Obituary of Barbara Sarnowski

Barbara, Army Veteran joined the Women’s army corps in 1969, from New York. I met her in Basic training at Ft McClellan Al June 1969. We both went to 91A corpsman school at Ft Sam Houston Texas for 8 weeks. Barb came in under a army program Stripe’s for skills. she was a LPN I don’t remember if she received her rank before school or after graduation, she was a specialist 4 91C, clinical Specialist . We were both assigned to Ft Rucker Al, Lyster army hopsital, OB ward. She was later promoted again to Specialist 5. The 91C is is an LPN in the US Army is designated as a 91C-20, 30 or 40. depending on the NCO grade. These NCOs have skills equal to or better than most civilian RNs. They also are responsible to have the training to set up a battalion Aid Station and run it. Through the years many medical jobs codes have changed. In 1970 Barb and I talked about going to Vietnam, thinking our skills would be better used. I was a medic. The recruiter said the only women being assigned there was personal people, and Nurses and doctors. So we ended up in Germany, 97th general hospital, OB ward. it was a 2 year tour. Barb had been taken ill and had to be air lifted back to the states, where she had health issues due to Lupus for the rest of her life. Her friend Nancy says:, She was an LPN from age of 18 being a nurse was everything to her she worked until she was 76 even when she was wore out. Her patients meant so much to her , she was so kind and caring she had such a beautiful smile. She never would let pictures of her be taken she hated that, said she look bad. Barb went to Linton High School they had a nursing program so her last year or so she was in nursing school. She work 10 years at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady NY in Labor and Delivery also work in GYN doctor office. .