Joan A. Furey - U.S. Army 1968-70 | Vietnam War
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2018
- usawarriorstories.org - Joan Furey was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1946 and grew up in Terryville, a small town on Long Island. She graduated from the Pilgrim State Hospital School of Nursing, in Brentwood, in September 1967.
Joan began her career in Army service in 1968 as a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. She later volunteered to be deployed to Vietnam, where she received a Bronze Star as a staff nurse.
In 1970, the U.S. Army discharged Joan from Vietnam, and after leaving Southeast Asia, she dedicated her life to Veteran Affairs. She earned her master’s degree in nursing from New York University in 1975 and then moved to Florida, where she became involved in grass-roots advocacy for veterans returning from war.
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When I was at the beach one day a lady came by my grandmother’s house and my dad made a point of introducing me to her and saying that she had been a nurse in the Pacific during WWII. I had two uncles that fought in the Pacific and I never saw my dad give anyone as much deference and respect as this lady. God bless our military nurses.
Sad that people forget about these incredible people these women were rock stars during the war thanks for your service.
Yes but all the protesters have crawled under a rock somewhere and nobody care for them, I don’t’, they may soldiers lives miserable. I’ll never forgive those that sided with the enemy.
Joan
Thank you for being a nurse. Thank you for being a nurse in Vietnam. And a real big thank you for being a nurse at the 71st on 3/6/69 when I came in with a gunshot to the chest and hand. I don't know if you ever saw me, let alone worked on me. I do know that you and the rest of the staff there did a great job of taking care of the patients who came through the 71st. When you said stryker frame I remembered a patient across from me against the wall in one. He was from a sister company in my battalion. I remember some NCO coming into the ward carrying a small cat (don't know if it was a domestic cat or something from the jungle). After I left the 71st I ended up staying at the Air Force hospital in Cam Ranh bay for about 50 days, then Japan and finally Walter Reed. Without the care given to me by our medic, and everyone else after that I would have had a much different life then I did. When I have spoken about my time in Vietnam to friends I always say what a wonderful bunch of people the nurses were and how they had to see what war does to the human body. Not once or for a week but for months on end. To see the life changing wounds on the boys that were supposed to have their whole lives ahead of them must have and still be difficult. But remember you helped and saved a lot of us who did get a chance to have that life. For that I say thank you.
Bill
B Co. 3/8th 4th Inv Div.
1968-69
Bill ,glad you made it home. I hope you've had a good life in spite of the hell you went through over there.
I enlisted in the USAF 10 days out of high school in January of 69. I had 2 asthma attacks in boot and was sent home in February of 69. I'll soon be 74 years old and to this very day
I regret that I was not able to finish my enlistment. I did my best to serve ,but was cut way short due to the asthma.
Bill thank you for your service!
I worked in the Laboratory of the 71st Evac during the same time frame as Lt. Furey. She was always, in my experience, professional, kind and caring ; our patients could not have had better . Proud to be able to say this.
So did every 2nd person on here
I'm trying not to cry and this is almost 50 years after I pulled two tours in I Corps in South Vietnam. As a door gunner on a UH-1D helicopter, part of my job was to get both American and Vietnamese soldiers out of battle zones. Combat usually broke out that night after we left the LZ. I felt terrible for the young men we dropped off in the jungles and rice paddies. Also, we relocated Vietnamese mother's and their children plus older civilians. Most Americans thought all we did was fight the enemy. I'm just glad I didn't have to see the carnage this nurse dealt with although I did see some of it. We were a slick but we did a little medical and recover dead bodies. I salute you for your service and fortitude.
Thank you for your service.
Let us know if interested in doing an interview with us?
Thank you for your service
My brother was a door gunner with 1st Cav, 15th Med Evac. He was in Viewtnam 68-69. He was injured was in 68 and in the hospital there. Thank you for saving him. He passed away in May of 2019. I miss him so much. I served from 71 to 92 in the JAG Corp US Army retired.
