American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Sandra Washington, 71, who graduated from Beaufort High School in 1972. She attended Georgetown University in Washington for two years working toward a nursing degree. In 1978 she joined the U.S. Air Force, first for Basic Training in San Antonio and then at Medical Technician School to qualify for a Flight Medicine Team. Her first duty station was in the Air Force Hospital at Clark AFB in the Philippines. Next assigned to the other side of the world, she worked at Chicksands AFB, England. Returning to the States, she was assigned to the Air Force Hospital at Blytheville AFB, Ark., serving the crews and families attached to local F-16 squadrons and the regional ICBM missiles.
Her final active duty assignment was with the Flight Medicine Unit at Andrews AFB in Washington D.C. There she mainly dealt with pilots and Washington VIPs, including during details in the Pentagon. She separated in 1988 as a Staff Sergeant and returned to Beaufort County to begin a 37-year career working for Dr. Joel Johnson at Main Street Medical on Hilton Head Island. She has a daughter who served with the Army, including two tours in Iraq, and who now works for the Army at Fort Jackson as a civil servant.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
