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Issue No. 57 | Spring 2020
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- A Message from the Chairman of the Board
- Museum Insider
- Rachel O'Hern
- Other News
- Korean-Era Vignettes
- MSC Officer is new TSG
- Monitor subscription Update
- AMEDD Historical Notables -
- BG (Ret) Connie Lee Slewitzke
- Thank you to Donors
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A Message from the Chairman of the Board
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Dear Members and Friends of the AMEDD Museum,
Welcome to the Spring 2020 edition of your Monitor. There is a lot of "news" inside...new exhibits, new gifts, new Web Page, new Monitor. Yes, your Monitor is going digital. Top Sarge, the company also creating our new Museum webpage, will email the digital Monitor to you quarterly if we have your email address on file. Receiving the Monitor in digital format means that you can easily forward it to friends and share the stories, information, and goals of the Foundation. When you receive your invitation to sign up for the digital Monitor, please opt in. The Foundation office will continue to mail the paper version to all who prefer print. Also, please remember that you can see what ’s new at the Museum by visiting the Foundation webpage - ameddmuseumfoundation.org.
Museum Director George Wunderlich and his staff are also hard at work improving the museum. The two newest exhibits depicting the contributions of World War II medics are set in France, in June 1944, following the Allied invasion of Normandy, and in January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge. George tells the story of one museum visitor, a WWII veteran, who froze when he encountered the realism of the diorama because it evoked powerful emotional memories and feelings of his own care and evacuation when he was wounded. Great work George and company! Many thanks to Anne-Marie Berglund, museum volunteer, who grew up in Normandy during World War II and provided essential insights and donated personal items in use in Normandy during the war to enhance the realism of the exhibits. Also a hearty thank you to the COL George Hixon family, who generously donated the WW II era motorcycle lovingly restored by their own Army Medic who served in the Korean War.
Please join us in congratulating LTG R. Scott Dingle, Commanding General U.S. Army Medical Command and the 45th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, the first Medical Service Corps Officer to serve as The Surgeon General. Read
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about the inspirational conduct and unflinching courage of Corporal Roberto Sosa, Korean War era Medical Aidman, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery. Learn about Dr. Helen E. Myers, the first woman to serve as an Army Dental Officer. And finally, please remember Brigadier General (Ret) Connie Lee Slewitzke, who, in 1974, was the first Army Nurse Corps Officer and the first woman selected as president of a Command and General Staff College class. In 1983 she was appointed the 17th Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. You may have learned that BG Slewitzke passed away last September. The AMEDD Museum Foundation deeply appreciates BG Slewitzke's many years of loyal service and her extremely generous bequest of $150,000 to the Capital Campaign.
This month marks the recent passing of a good friend and Great American - LTG (Ret) Glynn Clark Mallory, Jr. , an Infantry Officer “Second to None", a man of the highest standards who lived the Army Values. After retirement from active service he continued, humbly and with great affection and respect, to care for wounded Soldiers recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center and Fort Sam Houston. In their moment of grief, his family went out of their way to extend their deepest thanks and appreciation to the BAMC Staff, commenting upon their dedication, love, skill, knowledge, and compassion. That description is emblematic of, and the Staff is the embodiment of, our Army Medical Department. To all our AMEDD brothers, sisters, and friends, thank you for being a part of our AMEDD family. Such care would not happen without your dedication and support. Please continue to support the AMEDD legacy. Please take a moment to reflect on your life in the AMEDD and your place in the long maroon and white line. You are the AMEDD spirit. "“I am an America Soldier...I serve the people of the United States...I live the Army Values…I will never accept defeat…I will never quit…I will never leave a fallen comrade…I am an American Soldier.”
- BG (Ret) Daniel F. Perugini
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This month, we feature Rachel O'Hern, who assists the AMEDD Museum Foundation with fundraising as our Development Manager.
Monitor: Tell us a little about yourself - where were you raised, and how did you come to participate with the AMEDD Museum?
RO: I'm originally from Belton, Texas and like many of our executive committee members, attended Texas A&M, although perhaps a few years later. After 8 years and 4 duty stations, my husband medically retired from the Army, and we came home to San Antonio where he continues to receive care at the Center for the Intrepid. I work with COL (Ret) Steve Markelz doing development.
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Monitor: What surprised you about the museum?
RO: The size! I had no idea there was so much gallery space and such a broad range of information.
Monitor: Which is your favorite exhibit?
RO: Since my husband was medically evacuated from the battlefield in Afghanistan, I have a special place in my heart for all of the vehicles, but I think my favorite is the Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter. It’s really remarkable to think about how much was accomplished with what looks like so little.
Monitor: What have you/do you plan to contribute to the museum?