First off THANK YOU FOR MY FREEDOM AND WELCOME HOME!! I commented alot to especially young people to watch the interviews of these Nurses. They threw mattresses and THEMSELVES on the wounded to protect them when thier bases where attacked. When a wounded man came in the ER and nothing could be done, they took that man behind a curtain, and a nurse held thier hand, talked to them, even if the wounded man was still awake, they would write the goodbye letters for them. They stayed with them till they died. Also, I can only imagine to you fellas in recovery after being in the mud,nasty,smelly jungle and rice paddies that seeing a nurse reminded you boys of everything good and decent from home, your sweetheart,sister,mother. These women where just as brave as the men. They also came home to horrible treatment. I hold these women in the highest esteem. I hope to meet one someday.
You must have been this tiny, 5 foot, no bull, force of nature.
Thank you for having the courage to go, endure, and making sure so many of us went home.
Hello Joan... thank you for taking care of my cousin in November of 1968. He was wounded in KonTum. He was in an Engineer unit taking care of the roads and bridges up that way. I was actually right next door to your unit, I was with the 43rd Signal Battalion HHD there on Tropo Hill. While my cousin was being treated at the 71st Evac Hospital, I visited with him about 3 times during his 8-day stay with your Hospital. He was patched up and sent back up to KonTum and DakTo. I eventually was transferred to an aviation unit at Nha Trang and my barracks was next door to the 8th Field Hospital at the Nha Trang Airbase. Thank you for taking care of all those wounded troops. My cousin and I remain close and we live only 20 miles apart here in Harrisburg, PA
I enjoyed your story you did a great gob thank you for helping
Joan was an Army nurse when she arrived in Viet Nam. Her family welcomed home a young angel and hero to many young American soldiers. God bless you Joan !
Thank You, Lt. Joan Furey for all your compassionate care. You are a True American Hero.
👍👍
IDK how anyone could watch this woman as she spoke of this patient and not be moved by it without losing it. I couldn't.
Welcome home Joan.
Welcome home Joan. Thank you for your service :)
Being a Vietnam vet and laying in a hospital bed for the last week, watching vids of nurses in nam, I have another level of respect for the nurses taking care of me today. You are special, special people who have human emotions that do wonderful work. Thank you so much for your service to this country.
69-70 was my second NAM tour. I was in Tay Ninh. Youngest granddaughter just passed the NCLEX. Nurses are so amazing! Thank you.
I was a Cmbt Engr in Pleiku and An Khe in Jan thru Nov 1970. God bless you Joan Furey. God bless you.
I salute Lt.l Furey. She is one of our nation's heroes.
From a combat vet:Jesus you're a tough soldier! Thank you and welcome home.
No medicine is more powerful than the touch of a woman. Thank you for your service.
@HIPPIEVIBESBAND... SSgt Barry Sadler
wrote this song from his 1966 album
"Ballads of the Green Berets." in honor
of the nurses who served during the
Vietnam conflict,
"Salute to the Nurses"
SSgt Barry Sadler
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam
They know the awful toll of war each day
they know more than any the price we pay
A soldier his hands too burned to write
a nurse takes down his words through the lonely night
They have gone to the front where men fought
in the night from Pleiku to Qui Nhon
where war these men fight
Many a wounded soldier pain is eased for a while
by opening his eyes to see a nurses smile
To each of the wounded on the operating shelf
these nurses give a part of themselves
I know every soldier to the last man will
sometimes say a prayer for the nurses of Vietnam
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam.
@@drewpall2598thanks for that
All I can say is the soldiers wounded couldn't have had a kinder, professional and caring nurse like Lt. Furey. Having a set of caring, competent and feminine hands must have been immensely comforting to men used to having to take care of themselves in every aspect. These angels helped the healing begin not just physically but spiritually as well. It's a surrogate mother's hands with their wondrous healing properties that cannot be measured or written about properly.
