Vietnam Veterans Of America Mourns The Loss Of Lynda Van Devanter

[thedrifter]

Taps


Washington, D.C) - Lynda Van Devanter, one of the nation's foremost women's veterans advocates, died November 15, at her home in Herndon, Virginia, after a long illness. "This is an extremely sad occasion," said Thomas H. Corey, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). "Lynda was a giant in the field of veterans affairs. She was a forceful and effective advocate for all veterans. She was a valued friend, a devoted colleague, an accomplished nurse, and a loving mother and wife. She will be missed terribly."

Lynda Van Devanter, who was born in 1947, served as a U.S. Army nurse at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku from 1969-70. In 1979, a year after the founding of Vietnam Veterans of America, she helped launch and became the head of VVA's Women's Project. She also began counseling other Vietnam veterans and conducting seminars around the country.

In 1983, she wrote a highly acclaimed memoir, Home Before Morning, which was reissued in 2002. "Lynda's book stands as one of the most powerful, evocative, and influential Vietnam War memoirs," said Marc Leepson, the arts editor of VVA's national newspaper, The VVA Veteran. "Home Before Morning" changed people's attitudes about the women who served in the Vietnam War, especially the nurses who faced the brutality of the war every day and whose service was all but ignored during the war and in the years immediately after."

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Vietnam Veterans of America honored Lynda Van Devanter with its Excellence in the Arts Award in 1987 and with the VVA Commendation Medal in March of 2002. "It was the least we could do to recognize what Lynda has done for America's veterans. She truly exemplified our motto, 'In Service to America.' Her loss is a tragedy for her family and for all Americans who care about veterans,"said Corey.

The Buckely family would like all well wishers to send in lieu of flowers contributions in Linda Van Devanter Buckley's name (please note this on donation) to:

The Vietnam Womens Memorial Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 199
Temple Hills, MD 20757-0199

Services will be as follows: Adams-Green Funeral Home
721 Elden Street
Herndon, VA 20170
703-437-1764
FAX: 703-471-4580
Viewing: Tuesday November 19th from 6-8PM
Service: Wednesday November 20 at 11AM

Sempers,

Roger

[MillRatUSMC]

We mourn the passing of our beloved sister.
May she find closure to her pain of Vietnam.



http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/04/28...m.med.history/

If you drink enough, there won't be any nightmares, so many sought that way to avoid those nightmares.

She like I sought that way to avoid the nightmares but it doesn't work.

Semper Fidelis Lynda
Ricardo