CHAPTER XII
Corps Services
Nursing Service
The men and women of the ANC (Army
Nurse Corps) have provided nursing care of the highest quality to U.S. troops in
Vietnam since mid-1962. Thirteen nurses were included on the staff of the 5th
Field Hospital which arrived at Nha Trang in March 1962. Thereafter the number
of nurses sent to Vietnam increased gradually as the troop buildup continued.
The number reached a peak strength of 900 in January 1969, after which it fell
rapidly to about 650 by July 1970 as the withdrawal of U.S. troops gained
momentum.
Administration
From 1962 through 1964, when the 8th
Field Hospital was the only Army hospital operating in Vietnam, the nursing
service did not require the assignment of a chief nurse as a special staff
adviser to the surgeon at Army component headquarters in order to function
efficiently. In anticipation of the imminent buildup of Army combat and support
forces, a decision was made to place a chief nurse on the staff of the USASCV
surgeon early in 1965. On 3 February, Lieutenant Colonel Margaret G. Clarke,
ANC, senior nurse at the 8th Field Hospital, was assigned that position as an
additional duty.
Just as was true for all other Medical
Department officers who wore two hats during that period, the physical
separation of the 8th Field Hospital from Headquarters, USASCV, in Saigon,
hindered Colonel Clarke in the accomplishment of her staff responsibilities.
Consequently, when USASCV was redesignated Headquarters, USARV, on 20 July 1965,
a primary duty space was authorized in the surgeon's office for a staff nurse.
However, not until 15 September, when Colonel Clarke was transferred from the
8th Field Hospital to Headquarters, USARV, to assume the duties of chief nurse,
was that position filled.
As chief nurse on the staff of the
USARV surgeon, Colonel Clarke and her successors acted as advisers on all
nursing activities, and as nursing consultants for the medical service structure
in Vietnam. The scope of her responsibilities included initial assignments for
incoming ANC officers and recommendations on personnel actions. That Colonel
