First Lieutenant Sharon Lane honored for heroism during Vietnam War service

The recent government meeting in Okaloosa County, Florida, highlighted the significant contributions of women in the military, particularly focusing on the legacy of First Lieutenant Sharon A. Lane. During the Vietnam War, over 265,000 American women served, with 11,000 deployed to Vietnam, primarily as volunteer nurses. Among them, eight women made the ultimate sacrifice, their names memorialized at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

First Lieutenant Lane, who joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Reserve in April 1968, was sent to Vietnam a year later. She arrived at the March at Chu Lai on April 29, 1969. Despite the physically and emotionally demanding nature of her work, Lane consistently declined transfers to less dangerous wards. Tragically, on June 8, 1969, she was killed when the 312th Evacuation Hospital was struck by Vietcong rockets, suffering fatal fragmentation wounds.

For her bravery and service, Lane received several honors, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star with Valor, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross. Her story, along with those of other women veterans, is commemorated at the Women Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island, serving as a reminder of their sacrifices and contributions to American military history. The meeting underscored the importance of recognizing and honoring these women, ensuring their legacies continue to inspire future generations.