Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Patch, Military |
Catalog Number |
2002.46.11 |
Date |
ca. 1990 |
Material(s) |
polyester threads |
Dimensions |
H-5 W-4 D-0.375 inches |
Description |
This is an U.S. Army Desert Storm shoulder patch. It is a shield-shaped patch in shades of brown. The writing is done in darker brown thread with the exception of the words "Desert Storm" which are written with orange threads. There is a red cross stitched in the center. |
Notes |
Frankie Zalaznik, a native of Pennsylvania, has lived in Lexington since the late 1970s. She joined the military in 1969 to pay for her education and to see the world. She joined the U.S. Student Nurse Corp while still a student at Liliane S. Kaufmann School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, PA. When she graduate in 1970 she was stationed at Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington D.C. While here she treated many wounded soldiers from Vietnam. On 11/4/1971 she shipped out to Vietnam and was stationed in the central highlands for 2 1/2 months with the 14th Medical Detachment, Pleiku. The rest of her tour was at 95th Evac Hospital, DaNang, the original China Beach. She captured images of her experiences in a photo album which has been copied by KHS. An oral history recorded 1/2003 with Zalaznik refers to many of the images. After her tour she was stationed at Kimbrough Army Hospital, Fort Mead, Maryland until Nov. of 1973. After Vietnam she had many personal struggles associated with her time in Vietnam & difficulty adjusting to normal life again. She got out of the military and worked as a nurse in several hospitals. In 3/1980 she joined the KY National Guard 475th Combat Support Hospital with the rank of 1st Lt-Captain. In 1984 she graduated from UK with a BSN and was promoted to the rank of Captain, Major. On 11/11/1991 she was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield with the Rank of Major. While serving in Desert Storm she was constantly being moved to different staging areas including Camp Roosevelt, Camp Echo and what has been called the Pipeline Road. Her unit went to Iraq three times to set up a hospital. On March 10, 1991 the nerve agents sarin and cyclosarin were released into the air when American troops were destroying enemy rockets and her unit was exposed to low levels of nerve agents. In Aug. of 2002, after 26 years of service, she retired from the military with the rank of Ltc. This patch was desinged by the nurses of 475th MASH. |
Collection |
Franketta R. Zalaznik Collection |
People |
Zalaznik, Franketta R. |
Subjects |
Women Military personnel Military officers Military uniforms Nurses |
Search Terms |
Uniforms United States Army 475th MASH Desert Storm Military, Women Vietnam War |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |