March 2016 Meeting

Returned & Services League of Australia

Washington Sub-Branch

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20036

June Newsletter

This newsletter includes details of the monthly meeting, the commemoration of the Bakers Creek Air Crash, the Down Under Barbecue, and links to photos taken during ANZAC Day in Washington and the May 10 monthly meeting.  

Monthly meeting: Memorial Day was the start of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Our commemoration begins at our June meeting, when E. Jane McCarthy shares her experiences of being a nurse at the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, South Viet Nam in 1971.

When: Thursday June 14, 2012

Time:    Noon to 2:00 pm

Where –Amenities room

                Embassy of Australia

                1601 Massachusetts Ave

                Washington DC 20036

Guest Speaker:  E. Jane McCarthy CRNA, PhD, FAAN,CAPT/USHPS (Ret.)

Topic – Reflections of Serving in Vietnam as an Army Nurse

Charge: $15.00, including sodas. Alcoholic beverages, $2.00 each.

Volunteers: As usual, we need a volunteer (or two) to run the bar.

RSVP (Include your affiliation) by noon on Wednesday June 13, 2012, to David Ward by calling 202-352-8550, or via e-mail to dmward1973@gmail.com.

Parking: There is no parking at the Embassy.  In addition to on street metered parking, nearby commercial parking facilities are located behind and under the Airline Pilots Association (17th and Mass), and at 1500 Mass. Ave, NW.

Biography: Jane McCarthy joined the Army Nurse Corps while still in nursing school in 1968 and served at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the Recovery Room/Intensive Care Unit in 1970 and at the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, South Viet Nam in 1971 where she worked in the Pre-operative and Receiving area as a triage nurse.  Upon returning from Viet Nam she was immediately discharged from the Army and experienced PTSD for three years including difficulty sleeping, nightmares, insomnia, weight loss, anorexia, and depression.  With the Gulf War of 1991 she experienced recurring symptoms of PTSD and sought counseling for several years.  During that time she was active in several Veterans groups and very aware of others having the same difficulties

Jane retired in 2007 from the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps as a Captain where she worked as a nurse scientist for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  To better meet the anesthesia health care needs of the uniformed services, she developed the congressionally mandated nurse anesthesia program for the Uniformed Services University (1993-2000) which now educates nurse anesthetists for the Army, Navy, Air Force and US Public Health Service.  In 2004, because of the shortage of nurse anesthetists and the lack of a nurse anesthesia educational program in the state of Maryland, she developed a nurse anesthesia program for the University Of Maryland School Of Nursing where she continues as a faculty member.  

Jane remains active with Veterans issues and serves as a founding Commissioner on the Montgomery County Veterans Commission. She is particularly interested in helping returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD issues.  She returns to her home town in Cohasset, MA each year to march in the Memorial Day Parade to remember to high cost of war. 

Additional events in June.

Bakers Creek Air Crash Commemoration Service.   On June 14, 2012, at Fort Myer, the US Army will conduct a service in remembrance of the 40 US servicemen who died on June 14, 1943, when a B17C Flying Fortress crashed at Bakers Creek, Queensland.

The service will take place between 4:00 PM and 5:00 at the Bakers Creek Air Crash Memorial which is located at the Fort Myer Selfridge Gate entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

Light refreshments, including lamingtons, will be provided after the ceremony.

The event is co-sponsored by the Bakers Creek Association and the 317th Veterans Group.

June 23, 2012 - Down Under Barbecue: Attached is an invitation to R&SL members from the Australia American Association and the Southern Cross Club to attend

their Down Under Barbecue at the Embassy of New Zealand.

ANZAC Day photos taken by Mr. Matt Stone can be viewed at https://picasaweb.google.com/103255200771307551200/RSLWASPicturesANZACDay2012?authkey=Gv1s RgCLTkgeiYsNyFTg

Many thanks to Pete Grothen for taking photos during the May 10 meeting.

The photos can be viewed at https://picasaweb.google.com/103255200771307551200/RSLWASMay102012Pictures

2012 Membership dues of $30.00 are payable at the meeting.  Alternatively, make your check payable to R&SL, and send it to Dave Ward, 2308 November Lane, Reston, VA, 20191.

Next meeting – Thursday July 12, 2012.

2012 Monthly meeting schedule:  January 18, February 9, March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, and December 13.                                           

Additional dates for your calendar:

June 14 - Bakers Creek Air Crash 

August 18 – Australian Vietnam Veterans Day

November 11 – Remembrance Day