Rank Second Lieutenant | Years of service 1966 Battles/wars Vietnam War † Allegiance United States of America | |
Born December 11, 1943Waterbury, Connecticut ( 1943-12-11 ) Died 18 February 1966, South Vietnam Place of burial Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States Service/branch United States Army Nurse Corps | ||
Carol Ann Drazba (December 11, 1943 – February 18, 1966) was the first American nurse to die in the Vietnam War.
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Early life and education
Carol Ann Elizabeth Drazba was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Joseph and Marcella Drazba. She was raised in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, the youngest of three children. She graduated from Dunmore High School in 1961.
Career and legacy
Drazba trained as a nurse in Scranton, at Scranton State General Hospital, and served in the Army Nurse Corps. She and others died in a helicopter crash in Vietnam on February 18, 1966. Her remains were buried, with military honors, in Scranton.
On June 16, 2012 a memorial was dedicated in Scranton with a bronze statue of Drazba made by Brian Hanlon, as well as honors to other people. The Lackawanna County commissioners proclaimed June 16, 2012 as 2LT Carol Ann Drazba Day. Drazba is also honored on Panel 5E, Row 46 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.