Scope and Contents

One CD-ROM of photographs documents Commander Patricia Warner (ret.) service in the United States Navy Nurse Corps aboard the USS Sanctuary (AH-17) Hospital Ship, 1967-1968.

Biographical / Historical

Patricia A. Warner was born on 26 September 1937 in Rochester, New York. At the age of 20, Warner volunteered for the United States Navy Nurse Corps after having received a B.S. in Nursing. In 1959, she attended Women's Officer School, Naval Schools Command in Newport, Rhode Island for eight weeks and afterwards became a career Navy Nurse. In 1967, Warner volunteered to go to Southeast Asia as she felt obligated to give good medical care for young American troops stationed there. However, she did not agree with the war at the time. While in Southeast Asia, Warner served aboard the USS Sanctuary (LAH-17) Hospital Ship as the Charge Nurse of the Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat Unit. She also served as a triage nurse when the ship was stationed in Da Nang Harbor, helping to evaluate the condition of patients and instructing staff on their responsibilities. For her service during the Vietnam Conflict, Warner received the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Palm Leaf, and the Navy Unit Commendation. After the war, Warner remained in the Navy Nurse Corps until she retired.