the transition from Lead ILE Instructor at Fort Hood, Texas, to the Office of Medical History at the AMEDD Center of History and Heritage at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  The position requires an individual trained to identify and collect key historical documents and conduct oral history interviews needed to produce comprehensive histories of the AMEDD, focusing on Army Nurses during this crucial time in our nation’s history.

Duties of the Nurse Corps Historian include answering research, personal, and official inquiries, and archiving all pertinent information relating to the Army Nurse Corps, conducting oral histories, writing for publications, gathering historical data and artifacts, and providing lectures to organizations such as the Korean War Commemoration Committee. The assignment provides constant exposure to the valuable knowledge and experience of historians assigned to the office, and allows the ANC historian to function more as a historian in the true sense of the word.   

The historians assigned to the Office of Medical History remain busy answering the many inquiries requesting information for books, articles, personal family member information, and military office information for awards, ceremonies, and building sites. They complete an endless series of projects publicizing histories and information relating to key events for AMEDD and each Corps as well as related professional organizations, publishing books and professional materials. They provide in-depth research information for authors and CMHH publications. The AMEDD Historians have a remarkable knowledge of medical military history and are the greatest resource for research. 
 
The U.S. Army Nurse Corps has one of the several distinct sub-collections of the Office of Medical History, which is a part of the OTSG/MEDCOM Historical Program. The mission of the Army Nurse Corps Historian is to support the men and women of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps through the assembly and publication of reference materials, oral histories, original works, web publications, special studies, AMEDD newspaper/professional publications and print series. The dedication and commitment of past members of the Army Nurse Corps have shaped the Corps. Their leadership and intuitiveness prepared the Corps to remain capable in the transition to a more agile force. Their foresight has enabled continuous change in doctrine and capability within the Army Nurse Corps. This has allowed the Corps to meet the changing demands in an environment of changing conditions, increased OPTEMPO and clinical needs on the battlefield. The website offers a wealth of information regarding U.S. Army Nurse Corps history and provides assistance with inquiries concerning army medicine in regards to nursing practice.

The AMEDD medical history collection continues to grow. The Army Nurse Corps archives and artifacts include significant pieces such as Clara Barton’s Red Cross pin, trinkets from overseas duty such as a Japanese Flag known as the “Be Brave in Battle” flag from WWII, dog tags belonging to lead COL Florence Blanchfield, and many, many other testaments to the rich heritage of the Corps.

The Army Nurse Corps Historian has a vital role and provides an opportunity to encourage future leaders to capture and maintain records of their experiences and to understand the history of the military and their Corps. This can be done in the form of photographs, journals, oral histories, mementos, and correspondence. These records have intrinsic historical value in light of the changing face of war, enemies in the Global War on Terror, and advancing technologies; history is made with each deployment and mission. Learning lessons from each campaign is vital for continued growth and change. Research is greatly enhanced with the testimonies and stories provided by those who went before us. As Mary Sarnecky wrote in her first book, A History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, “The history of the Army Nurse Corps should remind us of the importance of the past, which has determined the present and will continue to affect the future.”

The Army Nurse Corps continues to lead the way for the field of nursing and is pivotal in the transition to a more flexible and proactive medical force. Share the rich and proud heritage and learn as much as possible from the lessons learned. All Army Nurses should read both of Mary Sarnecky’s books, The History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, and, A Contemporary History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. They provide an introduction to the Army Nurse Corps and AMEDD, and provide a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of the history of the ANC.

Enjoy the Army Nurse Corps website and contribute as much as possible to the historical archives. LTC (P) Cantrell is eager to share ANC history and information. Please contact her for questions and/or assistance with historical materials, inquiries and donations.