| July 7, 1943 - June 8, 1969 Sharon Ann Lane was the only nurse in Vietnam to die under enemy attack. She was stationed at the 312th Evac Hospital at Chui Lai. To the west and south were American marine bases, which often came under enemy mortar fire. On the morning of June 8, around 0530 hours, a rocket, overshooting one of the nearby Marine bases, struck a metal supply shed next to her ward and exploded. Sharon died instantly from flying shrapnel. She was killed on her ward 4, the Vietnamese ward, along with a twelve year old female child for whom she was caring in the incoming mortar attack. Another USA medic was injured, though not seriously. Twenty-seven VN patients were also injured. Though she joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1968, she had been in Vietnam for only two months when she was killed. In her home of Stark County, Ohio, a statue of Sharon was erected to honor the men and women who served in Vietnam. She was posthumously awarded the following medals: *Purple Heart *Bronze Star with a "V" for gallantry *National Defense Service Medal *Vietnam Service Medal *National Order of Vietnam Medal *(South) Vietnamese Gallantry Cross (with Palm) . |
Sharon Lane, the All-American Girl
She came to Vietnam not to fight or warrior to be
but to serve a higher purpose across the sea.
She knew the hurt, the pain, the dying
Sharon came to heal them and to stop the crying.
With purpose in her steps she made her rounds
To give hope to the soldier and to turn his frown upside down.
Whether it be the boy from back home or the Viet Cong
She did her job with care--she knew this is where she belonged.
She was cut down in the middle of the night
A piece of flying metal took her life.
She died alone
So far from home.
Her life was taken from us
Sharon's presence we still miss.
Let us never forget that freedom has a cost
Sharon became our hero-our hearts are empty by her loss.
Sharon was the All-American girl
She was perfection in an imperfect world.
Remembered by
"Doc" Kerry Pardue,
a field medic in Vietnam
Copyright Sept 2001 by Kerry "Doc" Pardue
She came to Vietnam not to fight or warrior to be
but to serve a higher purpose across the sea.
She knew the hurt, the pain, the dying
Sharon came to heal them and to stop the crying.
With purpose in her steps she made her rounds
To give hope to the soldier and to turn his frown upside down.
Whether it be the boy from back home or the Viet Cong
She did her job with care--she knew this is where she belonged.
She was cut down in the middle of the night
A piece of flying metal took her life.
She died alone
So far from home.
Her life was taken from us
Sharon's presence we still miss.
Let us never forget that freedom has a cost
Sharon became our hero-our hearts are empty by her loss.
Sharon was the All-American girl
She was perfection in an imperfect world.
Remembered by
"Doc" Kerry Pardue,
a field medic in Vietnam
Copyright Sept 2001 by Kerry "Doc" Pardue
