At just 23 years old, Abby Auclair boarded a plane that would carry her far from the comfort of home and into the chaos of war. Born into a military family, her father a lifelong Army man, and her first breaths drawn in the hospital at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Abby had grown up with service in her blood. But nothing could fully prepare her for the reality that awaited in Vietnam.
After earning an Army student nurse scholarship, Abby completed her nursing education and was immediately deployed to the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Phu Bai. From the moment she stepped off the plane, danger greeted her: the aircraft came under fire during landing, a stark signal that even arrival carried risk. The hospital itself was in disrepair, infested with rats, snakes, and swarming insects. Its proximity to a munitions dump meant that shelling was a frequent and terrifying reality.
Despite these conditions, Abby stepped into her role with determination, compassion, and courage beyond her years. She tended to critically wounded soldiers, often working around the clock in impossible circumstances. When attacks came, she didn’t hesitate. Abby would shield patients with her own body, pull mattresses over the injured, or guide them under beds—whatever it took to protect the lives she was sworn to save. Every day was a battle not just against injury and illness, but against the ever-present threat of violence.
Amid the horrors, moments of heartbreaking humanity left a lasting imprint. Abby remembers holding the hand of a young lieutenant in his final hours. He whispered a question about the World Series, seeking something familiar in the midst of chaos. In that quiet moment, Abby provided comfort with her presence, a touch of normalcy in a world dominated by the extraordinary pressures of war. It was a fleeting moment of connection, a reminder that even in the darkest circumstances, human compassion could shine through.
Her service continued until January 1972, when the 85th Evacuation Hospital closed. Abby transferred to the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, where she continued to treat soldiers, protect the wounded, and support her fellow nurses. By the time she returned home later that year, she had witnessed both the fragility and the resilience of life, the cost of war, and the boundless strength of those who serve selflessly.
Abby Auclair’s story is not just a tale of courage under fire—it is a testament to the vital role nurses played during the Vietnam War. They were healers, protectors, and sometimes the only comfort for soldiers facing unimaginable injuries and fear. Their bravery went unnoticed by many at the time, yet their impact on lives, both on the battlefield and beyond, was profound.
Today, we honor Abby Auclair and every nurse who served in Vietnam. Their heroism was quiet but unwavering, their courage immeasurable, and their compassion limitless. They carried not only medical supplies but also hope, love, and humanity into the heart of war.
God bless Abby, and God bless all the heroic nurses of Vietnam, whose sacrifices remind us that true bravery is measured not just by valor in battle, but by the lives you protect and the love you give along the way.