May God bless her and all that walk in her footsteps. Thank you Ma'am, for your service to our country.
You are incredible. Thank you for helping and caring for us. A Vietnam Veteran.
Thank you for your service Joan. Medic in central highlands - and at the 71st. 70/71
I really appreciate you, Joan. Thank you for being where God needed you. US ARMY, 74-77. I think their are alot of people, who won't forget what you did for them. My Grandmother's cousin was an Army nurse during World War 2, in the Pacific. I was given her memorabilia from that time. Your sacrifice is beyond measure and I really appreciate YOU!!
Served as an OR tech at a Clearing Station on LZ Marylou II from January til September of 1969. We sent a lot of work your way to the 71st. I remember my first helo load. There were a pile of bodies, we thought they were all dead. We got the top guy out and he says” be careful, the worst guys are on the bottom “. He was right! A couple of months later we were the busiest Clearing Station in Vietnam, over 100 major casualties a day for 30 days. We were like zombies, we heard the Heuys and just started walking toward the helipad. I was an E5 so had to keep my guys fed and watered so we could continue to function. Our motor pool guys volunteered and took care of the minor stuff, we didn’t even get to log those guys, so who knows how many we actually treated. In the end they wanted to give us a unit commendation but instead gave a metal to an E6 who was on Rand R for most of the action. Tim Ward SP5 C company 4th med batallion 4th Infrantry division .
Ma'am, Thank You!. My father was with IVth Infantry,on the Mountain, Pleiku in September 1966. My godfather was with 25th Infantry. He got there in 1965. You may never know how much your kindness meant to people over there. RESPECT!
I was serving at the same time but never deployed to Nam myself. In my unit we were getting a lot of guys that were casualties from Nam but recovered enough to serve out their tour. Two of my close friends were not expected to survive and their folks even got the notification of death. They both said it was the nurses that saved them!! It was always the nurses that were given the credit and praise. Such courage and dedication should be spoken of more these days!! They were all Hero's!!!!!!!!
I bet all the guys fell in love with you. Thank you for your service. God Bless.
You nurses did a great job, VN 68-70.
I've seen this lady in several Vietnam war documentaries, she's really quite the spitfire when it comes to important humanitarian matters -
Hats off to you sister vietnam veteran. In person I saw what you "girls" did in the 71 st Evacuation Hospital at Pleiku in 1969. Of all of us that returned, we say thank you for your outstanding service. Many of us are still here because all of you. You have what true patriots are made of.
🌹Courage 🙏🏻🇺🇲
To you, Cpt. Joan Furey , BSN, RN
You'll never know me or heard of me or perhaps, in some obscure fashion you will have known of the many who followed your leadership in this career field.
I'm among the few who would willingly do it again and still be here to salute the rank
and the officer.
Thank you, will never be enough.
Thanks to all of you nurses for taking care of business. The horrible business of war injuries. Thanks for your love and care of all of our guys and the collaterals.
A very brave Vietnam veteran US nurse. She must have made injured soldiers very responsive to her professional qualities in a terrible war.(from UK)
What an amazing lady!
This is one of the finest Vietnam TH-cam episode's that I have seen.
Thank you for your service. I am a Vietnam Era Medic with the utmost respect for what you did and where you served. I am still serving in the Medical field due, in large measure, to a Vietnam Nurse named Maj. Graski that used her experience and grit to train me and several other medics in caring for trauma Patients. Thank you for your service and sharing part of your story- what you did matters and is appreciated.
This Lady is a true Angel she treated our wounded with compassion and love
We as an American people should and will always hold her and her associate with nothing but compassion and thanks for their service to our military personnel
THANK YOU
Your 1 Great gal for doing what few would do at that time , for your comfort , care and service ...
SALUTE !
I was trying to think of something to say but I got nothing. Thank you for your service. And I really mean THANK YOU!
Joan when you get to the pearly gates tell St Peter you were an army nurse and watch those gates open wide!!
What a big hearted lady.
