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- Description:
- In an oral history interview, retired Army Colonel Lois A. Johns talks about her education, her career in the Army Nurse Corp and her service in the Vietnam War. Johns talks about growing up in Cleveland, earning her nursing degree in 1948, a second bachelor's degree in 1950 and later two master's degrees and finally, in 1967, a doctorate. In 1950, she says that she also joined the Army Reserve and that her active duty began in 1960 when she was promoted to Captain. She describes a number of her duty stations, going back into the reserves while working and going to school and then going back on active duty as a Major for duty in Vietnam. She says that she arrived in Saigon late at night, was assigned to the "renal ward" at the 629th Medical Detachment of the 3rd Field Hospital and describes her quarters, her duties, her patients, the local cuisine and culture and says that she was awarded a Bronze Star when she left Vietnam and was assigned to the Institute for Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston. She goes on to discuss her various duty stations after Vietnam, both stateside and abroad and says that she finally retired from the Army in 1980. Johns praises her many coworkers throughout the years, but says that women often had problems dealing with their male counterparts and that sexual harassment did exist in the service. Johns is interviewed by Ruth Stewart and Patricia Martin.
- Date Issued:
- 2007-02-06T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Women's Overseas Service League Oral History Project
- Description:
- Marcia Baer Larsen, who studied art history and ceramics at the Rhode Island School of Design, talks about using her training while working at foreign postings for the federal government, including service in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. After graduating in 1964, Larsen says that she was hired by the Defense Department as a civilian Supervisory Recreation Specialist in the Special Services unit and was sent to Korea to run craft, recreation, and education programs for American troops at an R&R center and also led tours of ancient Korean kiln sites. Larsen says that she was in Korea until 1968 and after two years back in the States was sent to Thailand as administrator of all in-country recreation facilities, including golf courses and recreation centers. Larsen talks about closing centers in Vietnam and Thailand and turning the facilities and equipment over to local government and tells a story of taking an unauthorized flight with a CIA unit into Phenom Phen, Cambodia and initially being refused permission to leave. Larsen says that she left Special Services when she married and later became Director of the Southwest Craft Center. Larsen is interviewed by Ruth Stewart and Patricia Martin.
- Date Issued:
- 2007-02-06T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Women's Overseas Service League Oral History Project