RO: I submitted our first federal grant last year and am hoping to diversify our revenue streams over the course of this year. Beyond that, I'm working on raising our profile with the city, working with other museums, nonprofits, and local organizations to maximize outreach to tourists interested in history, building our profile in San Antonio and beyond, and ultimately increasing our ability to tell the story of Army Medicine to local residents and visitors.
Monitor: Do you have another favorite museum/historical activity? What makes it your favorite?
RO: I like the quadrangle; the peacocks are always entertaining, and I love that I can see the clock tower from my neighborhood.
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Photo of CPL Roberto Sosa from Letterman Army Hospital’s Foghorn newsletter, April 18, 1953
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Faced with extreme combat conditions in Korea, Corporal Roberto Sosa (a combat medic) led a charge against enemy forces. Sosa, would receive the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery. His award citation describes the battlefield events:
Robert Sosa, Corporal, Medical Corps, United States Army, attached to Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against an enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Medical Aidman with an Infantry Company near Taensan, Korea, on July 28, 1951.
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As his company was advancing in an attack, the platoon to which Corporal Sosa was attached suffered heavy casualties and faltered. Corporal Sosa rushed to the head of the unit, rallied the men, and led them in a renewed assault. He personally destroyed three enemy bunkers with grenades, killing the remaining defenders with his carbine.
Although wounded during the advance, he continued forward. Spotting two fleeing enemy soldiers, he killed one with his carbine and the other in hand-to-hand combat. Despite his wound, Corporal Sosa remained until the objective was secured, thereby setting an example to all by his inspirational conduct and unflinching courage.
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On March 21, 1951, Dr. Helen E. Myers (1912-1962) was commissioned into the Army Dental Corps, becoming the first woman to serve as an Army dental officer. Entering with the rank of captain, she reported for duty at Fort Lee, Virginia and would later serve at Trieste, Italy. She was a graduate of Temple University’s School of Dentistry in 1942.
At left: CPT Helen Myers being congratulated on her first day as an Army Dentist. Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration (photo number 111-SC-362058).
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The Museum recently opened a new exhibit highlighting a 1943 Harley Davidson SLA motorcycle that was used by the U.S. Army in various roles in World War II. The exhibit’s setting is Caratan, France on June 13, 1944 during the Battle of Bloody Gulch after the Allied invasion of Normandy. The exhibit displays the motorcycle as the transportation mode of a 2nd Armored Division Soldier in France. The injured rider is being treated by a combat medic of the 101st Division. The 2AD was in the reinforcing role to the 101st during the battle. The motorcycle exhibit was supported by a generous donation from the Hixon family.
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Nobel Historical Leaders of AMEDD
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BG Connie Lee Slewitzke
April 15, 1931 – September 2, 2019
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On September 2, 2019, former Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, Brigadier General (Ret) Connie Lee Slewitzke passed away. In addition to her years of dedicated service, BG Slewitzke was also devoted to her profession and the Army after her retirement. Her influence on the Army Nurse Corps and its members cannot be overlooked.
BG Slewitzke was born on April 15, 1931 in Mosinee, Wisconsin. She graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Wausau, Wisconsin in 1952. Serving as a nurse at different locations she traveled to several states and both coasts (California and Washington, D.C.), before concluding that she would have better opportunities by joining the Army.
She received credit for her civilian experience and accepted an appointment in the advanced grade of First Lieutenant in October of 1957. She would soon serve at Brooke and Tripler Medical Centers, Kimbrough Army Hospital at Fort Meade, 44th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea, and Sandia Base, New Mexico. BG Slewitzke began advancing in more supervisory duties beginning with her time in Korea. In 1967 she began service in Vietnam, first with the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau and six months later she was the chief nurse of the 6th Convalescent Center in Cam Ranh Bay. The 6th Convalescent Center provided care for patients recovering from malaria and hepatitis.
Returning from Vietnam, BG Slewitzke would expand upon her education earning a Bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Maryland. More moves and career progression followed. At Command and General Staff College she earned the distinction of being the first female and first Army Nurse Corps class president in 1974. BG Slewitzke would attend Army War College and also complete a Master’s Degree in Counseling from St. Mary’s University. Later, BG Slewitzke served as chief nurse of the United States Army Medical Command in Korea followed by leading the Department of Nursing at Letterman Army Medical Center.
In 1980, BG Slewitzke began her tenure as Assistant Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, and in 1983 she was promoted to Brigadier General, and the 17th Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. As Chief, she oversaw numerous issues and events from 1983-1987 to include: retention problems, physical fitness standards, standards of nursing practice, lobbying for a general officer position for an Army nurse in the Army Reserve/Army National Guard, the introduction of Army Nurse Corps officers into Forces Command roles, and numerous other aspects of Army Nurse Corps advocacy.