Joan you are a beautiful person.....thank you....
I was Army 1966 thru 1969, while in basic training, ay Ft. Dix, got URI, hospital 7 days. Just great treatment, thanks to all are medical people. Thank you for posting. From a 74 year old Army guy. Thank you.
Was medevac in Okinawa for serious head wound on a destroyer was in a medevac hospital there at Army was one of the most horrific things of the war that I had to endure those women without a doubt if anyone is in heaven they will all be there. Thank you very much young lady for your service
The thing so many people don't understand (talking about the keyboard commandos), is war happens in Real Time. There's no pause button, if you get hit, its for Real, no start over.
I was in VN, but fortunately did not have to go through this. After all these years I could not watch the full clip. Thank you sister for all of the care you gave our brothers.
@johnsaunders1144 Were you in VP 10 in 1974 and 75? As I recall there was a man of the same name in the squadron that had spent some time in Vietnam.
@@saddletramp6935I
Thank you ma’am
Heroism comes in all shapes and sizes. Thank you for your service Joan. (You have the same name as my mom, she was A Joan too.)
Joan, wonderful story. Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country. Welcome home.
I too served as a corpsman in a navy field medical hospital (1/1) in Chu Lia & Da Nang, Vietnam in 1966/67, working both I.C.U. and Triage for 8 months. Later voluntaried for the field because of shortage of Corpsman (WIA/KIA), worked with a combined action platoon (Delta 3)until wounded (2 months later) myself. Medevac right back to where I started serving and discharged medically. Strange Days indeed.
John, Let us know if you would like to do a Warrior Stories with us? Please let us know info@usawarriorstories.org Thank you, Nick
I was also in Vietnam during the same time of 1968 - 1969, but stationed in Saigon with a unit of WDMET (V). Which a lot of people probably never heard of it. If anyone out there knows of this unit, please respond to this request, and thank you.
Thanks for your service! Everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home!
@garyluck8502... yes, we must never forget those men
and women who served and sacrifice their life for our
country. SSgt Barry Sadler wrote these two songs from
his 1966 album Ballads of the Green Berets.
"I'm a Lucky One"
SSgt Barry Sadler
I'm going home, my tour is done
I'm going home, I'm a lucky one
But I left friends behind me
Who won't come home no more
Yes many friends remain forever
On that bloody shore
But at night when I sleep, I know my dreams will be
About my friends I left across the sea
I'll here verbal young men harn, laugh again out loud
We'll all be together in a happy crowd
But then I hear the sound of bullets whining overhead
Feel the crash of morters and all my friends are dead
My friends they fought and gave their all
My friends they died for freedoms call
As my dream was ending, they'll come and say goodbye
Though I'm sound asleep a tear I'll cry
And they say something which fills my heart with pain
Tell them about us Sadler, don't let us die in vain
I'm going home, my tour is done
I'm going home, I'm a lucky one
"Salute to the Nurses"
SSgt Barry Sadler
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam
They know the awful toll of war each day
they know more than any the price we pay
A soldier his hands too burned to write
a nurse takes down his words through the lonely night
They have gone to the front where men fought
in the night from Pleiku to Qui Nhon
where war these men fight
Many a wounded soldier pain is eased for a while
by opening his eyes to see a nurses smile
To each of the wounded on the operating shelf
these nurses give a part of themselves
I know every soldier to the last man will
sometimes say a prayer for the nurses of Vietnam
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam.
Welcome home, My Sistsr!
RVN 66-67
Unbelievable devotion to our young men.
Thank you Joan you are a beautiful person.
I hope the nurses are never forgotten, thank you for your service, you saved countless lives, you are truly great americans
@Andrew Mielke... I agree with you. SSgt Barry Sadler
record a song from his from his 1966 record album
Ballads of the Green Berets, SSgt Barry Sadler honor
the women who served alongside the men during the
Vietnam conflict in his song.
