Scope and Contents

Less than one linear foot of slides, photographs, military orders, and artwork document Eily P. Gorman's service as a nurse in the United States Army with the 91st Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam, 1967-1968.

Biographical / Historical

Eily (Pat) Gorman was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She decided to attend nursing school after completing high school, and she later completed a Masters degree in Nursing at the same institution. Gorman then became a faculty instructor there, and later at Mercy College in Detroit. There she was recruited as an Army nurse, which would afford her new experiences and a different view of the world of healthcare and nursing. Gorman enlisted with the rank of Major due to the Constructive credit the Armed Forces were giving for advanced education and professional experience. Gorman received basic training for the Army Nurse Corps at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas in summer of 1966, and she was appointed class leader due to her rank. After basic, she was assigned to an interim post at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. Gorman reported to Vietnam in March, 1967, and was assigned to the 91st Evacuation Hospital. While at the 91st Evacuation Hospital, Gorman served as Head Nurse of the medical intensive care unit. After her tour was over, Gorman was assigned to the Medical Field Service School to help train new nurse recruits the concepts of the military and military medical care. Then she was assigned to attend a six-month Career course for Army medical department officers. Gorman was a career reserve officer on active duty, but while stationed in Washington D.C. in the mid 1970s, she was able to become a Regular Army officer on active duty, with opportunities for longer service. She became a Chief Nursing Education Training officer and coordinated continued education for Army nurses and their assignments in 1982. In 1983, Gorman was selected to be Assistant Corps Chief to General Slewitzke, and served in that role for four years. In 1987, she became Nursing Consultant to the Surgeon General, and retired in that office.