Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Elia Astrid Ortega Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army Nurse Corps
- Unit of Service: Letterman Army Hospital; 36th Evacuation Hospital
- Location of Service: Presidio, California; Vung Tau, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/81751
Army First Lieutenant Elia Ortega was initially drawn to the romantic vision of military nursing presented to her by recruiters-and their promise that she would not be sent to Southeast Asia unless she volunteered. After a year spent at the Presidio in California, nursing patients who had been wounded overseas, she was shocked to receive orders to go to Vietnam. Based on recommendations from her patients stateside, she requested to be stationed at the 36th Evacuation Hospital near Vung Tau, where she worked twelve hour days, six days a week, and grew close to her fellow Army nurses.
Interview / Recording
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PlayShock of getting orders to go to Vietnam; asked to go with a good friend who was also a nurse; asking patients at her stateside hospital where she should ask to be assigned; assignment to the 36th Evacuation Hospital; arriving in Vietnam. 00:08:58.0 - 00:12:36.0
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PlayReceiving huge amounts of patients during Tet offensive; developing "short-timers syndrome." 00:29:05.0 - 00:31:05.0
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PlayDeveloping very close relationships with her fellow nurses; going to reunions; memories of service; the day her service ended; being delivered to Oakland, California, with no money; had to call friends to get picked up from the airport. 00:31:06.0 - 00:34:55.0
About this Item
Title
- Elia Astrid Ortega Collection
Names
- Dawes, Jennifer
- Woolsey, Lynn
- U.S. House of Representatives/Lynn Woolsey
- Ortega, Elia Astrid
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Ortega, Elia Astrid
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Nurse Corps.
Form
- DVD
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- Hispanic
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army Nurse Corps
- Unit of Service: Letterman Army Hospital; 36th Evacuation Hospital
- Location of Service: Presidio, California; Vung Tau, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Dates of Service: 1966-1968
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran specialized in spinal cord injuries, orthopedics, burns, and post-operations.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2011-08-23)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/81751
Cite as
- Elia Astrid Ortega Collection (AFC/2001/001/81751), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video