This special Memorial Day feature profiled Captain Mary E. Goff, a retired U.S. Army Nurse. Captain Goff recounted her lifelong desire to care for soldiers, which began at age five during a Memorial Day ceremony. She served for 20 months at the 249th General Hospital, treating severely injured soldiers returning from Vietnam. She described the immense challenge of caring for men with devastating physical injuries, but emphasized her greater concern for the psychological wounds, which are now recognized as PTSD. In the present day, Captain Goff has found a new platform for her experiences through a collaboration with Fall River-based artist Brian Fox. She consulted with him to ensure the accuracy and realism of his portraits depicting wartime scenes. This association has given her the confidence to become a tireless advocate for wartime nurses, working to secure fair pensions, healthcare, and the recognition they deserve for their service.
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The first time I actually knew I wanted to be take care of the soldiers was when I was about 5 years old at the Memorial Day cemetery with my father and when they paid played taps I started to cry and my father said you know it's it's okay these guys are safe now a typical you know response. So I I knew for a long time I wanted to be a nurse and I
0:26always wanted to travel. I always wanted to experience different cultures.
0:30Mrs. Goff says army life really was the best of times and the worst. She was needed and she was fulfilled as perhaps no other experience has been able to match.
0:42A question I get asked I I hate people.
0:44Did I was I ever homesick?
0:47No, not at all. Sure, Christmas. I thought, well, I'd be sitting, you know, having a hot modern room at the fireplace with my father. But it was never homesick because I was where I wanted to be. My parents were homesick.
1:01I mean, I saved my mother's letters. Oh, I hope Mary's okay. I hope she doesn't get, you know, it's like, Mom. Mrs. Goff served 20 months at the 249th General Hospital. At the risk of sounding callous, she said nurses dealt with what they got. injured men fresh off the plane from Vietnam.
1:21My second day in, I was assigned to a 5560 bed ward. No arms, no legs, severe injuries. I thank God to this day that I was a three-year graduate, not a college trained nurse.
1:36Um, I can't I really can't wrap my anything around right now what I did. I could take care of the wounds. I had absolutely no trouble taking care of the wounds. As tragic as they were, I was much more concerned about the unsune wounds, which we're now calling PTSD.
1:55Faux Riverbased artist Brian Fox consulted Goff to ensure that his recent work is accurate. According to Goff, the portraits are precise and painfully realistic. The association with Brian Fox gave her a platform and confidence.
2:12She now works tirelessly to ensure wartime nurses receive fair pensions, health care, and finally recognition.
2:21One thing they told us, never let us see, never let a patient see you cry.
2:29That didn't fly in my book because to me, and I I don't mean sobbing out loud top crying, tearyeyed. Um, if I didn't, that would mean I was a cold person with no, you know, no feelings.