Anna Mae Hays
| Anna Mae Hays | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
February 16, 1920 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942-1971 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General |
| Commands held | Army Nurse Corps |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Legion of Merit (2) |
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays (born February 16, 1920) was the first woman in the U.S. Armed Forces to be promoted to a general officer rank.
Biography
Hays was born in 1920 in Buffalo, New York. Following graduation from high school, she enrolled at General Hospital School of Nursing, from which she graduated in 1941, having obtained a diploma in nursing. She then joined the Army Nurse Corps in early 1942, and was sent to the China Burma India Theater.[1]
Stationed in India for the duration of World War II, she was on leave in the United States when the war ended. Remaining with the Corps, she saw service during the Korean War. A succession of academic posts followed including a stint at Walter Reed Hospital, and she also earned a Master in Science in Nursing degree. She was promoted on June 11, 1970, after being appointed by President Richard Nixon on May 15, of that year. She was chief of the Army Nurse Corps from September 1, 1967 until her retirement on August 31, 1971.[1]
On the same day, directly after the promotion of Colonel Hays, Elizabeth P. Hoisington was also promoted to Brigadier General.
Decorations
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| 1st Row | Legion of Merit w/ OLC | Army Commendation Medal | American Campaign Medal | ||||||
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| 2nd Row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ one service star | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | ||||||
| 3rd Row | National Defense Service Medal w/ OLC | Korean Service Medal w/ three service stars | United Nations Korea Medal | ||||||
See also
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays Bio and Interviews
References
- 1 2 Sarnecky, Mary T. "Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays 13th Chief, Army Nurse Corps". Army Nurse Corps Association. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
External links
- Biography of BG Hays with pictures and oral history interviews
- Biography of Hays
- A short description of Hays' achievements in the Army Nurse Corps
- Who was the first female general officer in the U.S. Army? at the United States Army Center of Military History
- Women in the U.S. Army
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