"Salute To The Nurses"
SSgt Barry Sadler
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam
They know the awful toll of war each day
they know more than any the price we pay
A soldier his hands too burned to write
a nurse takes down his words through the lonely night
They have gone to the front where men fought
in the night from Pleiku to Qui Nhon
where war these men fight
Many a wounded soldier pain is eased for a while
by opening his eyes to see a nurses smile
To each of the wounded on the operating shelf
these nurses give a part of themselves
I know every soldier to the last man will
sometimes say a prayer for the nurses of Vietnam
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam.
Reply
Thanks To The Courageous🌹 Angels In White. 🙏🏻
Thank you Joan from a Vietnam Veteran 69-70
God bless you Joan you are a Angel and I thank God for you and all the angels who took care of us
Thank you so much for your service, I lost my father 1 1/2 years ago he was a vietnam veteran united states marine corp he was in country 1969-1970 he was a grunt I wish he would of talked to me about it but he never would one time he tried and he started to cry it was just too many bad memories I guess I just wanted to know what he went through, my mother told me he would have terrible nightmares when they got together after the war and sometimes he would be talking Vietnamese in his sleep he had terrible PDSD again god bless you for all you did and god bless all the young men and women who fought iny opinion a senseless war but you all did what you had to do when you wer are called on for duty god bless!
This is a great reminder of the women in War.
The nurses were the backbone of medical service -- they literally were the frontline of hands-on medicine.
Thank-you for your service, but more so ... thank-you for coming home and living a Life of Honor.
I was with the 135th 69/70 your very special . God bless and welcome back to the world.
HI Joan, just saw this TH-cam video, you look quite well, familiar with your New York accent ( hahaha), met multiple people while in Vietnam must say you made a long lasting impression indeed,
have dial your phone and it must it changed.
As always still your memories remind same, take care Rick Leon
Semper fi mam semper fi
An Angel.
Yeah, man..that says it all...
God bless this woman for what she had to experience. I guess love lost is better than none at all. ❤❤
I was in the marine corps from 68 to 70 those were the days...
God bless you mam thank you for your service my grandmother was a nurse she was 16 yrs old when nursing sick of the spanish flue epic she then worked hard to be an rn nurse thank you hull tec 2 usn
Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for your all sacrifice and service during Vietnam war . We are Forever grateful to you all 🙏❤️🙏❤️💜🙏
I was sure happy there were brave women such as Joan in the medical field in the Army as they made being in a hospital much easier. Thank you Joan and all the other brave warriors!
Thank you for your service and to all the nurses and Doctors. You saved my life!
What a wonderful human being you are Joan.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. And welcome home 🏡
Cheers and God bless 🙏
Special place for angels like you.mesmerized by your calmness that would make others go crazy.bless you.
Thanks for sharing your story Joan. Thank you for the help you gave to servicemen.
God, I remember the wheel chair races ... LOL ... the Nurses would yell at us, you're going to hurt yourself? One Nurse wrote a letter home to my wife as I couldn't see and my hands were burnt... so very kind woman there. That big Red Cross on 95th EVAC was a targte.
A lot of people owe these very brave young nurses. A debt that can never be repaid.
Thank You Darlin'. WELCOME HOME.
I used to think that only grunts and pilots saw the worst during war . When my Brother deployed to Iraq on his first tour , it wasn’t the firefights or the convoys that gave him nightmares and rattled his cage for life . It was a simple casualty recovery detail that did it . Their HHC unit got ambushed on Christmas Eve . The next morning his platoon was tasked to recover their remains with rakes , rubber gloves and body bags . It was not a Merry Christmas for Bravo Company That year .
What a wonderful Angel! Thank-you, from one who was there!
Joan Furey I was in Plieku "Engineer Hill"
These Navy and Army nurse's when they die, go right to the head of the line at heavens gate.. Bless each and every one.
@skeets6060... all medical personal who served this country
are unsung heroes SSgt Barry Sadler wrote and recorded a
song from his from his 1966 record album Ballads of the Green Berets,
that he dedicates to the women who served alongside the men
during the Vietnam conflict.
