Nancy Leftenant-Colon, a descendant of enslaved individuals, etched her name in history as the first Black nurse to serve in the regular U.S. armed forces. Her journey, spanning over a century, from her birth in 1920 in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to her passing in 2024 in Amityville, New York, was marked by unwavering determination, resilience, and a commitment to service. Her story intertwines with the struggle for civil rights and the evolving role of women, particularly Black women, in the military.
Mrs. Leftenant-Colon’s path to military service was fraught with obstacles. In 1941, fueled by a desire to contribute and inspired by the image of a uniformed Army nurse, she attempted to enlist. However, the prevailing discriminatory practices of the time barred Black women from serving. Undeterred, she persevered, and in 1945, as World War II raged and the need for medical personnel intensified, she was finally accepted into the reserves. This marked a small victory, but it also highlighted the systemic racism that limited the participation of Black nurses, with only 500 serving out of a total of 50,000 during the war.
Her service began at a hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts, in a segregated unit within an integrated facility, a microcosm of the evolving military landscape. Later, she transferred to Lockbourne Army Air Field in Ohio, where she was assigned to the nursing unit supporting the famed Tuskegee Airmen, an all-Black fighter group. Throughout her tenure, she faced persistent discrimination, enduring hostile supervisors who sought any pretext for dismissal. Despite the constant pressure and prejudice, she maintained impeccable standards, ensuring her appearance and performance were beyond reproach, knowing the slightest infraction could lead to her discharge.
Her experiences exposed the deep-seated racism of the time. When a Black patient under her care went into premature labor, they were refused admission to a segregated hospital in Columbus, Ohio, forcing Mrs. Leftenant-Colon and a Black flight surgeon to deliver the baby themselves, a stark illustration of the life-or-death consequences of discrimination. In the South, she was barred from whites-only establishments, even while in uniform, and endured the indignity of being spat on by a white woman. These experiences, though painful, fueled her resolve and underscored the importance of her pioneering role.
Driven by a lifelong dream of becoming a flight nurse, she transferred to the newly formed U.S. Air Force in 1952. This ambition, finally realized, led to a 13-year career that took her across the globe, from Germany and Japan to various U.S. bases. Her service included the evacuation of wounded French soldiers from Dien Bien Phu during the First Indochina War, a testament to her courage and dedication. Her travels also allowed her to encounter notable figures like Bob Hope and Marilyn Monroe, adding a touch of glamour to her remarkable life. Her commission as an officer in the Army Nurse Corps garnered international attention, highlighting the significance of her achievement in breaking racial barriers.
Beyond her military service, Mrs. Leftenant-Colon’s life was marked by personal loss and enduring family connections. She married Bayard Colon in 1960, a marriage that lasted until his death in 1972. The loss of her brother, Samuel G. Leftenant, a Tuskegee Airman shot down over Austria in 1945, added a layer of personal tragedy to the broader context of war and racial inequality. Upon retiring from the Air Force with the rank of major in 1965, she returned to Amityville and continued her nursing career at the local high school. She also became deeply involved with Tuskegee Airmen Inc., culminating in her presidency from 1989 to 1991, a fitting tribute to her brother and her connection to this historic group, making her the only woman to ever hold that position. Nancy Leftenant-Colon’s life stands as a testament to her unwavering spirit, her dedication to service, and her enduring legacy as a trailblazer for Black women in the military.
