Women Veterans Share Their Experiences During the Vietnam War

In recognition of National Women's History Month, this video highlights the wartime experiences of four Americans; each woman exemplifies service in her branch of the Armed Forces. LTC Jay Ellen Barrett earned a commission in the Army Nurse Corps in 1968. In 1971 and 1972, she served in Vietnam as an Army nurse at the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Phu Bai, and the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang. LTC Barrett retired from the Army Reserves in 1991.
Suzanne Devlin served in the Marine Corps from 1972 to 1975. She was an air traffic controller and a Drill Instructor. The Marine Corps gave her a foundation in leadership that she drew on as the first woman Chief of Police in Fairfax, Virginia; one of only ten in the United States at the time.
After serving as a flight nurse in Korea, LCDR Vila Bobbi Hovis, was among the first Navy nurses to volunteer for Vietnam, where she lived through seven coups d état, and helped turn a hotel into the Naval Hospital in Saigon in 1963.
Brig Gen Wilma Vaught blazed a trail for women in the U.S. Air Force. She was the first woman ever to deploy with a Strategic Air Command Bomb Wing, supporting B-52s and Operation Arc Light from Guam in 1966. She deployed to Saigon in 1968-1969 as a management analyst assigned to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV). She was the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the Air Force s comptroller field. Moreover, she was the first woman to go to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces from the Air Force, ever, and was the third woman graduate in its history.
In Recognition of National Women s History Month, the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration salutes all women who served honorably during the Vietnam era.

[@grfredricksen7067]

My mom served as a Army Nurse in World war two....Africa, Italy, Germany. She cried when I went to VN. I am very proud of my mom for stepping up and serving, along with all the women that stepped up and served!!

[@Cab520]

Your mom is a true hero. Read books about army nurses serving in war. She was in the middle of it,sometimes behind enemy lines.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@Cab520 And enemy lines were everywhere in Vietnam. There was no such thing as front lines in 'Nam.

[@ErinHopes]

Heroes. Absolute heroes. And they are not “women” veterans, they’re veterans. Period. America has denigrated and disregarded their service for a very long time, it’s time to educate all future generations to STOP thinking that only men serve and sacrifice in wars.

[@Cab520]

You are so right. The disrespect and denigration we were subject to is a disgrace. We worked harder and longer and out worked the men.

[@felixmadison5736]

A tip of my army helmet, and a 20 round salute from my M-16, to all you brave ladies who served when we really needed you. As a disabled veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, I'd like to give a shout out to the women who took care of me for 8 months (1969-70) from Vietnam, to Japan, and home to Fort Devens, Ma. Army Hospital. If not for you nurses I would not be here at 75 years of age typing this. THANK YOU!

[@hanhnguyen]

Amazing you give Amazing words to those women and even men who was ignorant post return home. Young generations must need to re-educate and apologise for what their behaviour in the past. Brisbane Australia

[@felixmadison5736]

@@hanhnguyen Are you from Brisbane? I met many Australian soldiers in Vietnam fighting along side us. I don't think the Aussies were ignorant at all.

[@fbigburg]

what great women. For the nurses: there are/were men who loved you and probably never knew your names but remembered your gentle touch.

[@nmr6988]

The brave women doctors, nurses, and enlisted/officers of every kind who were in Vietnam are heroes. God bless them!

[@Barracuda24-f3w]

Ft McClellan, AL. WAC, 1970s! 🙋‍♀️

[@rfcgong1]

All American heroes

[@lorriebirdwatcher7778]

I truly admire these brave women! And thanks for their selfless service!

[@Lilhajxjk274]

They are cowards who hurt other countries

[@wendycameron1127]

My deepest respects to these women. How I admire their courage, faith and fortitude.

[@jar8459]

Lady’s thank you for your service welcome home.

[@meredithr9824]

Why is there so much respect in these comments but none to be found in other videos about women veterens?

[@glendaharris7219]

Thank you eternally for your service...welcome home. ❤

[@StevenLindly]

Great ladies all, I am a USN veteran I thank you for your service.

[@scottwhite6040]

Incredible wimmon doing an incredible job thank u for stepping up thank you for your dedication thank you for your service incredible stories that needed to be documented for our history I'm so glad all you nurses got the momrieal you so well deserved God bless u and your families and may God ease your minds.🙏🇺🇲

[@taniachop8926]

The best of us! Congratulations on all your collective achievements in service and as civillians.

[@Cindymancini75]

Im still in touch with the nurse who took care of my dad in Vietnam..we write to each other and these nurses in combat are amazing!!!

[@romanceenthusiasm7972]

These are some incredible women

[@2098elk]

Hoorah! Thanks for answering the call and serving our country.

[@sescuba6405]

Angels. They were all angels...

[@RickThompson-d8s]

Thank you for your dedicated service to our service men and to our nation. Welcome home!

[@matthewoffenbacher6548]

Where's the love button!

[@Tetleyb]

Where is the Hollywood Movie?

[@lonnymoses845]

Bless each one of you

[@roycolglazier1061]

A big "OOO-rah" to Suzanne & a thank you as well! My Sainted Mother was the acting command sergeant major of woman marines @MCAS Cherry Point from 1943 til 1945! She was forced to accept an honorable discharge when she married my father, and subsequently gave birth to me @Camp LeJeune, due to a lack of OBGYN facilities @Cherry Point! Anyhow, she was always PROUD of her status as a Marine, and I pass this shoutout, vicariously, to honor her memory, and as a heartfelt tribute to all women, everywhere, who wore this nation's uniform! MANY THANKS🥰👍❗️

[@Cab520]

The reason was not obgyn. Pregnancy was not allowed. If a woman got pregnant she was shunned and kicked out unceremoniously. Not nice at all. The woman also was not taken care of by any va or service . The baby never recognized. The male marine received no action. Most were date rape or out and out rape. Your mother was married to a marine so treated differently.

[@richardbowers3647]

All veterans are well trained & can do difficult things!!!

[@KTMK1960]

God Bless all of you and thank you for your service.

[@MarilynSharpGraben-qi5oe]

In memory of the average nurse who suffered in Vietnam. " Home Before Morning" by Lynda Van Devanter, RN US Army Retired.

[@cherihausmann]

Thank you for sharing your stories.

[@damianscardamaglia7857]

Thank you and Welcome Home

[@damecupcake]

Wow! What stories! Thank you for your service!

[@Lilhajxjk274]

There service caused genocide. Nothing to thank

[@williammccormick966]

THANKS FOR YOU'RE SERVICE LADY'S SOLDIERS 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@nmartin5551]

The Marine reminds me so much of a woman marine vet I met in the late 80s. Cut and made of the same cloth.

[@nmartin5551]

Yes

[@Daah_Pa]

Thank you for your service! R Delaney ATN2 VA155 1970 & 1971

[@robertberryhill4033]

Thank you ladies for all yall did for us. Y'all were angles to us boys

[@daryldaigle7214]

Thank you!

[@mwayne-yq7vy]

Thank you !!!

[@chejohnny3706]

Thank You Ladies! God Bless

[@SantaNMS]

This is soooo cool! It would be an honor to sit with these women and just listen and learn from them! Can't respect these women enough!

[@Lilhajxjk274]

Why do you respect terrorist. They are the same as ISIS since they kill civilians

[@lannyfaulkner6697]

General Vaught from Scotland IL !!!

[@sharonaerneckeaitchison4500]

Deeply moving.

[@KTMK1960]

Oh my. And yes. Welcome home!

[@jesuscheerleader4863]

Love this!!!!

[@donaldyeoman8914]

To all these women,I admire and respect you,I feel so very proud of you all and just wanted you to know..thankyou for your outstanding service!.❤

[@carolf-nf1nb]

It is a shame that they ignored the other third of the women who went to Vietnam.....Red Cross, Special Services, etc.

[@lligwoca]

Well this is specifically a piece about women veterans so those in the Red Cross wouldn’t apply on this specific piece.

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN UNIFORM OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY. WELCOME HOME !. MERRY CHRISTMAS 2020

[@ypaulbrown]

Lovely.....

[@markjfox866]

Hero,s ALLLLLLLL OF THEM.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖

[@vegasbob0075]

Suzanne Devlin doesn't say where she was stationed in Vietnam or what she did .

[@MichaelBowen-bh7kf]

Thank you all so much for your services to your country and all her People who needed You! WITH ALL OWER THANKS TO YOU AND MY GOD BLESS YOU! IN JESUS NAME❤😢🎉❤❤😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤🎉FROM MICHIGAN 🇺🇸

[@paulrussell2452]

Sounds like Galloway asking questions.

[@clarencemcgregor8568]

You have to play the hand that you are dealt.

[@johnwauters8576]

My City Danang

[@hooper4581]

👏👏👏👏

[@larrymersereau7253]

What is the name of the music being played

[@JosephMejia-nt5owjesusno1amen]

THANKS ALL OF YOU . For YOUR SERV*CE LADIES . JAKM😢🎉❤🎉❤❤❤😊 8:40

[@canadians2214]

Where can this pin/patch be purchased at. Please let me know, and thank you very much. I to am a Vietnam Veteran

[@VNWar50th]

Thank you for your service! The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin is available to you free of charge on behalf of a grateful nation. Please send an email to [e-mail] with your mailing address and we'll be happy to send the lapel pin. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Thank you.

[@barbaraoshea7701]

❤

[@kwinter2541]

Tough as nails . Soft as linen . #AdeptasSororitas

[@pozn9962]

Bad Ass

[@johnwauters8576]

Airbase

[@glenknapke6771]

Grill cook Tubbys Subs

[@ericyucatan4472]

No disrespect to you; honorable, distinguished veterans but I have to ask because im a veteran too. When McNamara admitted that the Vietnam Invasion was a sham.., why did you remain silent when Bush invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, knowing that was a sham too?

[@SandfordSmythe]

McNamara was a little more nuanced that that. I don't know what you mean by "sham". There were good and reasonable intents, but no easy answers.

[@TheresaJack-i7h]

Absolute hereos

[@TheresaJack-i7h]

A b

[@JosephMejia-nt5owjesusno1amen]

GOD Bless YOU SISTERS 🎉❤❤🎉❤🎉 I LOVE❤❤❤ ALL of YOU. Jose ANG EL MEJIA. JAMM53. Aka JOSEPH MEJIA. US NATURALLIZED US CITIZEN.. I ❤❤❤❤LOVE YOU ALL OR YOU FOR REAL. ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉😂😂🎉🎉❤