The First African American Nurse – Nancy Leftenant-Colon, Major (Retired) was the first African American nurse to served in the reserve or active-duty Army/Air Nurse Corps, the precursor of the Air Force. She joined the Army Reserves in 1945, unable to get into the regular Army Nurse Corps because she was an African American. The only woman to become the first president of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. from 1989-1991. Along with selected members of the Tuskegee Airmen, she received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush on March 29, 2007. There are a hundred and four words that could describe Major (Retired Nancy Leftenant-Colon, for each 104 days on earth. She has been described as “brave, steadfast, dedicated and a trailblazer.”
Nancy Leftenant-Colon, the first African American woman to be accepted into the U.S. Army/Air Corps, celebrated her 104th birthday in Amityville, New York, on Sunday, September 29, 2024, where she lives in an assisted living facility’s living section. Thank you, Major Nancy Leftenant-Colon, U.S. Army/Air Corps for your contributions to the Army and Air Force Nurse Corps and to our nation’s U.S. Armed Forces nationwide. Again, Happy 104th Birthday and may you have more beautiful years with your beloved family and friends. God’s blessings, love, joy, rest, protection, healing, and peace always!
For more about, Major Nancy Leftenant-Colon, U.S. Army/Air Corps (Ret) visit www.naavets.org click on tab named Veteran Stories under the heading named News and Events.
By Constance A. Burns, Founder, President, CEO
and Veterans Service Officer
National Association of American Veterans, Inc.
1725 I Street, NW Suite 3090
Washington, D.C. 20006