"Salute To The Nurses"
SSgt Barry Sadler
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam
They know the awful toll of war each day
they know more than any the price we pay
A soldier his hands too burned to write
a nurse takes down his words through the lonely night
They have gone to the front where men fought
in the night from Pleiku to Qui Nhon
where war these men fight
Many a wounded soldier pain is eased for a while
by opening his eyes to see a nurses smile
To each of the wounded on the operating shelf
these nurses give a part of themselves
I know every soldier to the last man will
sometimes say a prayer for the nurses of Vietnam
After the battle after the fight
many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white
And all of the men in this war torn land
salute the nurses of Vietnam.
@@drewpall2598 Non sibi sed patriae
Such a wonderful human. Hard not to love this woman.
Angels one and all. I am so grateful for you and all your dedication.
Thank you for your service
I’m grateful that this video was created and for the service of all Veterans. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
There are not enough credit to these nurses .She was like a Angel sent to these men and I wish they would do a movie to show people these incredible woman .
I read a book that brought what these Nurses went through and would highly recommend it .
Home Before Mourning is the book .It needs to be made into a movie to honor them and believe me after reading it ,you will understand why .
God bless nurses likeJoan. Saved my life and cared for me many times over the last 45 years. Thank you all.
Thank you for your service my father serverd with the 173rd 2nd of the 503rd in the central highlands hes a 100 percent disabled blind in one eye cant see out of the other was hit with a propelled rocket medivac out n the chopper got shot down last thing he remember was someone pushed im out the chopper woke up in japan broken hip back n lookin like Frankenstein he says anyways they dont make them like they used too..thanks again for your service n god bless
Ben, my name is George Colson, 2d Platoon, 2/503rd, 173rd Abn. Bde., 1965-1967. I was on 875 in November 1967. What company in the 2/503rd was your Dad in?
Thank you for your service! Combat Medic 1968
Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing and for serving.🙂❤️
An angel, a stellar human being with a story more people should hear. You are an inspiration, hat's off to you Lt. Furey, GB.
Hi Joan A. Fury; My mother Agnes Klambauer was a nurse when Cost. Robin Easey was brought in after being gunned down in Ottawa-Nepean 1984-Long & short he was deamed a Vegtable....ANYWAY my MOM would go into his room and read him Poetry (on & OFF Duty). One day she asked him 'Robin-If you can hear me,send me a sign?' and he started to shed tears..She ran outta the room yelling' he understands-he's NOT Brain dead!'She was given a talking-too bye the head nurse;'Its all in your head! And your getting too personally INVOLVED!... Etc...'. WELL R.EASEY is alive and well and works as a Head-Injury Awareness somebody and it's ALL due to a nurse NOT giving up......My Mom always said;'The Doctors get all the Glory ,BUT it's the NURSES clean the bedpans and Make it Happen!!Thank You for being a Nurse-
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done god bless you
God bless your soul. Women are the salvation of humanity. Thanks for your service.
"Thank you" seems to be a weak phrase in response to what you allowed yourself to get into. You are such an inspiration on how to live your life, and to be willing simply to help. God bless you, Joan.
Thank you for your service, and a job well done.
Thank for your service 👍
These women were very strong angels. They were the best of the best. God bless everyone of them.
After graduating high school, I wanted to be an ER nurse & go to Vietnam to help our wounded troops. When I mention that to my Daddy, he became so upset with me. He refused to allow me to follow my dreams at that time. I never did become a nurse & will always regret that path of my life. Thank you for serving our Military Veterans. And Thank You for being a great nurse.
What a great woman. So likeable.
Thank you mam. You could have quite possibly nursed my wounded father back to health in Vietnam. He was wounded three times on three different tours. God Bless you and your sacrifice you made for our nations youth.
Amazing thank you
Thank you for your service!
Amazing & very brave lady...
Thank you for your service.