NEWS

Ex-Navy nurse records memories

DJ Lavoie (courtesy photo)

Ex-Navy nurse records memories

A Scripps Ranch woman who served as a Navy nurse during the Vietnam War is part of a nationwide project to record and document the experiences of war-time Navy nurses.

DJ Lavoie, 77, is the co-chair of the Navy Nurse Corps Association’s Oral History Project, which includes stories from Navy Nurse Corps officers from World War II to the present. Lavoie said the project began in 2013 when the association’s Southern California chapter made a commitment to capture as many Navy Nurse Corps officers’ oral histories as they could. She said it started with about eight videotaped interviews from Navy nurses from World War II and has evolved from there. To date, they have interviewed 126 Nurse Corps officers, with 99 of those interviews being sent to the Library of Congress, the research library that officially serves the United States Congress.

“The oral history project is a top priority for the Nurse Corps Association and it’s really focused to preserve and share the Nurse Corps traditions and legacy,” Lavoie said. “Everyone who served has a different story, so this tells us who we were at a given time and gives a picture of how the Nurse Corps has changed, what nurses did in 1945 versus what they are doing in 2019.”

Lavoie said when she started out in the then all-female Nurse Corps in the early 1960s, it was very disciplined and organized and they had to dress in white caps and uniforms consisting of skirts, nylons and heels. She said women couldn’t be married and they definitely couldn’t be pregnant, since the thinking of that time was that they wouldn’t be physically fit to serve.

“Because we were all single, we socialized together, we traveled together, we went to the club together, we did a lot together because that was our family,” she said. “That has changed. Many of the nurses now are married with families.”

DJ Lavoie on duty as a Navy nurse. (courtesy photo)

Lavoie said she started her career at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. She spent some time working in the operating room, which she said was exciting because it involved open heart surgery and brain surgery. Then, in 1968 she was sent overseas to Guam and worked in the pediatric unit as a charge nurse. But at that time, she said, there was a lot of activity happening in Vietnam and they were getting air vacs from there all the time.

“The air vacs usually came in around dinner time, so after you finish your own day, we were all there doing what we needed to do for these very badly injured young men,” she said. “They were so courageous and so strong and in such pain, both emotional and physical. It was pretty hard.”

Lavoie said in addition to that, they were taking care of older men who had been mistreated by the Japanese during World War II.

DJ Lavoie in her dress uniform. (courtesy photo)

“This was more than 25 years after that war and that was horrendous also. You know, even now I think about this and I think, ‘how can human beings do this to other human beings?’ It just doesn’t make sense, so I struggle with that all the time,” Lavoie explained.

Lavoie said it’s confronting these types of personal struggles that Navy nurses live with that make the oral history project so worthwhile.

“One thing that I’ve learned from doing these interviews is that people sort of forgot that nurses have trauma as well,” she said. “Some of them never talked about any of this ever until they did their interview for us, so that has served as a support system and has been cathartic for them. You cry with them and you laugh with them. It’s been a trip.”

Lavoie said any Navy nurse – both women and men – can take part in the oral history project, they don’t have to be a member of the association. Each nurse who participates will get a DVD copy of their interview.

“It’s been a fun project. It’s been an incredible learning experience. I’ve met some amazing Nurse Corps officers and heard some incredible stories,” she said.

Nurses who want to share their experiences can contact the Navy Nurse Corps Association by visiting nnca.org.

183 thoughts on “Ex-Navy nurse records memories”

  1. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it!

  6. First off I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing. I have had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out. I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips? Cheers!

  10. Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will often come back very soon. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great writing, have a nice holiday weekend!

  11. I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems with your website. It appears like some of the text on your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too? This could be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had this happen before. Kudos

  13. My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to exploring your web page yet again.

  16. Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and all. However think of if you added some great photos or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and video clips, this website could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Terrific blog!

  17. I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours. It’s lovely worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

  18. Wonderful site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some pals ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thank you in your effort!

  20. naturally like your web-site however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth then again I will surely come back again.

  24. Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.

  26. You’re so cool! I don’t suppose I have read anything like this before. So nice to find someone with a few original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that’s needed on the web, someone with some originality!

  31. I don’t even understand how I ended up here, however I assumed this post was good. I don’t recognise who you are however definitely you are going to a famous blogger should you are not already. Cheers!

  34. I’m now not positive where you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or working out more. Thank you for wonderful information I used to be looking for this information for my mission.

  35. Нужна стяжка пола в Москве, но вы не знаете, как выбрать подрядчика? Обратитесь к нам на сайт styazhka-pola24.ru! Мы предлагаем услуги по устройству стяжки пола любой площади и сложности, а также гарантируем быстрое и качественное выполнение работ.

  36. Ищете надежного подрядчика для механизированной штукатурки стен в Москве? Обратитесь к нам на сайт mehanizirovannaya-shtukaturka-moscow.ru! Мы предлагаем услуги по оштукатуриванию стен механизированным способом любой сложности и площади, а также гарантируем высокое качество работ.

  39. Хотите получить идеально ровные стены без лишних затрат? Обратитесь к профессионалам на сайте mehanizirovannaya-shtukaturka-moscow.ru! Мы предоставляем услуги по машинной штукатурке стен по доступной стоимости, а также гарантируем устройство штукатурки по маякам стен.

  40. Hi there, I think your site could be having internet browser compatibility issues. When I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Apart from that, wonderful website!

  49. Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will eventually come back from now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great writing, have a nice day!

  55. Выберите Лаки Джет для быстрого азартного развлечения или стратегического заработка через официальный сайт lucky jet 1 win.

  57. You’re so awesome! I don’t think I have read anything like this before. So nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is something that’s needed on the web, someone with some originality!

  68. You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I find this topic to be really something which I feel I would never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very extensive for me. I am looking forward on your next submit, I will try to get the hold of it!

  69. Hello would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price? Many thanks, I appreciate it!

  71. Крупный учебный и научно-исследовательский центр Республики Беларусь. Высшее образование в сфере гуманитарных и естественных наук на 12 факультетах по 35 специальностям первой ступени образования и 22 специальностям второй, 69 специализациям.

  75. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thanks a lot

  81. I simply could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard information a person supply on your visitors? Is going to be back steadily in order to check out new posts

  83. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Many thanks

  85. I am really loving the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A handful of my blog audience have complained about my website not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?

  104. I have been surfing online more than three hours these days, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours. It’s pretty value enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net might be much more useful than ever before.

  112. Excellent blog here! Also your website lots up fast! What host are you the use of? Can I am getting your associate link for your host? I want my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *