Trailblazer of Desegregation in the U.S. Military Passes Away at 104
Nancy Leftenant-Colon, the pioneering Black woman who became the first to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps following the desegregation of the military in the late 1940s, has passed away at the age of 104. Her legacy is one of quiet determination and breaking racial barriers during a distinguished military and civil career.
Leftenant-Colon, affectionately known as “Lefty,” hailed from a family deeply embedded in military service, with six siblings who served. Her brother, a notable Tuskegee Airmen pilot, tragically lost his life in a mid-air collision over Austria in 1945, and his remains were never recovered.
Described by her nephew, Chris Leftenant, as “an awesome person,” she was known for her humility despite her role as a trailblazer. “She never created waves when she was doing all this first this, first that. She never made a big thing of it. It was just happening,” he said.
Following the desegregation of the military in 1948, Leftenant-Colon initially served with the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group as a nurse. She later transitioned to the U.S. Air Force, contributing significantly during the Korean and Vietnam wars. She was instrumental in setting up hospital wards in Japan and played a critical role in evacuating French Legionnaires from Vietnam. Notably, she was part of the first medical evacuation flight into Dien Bien Phu.
Her military career culminated in her retirement as a chief nurse in 1965. Post-military service, she continued her dedication to community health as a school nurse at Amityville Memorial High School in New York from 1971 to 1984, where her inspirational motto, “The sky is the limit,” resonated with students and staff alike. The school honored her by naming their library media center after her.
In addition to her military and educational contributions, Leftenant-Colon achieved another first by becoming the inaugural female president of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. from 1989 to 1991. Her nephew, Chris Lefenant, remarked, “She led the way, and she kept all the doors open doors behind. She was just the first one. But then she made it whenever and wherever possible for someone else to follow behind.”
Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, who presented her with a proclamation in 2022, fondly remembered her as a “firecracker.” He admired her authenticity and humility, quoting her saying, “I was doing my part.” He noted her desire to inspire others, emphasizing that despite her personal achievements, she believed everyone could contribute more.
Born in Goose Creek, South Carolina, in 1920, to a family of 12 children, Leftenant-Colon was the granddaughter of a freed slave. Her family relocated to Amityville, New York, in 1923, where she eventually passed away on January 8.
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