Mindful of history while serving as the ANC Chief, BG Slewitzke began the program to collect oral histories of former Chiefs of the Army Nurse Corps. BG Slewitzke retired from the Army in 1987 and became director of development of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and later of the Walter Reed Society. BG Slewitzke was an avid supporter of the AMEDD Foundation, and donated a generous bequest to the Capital Campaign through her estate.
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Current Surgeon General is First from Medical Corps
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LTG R. Scott Dingle became the Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command and The 45th Surgeon General (TSG) of the United States Army on October 17, 2019. By law, TSG may be appointed from any of the six officer branches of the AMEDD. However, prior to the 43rd TSG, LTG Patricia Horoho, an Army Nurse Corps officer, all appointed and confirmed surgeons general have been Medical Corps officers — military physicians. LTG Dingle is a Medical Service Corps officer -- a medical administrator. LTG Dingle's previous military assignments include: Deputy Surgeon General and Deputy Commanding General (Support), U.S. Army Medical Command; Commanding General, Regional Health Command – Atlantic; Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG), Falls Church, VA; Commander, 30th Medical Brigade, Germany; Director, Health Care Operations/G-3, Office of The Surgeon General, Falls Church, Virginia; Commander, U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky; and Commander, 261st Multi-functional Medical Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Morgan State University. His degrees include Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, Master of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (oak leaf cluster), Legion of Merit (two oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Order of Military Medical Merit, among others.
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Monitor Goes Digital?
For many years, the Foundation has printed and mailed this newsletter to friends of the AMEDD museum. However, printing and mailing a quarterly newsletter costs the Foundation about $8200 a year. For this reason, the Foundation will begin a slow transition from a paper-only version to a digital (.pdf) version, in order to conserve on monies donated to the museum.
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The executive committee of the Foundation recognizes that some readers appreciate having a paper copy mailed to their address. To that end, anyone who currently receives the Monitor will continue to do so, unless they opt into the digital copy.
However, with a paper-only publication we miss a chance to get the Monitor to our younger soldiers who sign up as on their Saturday visits while assigned to a training class. These soldiers pay their membership fee, receive a commemorative coin, and never hear from us again as they soon move, because they can not provide a mailing address. The Foundation plans to communicate with these soldiers, and other visitors who would like to be kept informed of museum events, via e-Monitor in the future.
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We are making contacts with other AMEDD organizations to share the e-Monitor with their members through their email member lists. Organizations like the Silver Caduceus and the Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) have already agreed to participate in this effort to share and support our AMEDD Museum. Let us know if other organizations you are involved with would like to receive the e-Monitor. Opting for a digital copy of the newsletter can be done by providing your email address to Sue McMasters at the Foundation office at
210-226-0265
. You may also mail this information with the enclosed envelope (hopefully with your capital campaign donation!) to AMEDD Museum Foundation, PO Box 8294, San Antonio, TX 78208. New subscribers will be digital unless there are special circumstances. We hope that you will become emissaries of our mission by forwarding your digital version of the Monitor to anyone you think might be interested.
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At a dinner on 14 November 2017, LTG (Ret) Quinn Becker suggested the idea of a “Grand Club” to recognize all those who donated $1000 or more to the Foundation’s Capital Campaign. He immediately inaugurated the Club with his own gift of $1000. We honor him and his recommendation by listing our Grand Club Members. The individuals listed below donated to the AMEDD Museum Foundation Capital Campaign during Oct - Dec 2019.
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LTG (Ret) Ronald R. Blanck
COL (Ret) Jessie S. Brewer
Ms. Lucile B. Hudson
COL (Ret) and Mrs. Thomas C. Munley
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Ms. Margie O'Connell
Ms. Lucette Claudine Ramsey
MG (Ret) David Rubenstein
COL (Ret) Stephanie J. Sherman
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Supporters
(Under $1000) Oct-Dec 2019
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BG (Ret) Clara Adams-Ender
LTC (Ret) Carita A. Bird
COL (Ret) Charles T. Bole II Ms. Hilda Calvo
LTC Tom E. Catanzaro
COL Derrick R. Carter
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Christie
COL (Ret) John E. Dulski
Mr. Terrance J. Eiteljorge
MG (Ret) Kenneth L. Farmer, Jr.
COL (Ret) Richard D. Farris LTC (Ret) Frank E. Gainer III
COL (Ret) Beverly Greenlee-Davis and Mr. R. W. Davis
LTC (Ret) Lessie A. Griffith
MG (Ret) Louis H. Guernsey, Jr.
COL Peter H. Guevara
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COL (Ret) Henry S. Hammer
COL (Ret) Robert L. Henderson
COL (Ret) Karen Hobson
COL Carol and LTC Michael Huebner
COL (Ret) Peggy P. Jones
COL (Ret) Stephen B. Kern
COL (Ret) Daniel B. Kimball, Jr.
