THE WALL OF FACES

ELEANOR GRACE ALEXANDER was born on 18 September 1940 in New York.

She later attended St. Michael's High School in Manhattan, New York, graduating in 1957.

Later still she graduated from D'Youville College Scool of Nursing at Buffalo, New York, in 1961.

She then worked at the Madison Hospital in upstate New York over the next six years then moved to River Vale, New Jersey, to be nearer her immediate family.

In early May 1967 she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps and over time attained the rank of Captain.

After finishing her basic training at the Brooke Army Medical Center in Houston, Texas, she was assigned to the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Qui Nhon, South Vietnam.

On the date of her death she was travelling with 26 other servicemembers in a transport aircraft when it crashed three miles south of their base.

She became the only woman from New Jersey to have been lost in the Vietnam conflict.

A park in River Vale, New Jersey, has been dedicated in her honor.





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE

It is said a man or woman hasn't died as long as they are remembered. This prayer is a way for families, friends and fellow veterans to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die

A remembrance of Eleanor Grace Alexander is included in the nonfiction book "Potpourri of War" by Noonie Fortin (published in 1998 by Langmarc Publishing). We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to her and the other members of our military who gave so much.

I don't know if you were a wife
I don't know if you were a mother
However, I know you were a soldier
and that you gave it your all
You are truly a hero in my eyes and in the eyes of many

CAPTAIN

ELEANOR GRACE ALEXANDER

AND

1ST LIEUTENANT

HEDWIG DIANE ORLOWSKI

CAPTAIN ALEXANDER, STATIONED AT THE
85TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL AT QUI NHON
AND
LIEUTENANT ORLOWSKI, STATIONED AT THE
67TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL AT QUI NHON

HAD BEEN SENT TO A HOSPITAL IN
PLEIKU TO HELP OUT DURING A PUSH.

WITH THEM WHEN THEIR AIRCRAFT CRASHED
ON THE RETURN TRIP TO QUI NHON
WERE TWO OTHER NURSES,

Ist LIEUTENANT

JEROME EDWIN OLMSTEAD

and

1st LIEUTENANT

KENNETH R. SHOEMAKER



CAPTAIN ALEXANDER

and

LIEUTENANT ORLOWSKI

WERE BOTH POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED

THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL

AND

THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL




YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE