By Sonny Tapia
Helena Independent Record
An Army nurse from Helena was among 20 recipients honored for her service to her country Jan. 2 with the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Diane Carlson Evans served in the Vietnam War as an Army nurse before she founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation for female service members to be recognized for service to their country.
“Her duty and devotion embody the very best of who we are as Americans,” the White House said in a news release.
“I knew I was nominated for the award, but I didn’t think I would get it,” she said Monday. “I was overwhelmed.”
The 78-year-old Evans said she would accept the award on behalf of her sister veterans because everything she did was a part of a team. She could not make it to the ceremony in Washington, D.C., due to her April cancer diagnosis, so she sent seven guests to represent her at the White House.
When asked if she felt she was deserving of the recognition she said, “I was just doing what I felt was right to do.”
Evans served for six years in the Army Nurse Corps and was a part of a burn unit in Vietnam from 1968-1969.
The burn unit was a part of the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau and at Pleiku in the 71st Evacuation Hospital, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website says.
Evans is from Buffalo, Minnesota, and heard during her second year of nursing school that nurses were needed for the war, so she enlisted immediately and landed overseas on July 31, 1968, according to a previous report.
The “ranch girl” said she has always had a no-quit attitude, which allowed her to hurdle many of the obstacles in her professional and personal life with her husband as her rock.
Ray Read, director of the Montana Military Museum, said Evans fully deserves the award.
“We are very proud of her … she’s always been a humble person,” he said.
He added she fought many battles using her voice and supported veterans throughout her tenure.
“We’re glad she is a member of our post and we look forward to more connections with her,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Evans paved the way for the 1993 dedication of a sculpture in the nation’s capital honoring female veterans who served their country.
“I hope all Montana veterans are remembered and honored,” Evans said. “This medal is in honor of all the sister veterans.”
“We’re glad she is a member of our post and we look forward to more connections with her,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Evans paved the way for the 1993 dedication of a sculpture in the nation’s capital honoring female veterans who served their country.
“I hope all Montana veterans are remembered and honored,” Evans said. “This medal is in honor of all the sister veterans.”
