ELAINE PURCELL

United States Air Force

I was born at Ramstein Air Force Base in Kaiserslautern, Germany. My father was in the Air Force.  He was from Arkansas and my mother was Austrian.  I spent 16 years of my life traveling the world with my family as an Air Force dependent. My father retired after 30 years of service in the Air Force to a small town in Arkansas from Austin, Texas when I was 16. After I graduated from high school I worked and realized I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and joined the Air Force.

After completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, I was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, La. I began tech school for Medical Administration and assigned to the Hospital squadron.  My job as a Medical Administration Specialist led me to many responsibilities including accompanying patients on medical air evacuations to various Air Force bases, assisting medics in the ambulance on the flight line and medical administrative duties in the hospital.  After I served from 1977 to 1983, I began a civilian career in healthcare administration. I have just retired from 40 years of healthcare administration and 15 of those years as a healthcare manager.

The Air Force taught me professional skills, people skills and most importantly life skills. I have yet to experience in life the sense of pride and family that I experienced in the Air Force. If I could and was needed, I would serve my country once again.  I was so fortunate to have served my country and am very proud to be a woman Air Force Veteran.