Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Martha Roed Bell Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army Nurse Corps
- Unit of Service: 12th Evacuation Hospital; 3rd Field Hospital
- Location of Service: Saigon and Cu Chi, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/84713
Looking to expand her horizons beyond her home state of New York, Colonel Martha Bell joined the Army Student Nurse Program in 1967--though she didn't imagine that it would eventually take her as far away as Vietnam. Arriving in country, she treated primarily Vietnamese patients rather than American GIs, first at the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi, and then later at the 3rd Field Hospital in Saigon. In her interview, she discusses the "bonds like glue" that she developed with her fellow nurses, the disillusionment she felt upon seeing the politics of war played out in Saigon, and the lessons in empathy and ingenuity that her Vietnam service taught her.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayFirst days in country; serving at the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi; first memorable patient. 00:16:30.4 - 00:21:54.7
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PlayTransfer to 3rd Field Hospital in Saigon; dealing mostly with Vietnamese patients; very different atmosphere than her previous assignment; disillusionment at politics present in Saigon. 00:25:31.0 - 00:30:15.9
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PlayReturning home very bitter after experiences in Saigon; drawing on support of her husband and other service friends; reacting to hearing firecrackers on the Fourth of July. 00:38:17.2 - 00:40:30.7
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PlayLearning lessons of humility, appreciation, and ingenuity while in Vietnam. 00:42:29.9 - 00:44:47.9
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PlayImportance of empathy in nursing; has no regrets about her service in Vietnam. 00:45:25.2 - 00:47:39.0
About this Item
Title
- Martha Roed Bell Collection
Names
- Bell, Martha Roed
- Molina, Sarah
- Durham Academy
- Adair, Jordan
- Katherine Hodges
Home State
- North Carolina
Headings
- - Bell, Martha Roed
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Nurse Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army Nurse Corps
- Unit of Service: 12th Evacuation Hospital; 3rd Field Hospital
- Location of Service: Saigon and Cu Chi, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1967-1995
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a nurse in the medical/surgical Vietnamese ward.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2012-11-19; 2013-10-24)
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2012-11-19; 2012)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/84713
Cite as
- Martha Roed Bell Collection (AFC/2001/001/84713), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
Highest Rank
Discharge Status
Gender
Race
Home State
Interviewee
Interviewer
Organization/Affiliation
Featured in
- Nurses  | Healing with Honor: Medical Personnel  | Occupations and Specialties in Service  | Serving: Our Voices  | Veterans History Project Collection  | Digital Collections
- In Country: Stories from the Vietnam War  | Vietnam War (1962 to 1973)  | Serving: Our Voices  | Veterans History Project Collection  | Digital Collections