BHS Day 5: Clara L. Adams-Ender

Hi! If you didn't join me for the BHS series last year, then you probably missed my explanation that, excluding the Community Spotlight, all of the other categories are comprised of more than one subject. I combined them so that I'd have the opportunity to talk about each subject at least twice throughout the month. This Spotlight should actually be named the Military and Tech Spotlight and actually covers three topics: military, technology and science. I'll make the new header for it this week. Anyway, I explained all of that to say that today's entrant is part of the Military section of the Spotlight and I didn't want there to be any confusion later. So let's get to it!

Name: General Clara Leach Adams-Ender, 1939--

Profession: Brigadier General of the Army, former Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, author

Why is the Spotlight on her today? For her accomplishments as both an African-American and a woman in the Army

Notables and accomplishments:
--During her tenure with the Army, was the first female officer to receive an Expert Medical Field Badge
--Simultaneously served as the Commanding General in Virginia and Deputy Commanding General of the Military District of Washington as her final posts before retirement
--Was the first woman to earn a Master of Military Art and Science Degree at the US Army Command and General Staff College
--Made nursing recruiting and equal pay for nurses major platforms throughout her career 
--Served as Chief of Department of Nursing at both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the 97th General Hospital
-- Currently serves as President of the Caring about People with Enthusiasm Associates, Inc., or CAPE
--Was the first African-American officer in the Nurse Corps to graduate from the US Army War College
--Was named as one of the women to change the world in a 1996 list published by Working Woman magazine
--Was awarded the Roy Wilkins Meritorious Service Award by the NAACP
--Was the recipient of Meritorious Service, Legion of Merit and Distinguished Service Merit awards

Further reading links:
The History Makers | Army Office of Medical History | African-American Registry | CAPE 

Quote of the Day:
"Don't take life too serious. None of us will ever get out alive." 
--from Clara Adams-Ender's list of favorite quotes