Superintendents and Chiefs of the Army Nurse Corps

Thirteenth ANC Chief
1 September 1967 through 31 August 1971

Education:

Graduated from Allentown Hospital School of Nursing, Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1941

Received a B.S., Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York in 1958

Received a M.S., Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1968

Career:

Brigadier General Hays received her ANC commission in May 1942. Her overseas assignments included service in India, Korea, and Japan. On June 11, 1970, she became the first woman and the first nurse in American military history to attain general officer rank. During her tenure as Chief she continued to deal with the imposing challenges of recruitment and retention as the Vietnam War reached its height. She received the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal among her awards and recommendations.