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Attending to business: Pope flight nurse wins AF award

  • Published
  • By Col. Judith Schaffer
  • 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --   A flight nurse with the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was named the 2006 Dolly Vinsant Flight Nurse of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to patient care during flight. 

Major Joni Clemens, 43rd AES interim chief nurse, nominated Captain Sharon B. Frazier for her ability to "repeatedly face patient care challenges in deployment situations while upholding the highest standards of care." Over the past 12 months, Captain Frazier not only deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but also supported Joint Task Force Katrina, the largest humanitarian mission in aeromedical evacuation history. 

Captain Frazier's nomination cited her unparalleled ability to care for patients during combat operations. She cared for a soldier who sustained a major leg injury during combat operations in Iraq. He was evacuated just four hours after surgery. During the flight, the patient's dressings became saturated with blood. 

Captain Frazier knew the young soldier was suffering a potentially life-threatening hemorrhage. Taking immediate action, she enlisted the help of an on-board physician who determined that immediate surgery was required. Captain Frazier created a surgical area in the back of a C-130 cargo aircraft. 

Utilizing the only resources from the in-flight medical kit, she assisted the physician as he successfully performed surgery over hostile airspace. Not only was this patient's life saved, but the aircraft was able to continue its original flight path, allowing all 36 patients to receive medical care. 

Captain Frazier accumulated 271 combat flying hours during her deployment to Iraq. She was noted for her leadership in the air and on the ground. She provided life-saving management of a blast-injured soldier who developed profound respiratory distress during flight. 

In concert with the aircraft commander, she ensured his successful ground ambulance transport upon arrival to Germany. 

Captain Frazier has not only taken care of more than 500 combat injured patients, she has also been called to care for wounded civilians. Her sensitive nursing of a head-injured Iraqi child who was accompanied by a very worried mother ensured the successful evacuation to definitive medical care. Using pictures and drawings to communicate, she was able to identify that the 5-year-old was having pain and provided medication that allowed both the daughter and her anxious mother to rest during the long flight. 

Captain Frazier can recall her Hurricane Katrina mission like it was just yesterday. 

"It was devastating to see the magnitude of patients needing care once we arrived," she said. 

As one of the first air evacuation crews to arrive, she quickly recruited to triage hundreds of hurricane victims awaiting transport. 

"I did not want to separate the patients from their families once we started boarding," Captain Frazier said. 

During operations in New Orleans, more than 2,500 patients were evacuated from the grief stricken area. 

This award honors Lieutenant Wilma (Dolly) Vinsant Shea. She completed the Army Air Corps School of Air Evacuation in 1943 and spent the next two years in the midst of combat in the Europe. Although she experienced a lot of sadness evacuating suffering patients, she had a sense of responsibility toward injured soldiers. 

On the completion of her second tour as a lieutenant, she convinced her commander to allow her to fly one more mission; however this would be her last mission, as she was killed in action over Germany on April 14, 1945. Her patriotism earned her the Air Medal and Purple Heart. 

Captain Frazier has been an Air Force nurse for more than six years and a flight nurse for two of those years. She is a true example of what Dolly Vinsant stood for, placing patient care above her own. 

"I am humbled and grateful each day to be an Air Force flight nurse and be able to take care of patients around the world," Captain Frazier said. 

Captain Frazier will receive her award at the Commemorative Air Force General Membership Meeting Oct. 6, in Midland, Texas.