True heroes are not the caped characters in a comic book or famous Hollywood movie idols, they are simply regular people who perform extraordinary feats under the most extreme conditions. Nor do they set out in life to seek fame, glory or fortune; they instead chose to be humble and gracious. In the words of Colonel Ruby B. Bradley, “I just wanted to be remembered as just as Army nurse.”
Colonel Bradley, is the United States military’s most highly decorated nurse, and the Army’s most decorated female soldier. She served for almost 40 years spanning both World War II and the Korean War. She was a POW for 37 months in the Philippines, where under the most difficult conditions she assisted in 230 major operations, delivered 13 infants, treated…show more content… I will be attending college to earn a Bachelor in Science of Nursing, and upon completion intend to serve in our country’s Air Force. For this reason, I wanted to examine if I have the qualities needed to fulfil such a role, and do I have what it takes to follow Colonel Bradley’s exemplary example of service. If given the opportunity I would ask her, “From where did you gather the strength and courage each day to carry the enormous burden of responsibility for the POW’s under your care?” Knowing that Colonel Bradley put herself in grave danger to garner meager supplies and steal scraps of extra food which she gave, along with her own rations to the camp’s children, must have taken an enormous toll both physically and mentally. She was the personification of selfless service; all others before yourself. I would also like to know if there was ever a time following the liberation of the camp, and her subsequent return to the United States, whether she ever considered leaving the military. Was there ever a moment when she believed she had done enough, that it is someone else’s turn? Finally, I would like to ask Colonel Bradley for advice as I go forward to begin training as a nurse and military career. What aspects of training would she deem the most important, what changes if any would she
