Hostile Fire; The Life & Death of First Lieutenant Sharon Lane

192 pages. Maps. Illustrations. Appendix A through E. Selected Chronology. Selected Bibliography. Index. Front flyleaf removed. Scarce in any condition. Philip Bigler served as one of the official historians at Arlington National Cemetery from 1983 through 1985. During his tenure, Bigler assisted with the burial of the Vietnam Unknown Serviceman and worked on two visits to Arlington by President Ronald Reagan. In 2001 Bigler returned to James Madison University to lead the James Madison Center in its mission to honor the legacy of the nation's fourth President and the father of the U.S. Constitution. From 2001- 2010, Mr. Bigler oversaw all aspects of the Madison Center including academic research, public relations, and teacher training. During his tenure at JMU, Mr. Bigler taught courses in American Studies, History, Education and Political Science. Sharon Ann Lane (July 7, 1943 - June 8, 1969) was a United States Army nurse and the only American servicewoman killed as a direct result of enemy fire in the Vietnam War. The Army posthumously awarded Lane the Bronze Star Medal for heroism on June 8, 1969. In 1969, Lane was named Outstanding Army Nurse of the Year by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1973, a life-size bronze statue of Lane was dedicated at Aultman Hospital School of Nursing's courtyard (moved later to the building's entrance) in Canton, Ohio. In 1986, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 199 in Canton, Ohio, was named the Sharon Lane Memorial Chapter. During the early morning hours of June 8, 1969, a Soviet-built 122-mm rocket slammed into ward 4 of the 312th Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai, Vietnam. Lt. Sharon A. Lane, a young, attractive 24-year old nurse from Canton, Ohio, died instantly. Though seven other American military nurses lost their lives serving in Vietnam, Lt. Lane was the only American servicewoman killed as a direct result of enemy fire throughout the war. Her life and untimely death, have come to epitomize the duty, honor, and sacrifice of the almost 11,000 American military and naval nurses who served their country during the Vietnam era. Under Fire is based on extensive interviews with veterans, family and friends. a review of official records; and Lt. Lane's own letters home which were carefully preserved by her family. Author Philip Bigler carefully chronicles Lt. Lane's life from early childhood to her untimely death in Vietnam. He paints a picture of a vibrant and dedicated young woman, tragically killed just as her adult life was beginning. The story, skillfully placed within the historical and political context of the period, provides readers with a powerful and personal look at Vietnam and those who served. From a Publishers Weekly review: Bigler pays tribute to Lane in this careful, vigorously researched examination of her life and of the events leading to her untimely death.…