COLs Tim and Joan Ruttle King
COL (Ret) Peter Klager
Drs. Jeffrey D. & Katherine W. Klinger Ms. Barbara A. Kvam
COL (Ret) and Mrs. Roger J. Labat Mr. Angel Lugo
COL (Ret) Kay H. Malone
COL (Ret) A. David Mangelsdorff
COL (Ret) Stephen Markelz
COL (Ret) John R. Miller
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LTC (Ret) Robert B. Moeller, Jr.
COL (Ret) Francis Nasser
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Olcott
BG (Ret) and Mrs. Daniel F. Perugini Ms. Nancy Prickett
LTC (Ret) Richard C. Ritter
Dr. Jerry V. Roach
MAJ (Ret) Victor S. Rosenblum
COL (Ret) Paul Shaman
COL (Ret) Daryl L. Spencer
COL (Ret) and Mrs. James Stubblefield
COL (Ret) Gary Valiant
COL (Ret) and Mrs. Joseph D. Weiss
COL (Ret) & Mrs. Kenneth K. Yamanouchi
COL (Ret) Robert A. Yard
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Donations Made in Memory of:
Oct-Dec 2019
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Army Medical Specialist Corps Association
-IMO LTC William Moore
-IMO LTC Hilda L. "Sandy" Walker
COL (Ret) Jessie S. Brewer
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IMO Ms. Marie Becker
-IMO MG George Kuttas
-IMO COL (Ret) Marian Waterhouse
-IMO COL (Ret) Doris Cobb
MG (Ret) Louis H. Guernsey, Jr.
-IMO Louis H. Guernsey, Sr.
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COL (Ret) Beverly GreenleeDavis & and Mr. R.W. Davis
-IMO BG (Ret) Connie Slewitzke
-IMO COL (Ret) Beth LaNoue
-IMO COL (Ret) Doris Cobb
Ms. Barbara A. Kvam
-IMO Conrad T. Kvam
Ms. Lucette Claudine Ramsey
-IMO COL William G. Brooks
COL (Ret) and Mrs. James Stubblefield
-IMO LTC Joe Hughes
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The Following Individuals Donated to the
AMEDD Museum Foundation
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Supporters
(Under $1000) Oct-Dec 2019
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COL (Ret) and Mrs. Gary W. Allen Alphapointe
COL (Ret) Claudia C. Bartz
CPT Devona Bonner
BG (Ret) Robert E. Brady
COL Joanne Brown
1SG Cinnamon Chambers
COL (Ret) William D. Clyde
Mr. Sidney M. Cobb The Combat Medical Department of Nursing Science, AMEDCoE
SGT Donald Elverd
COL (Ret) William and Linda Ethington
MG (Ret) Kenneth L. Farmer, Jr.
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COL (Ret) Gwendolyn Fryer
COL Daniel E. Furtado
MAJ Jordan P. Gammons
Mr. Robert L. Gregg
LTC (Ret) Mary L. Hagan
COL (Ret) William H. Heydorn
The HQ 62nd Medical Brigade
COL (Ret) & Mrs. Thomas Jackson
Mr. Bradley Kearney
Ms. Amy Korman
Mr. Soranun Nat Krisnajinda
COL (Ret) Thad & Diane Krupka
COL (Ret) Ronald J. Lambert
COL (Ret) Nickey McCasland
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Ms. Stephanie Meyer
LTC (Ret) and Mrs. Albert Michaels
COL (Ret) Janice M. Nelson
BG (Ret) & Mrs. Daniel F. Perugini
LTC M. Jeanne Ransone
Mr. Richard L. Shaw
COL (Ret) Stephanie J. Sherman
Mrs. Anne Q. Story
COL (Ret) Flora M. Sullivan
COL (Ret) Thomas J. Tredici
The U.S. Army MEDCoE
LTC (Ret) Karen Vinson-Van Houter
MG (Ret) George W. Weightman
Ms. Diahann White
CSM (Ret) Johnny Williamson
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Donations Made in Memory of:
Oct-Dec 2019
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LTG (Ret) Frank F. Ledford Jr.
COL (Ret) Jessie S. Brewer
COL (Ret) William H. Heydorn
COL Carol and LTC Michael Huebner
Ms. Lucette Claudine Ramsey
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MG (Ret) Floyd W. Baker
COL (Ret) Jessie S. Brewer
COL (Ret) Beverly and Mr. R.W. Greenlee-Davis
Ms. Lucile B. Hudson
BG (Ret) and Mrs. Daniel F. Perugini
Ms. Lucette Claudine Ramsey
COL (Ret) and Mrs. Edward J. Taylor, Jr.
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Visit the AMEDD Gift Shop
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Did you forget to stop by the gift shop before leaving the museum? No need to worry! You can check out the AMEDD's Gift Shop website.
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Remember to share the eNews with your friends!
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