Photo courtesy of Pam (Swennes) Barrows Pam (Swennes) Barrows raises the nation’s flag at a Twins game in 2021

We’ve been learning about Pam Swennes’ Vietnam service as an Army Nurse. After graduating from Marshall High School and nursing school, she volunteered for service in Vietnam.

Pam worked at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku, treating injured soldiers during twelve hour shifts, six days a week. Her assignment was near her fiancé, Jack, whom she married on R&R in Hawaii.

They completed their Vietnam tours and returned to the States to Fort Benning, Georgia.

“I was assigned as Head Nurse on a post-operative surgical floor. Jack was going through the Infantry Officer Advanced Course.”

They were Army officers and Vietnam veterans on active duty, but Pam noticed a void.

“I don’t think we even talked about Vietnam at Fort Benning, although we were living and working in a military community. We weren’t received. We came home and there was nothing. It wasn’t until the ’80’s that it became okay to be a Vietnam Vet.”

Although she didn’t talk about her Vietnam service, Pam explains it was foundational to her career.

“Starting out a career with that experience — we had to improvise; we had to learn — was a building block. Throughout my career that’s the way I functioned. I learned what I needed to do and tried to do it as well as possible. If I had to improvise, I did.”

Pam enjoyed Fort Benning’s Martin Army Hospital and was promoted to Captain, but her Army service ended there.

“I had to leave the Army when I became pregnant. That was just part of the military for women at that time — there was no option. I couldn’t even wear a pregnancy uniform. I had to wear my fitted uniform with my Army green sweater over it. I left active duty in July 1970. John was born in October.”

Pam returned to Martin Army Hospital six months later as a civilian ICU nurse until Jack was reassigned to Fort Carson, Colorado. Pam explained Jack’s Army career ended soon thereafter.

“Jack was released from active duty during the (post-Vietnam) Reduction in Force (RIF). He did not have a college degree. We settled in Denver. I interviewed [at St. Anthony Hospital]. They offered me a position in their Surgical ICU.”

The RIF and relocation stressed and eventually ended Pam’s marriage. She continued working at St. Anthony’s, including the familiar role of treating patients airlifted by helicopter.

“We had a lot of trauma because we were the first Flight for Life program in the U.S. I was a member of the receiving team at the trauma room. We did a lot of open hearts; spinal surgeries; and open traumas.”

During these years, Pam earned a Bachelor’s degree in manpower and personnel management. This led to another career change.

“I had been divorced and John was in grade school during my time at St. Anthony’s. Raising a child as a single parent was not easy. I wanted to get back to Minnesota and closer to home. Northfield offered me the Director of Nursing position.”

After nearly two years at Northfield, home called Pam.

“Marshall contacted me about their Director of Nursing position. It worked out better for John to be close to my folks. At Northfield and Marshall I used what I didn’t like at St. Anthony, that nurses were treated like peons, to try and be a different type of administrator. Front-line workers are what make or break any organization.”

Pam worked as nursing administrator and also earned a Master’s in Business Administration. The hospital then hired Pam as Assistant Hospital Administrator.

Her tenure at Marshall also reintroduced her to military health care.

“I got on this commission to look into the Veterans Homes. I was the out-state delegate. The outcome was the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs assumed responsibility for the Veterans Homes through a Board of Directors. I served [on] that Board for four years.”

After leaving her Board position in 1992, they called Pam.

“They asked me to apply for the Director position of the new Luverne Vets home. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In acute care, you couldn’t get to know patients, where in long term care you could get to know them and make their life better. I also enjoyed a position where you could support the staff.”

Pam and her staff promoted a new approach to helping their residents.

“Long term care was changing. The nation was moving to care in a more home-like setting. Kids were a central part of our program. We had pets on site. Dietary was important to have good meals. The local veterans’ community involvement was huge. We tried to make it like a family.”

Pam closed her career as the Senior Director for Veterans Homes and then retired in 2012 as Interim Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for Veterans Homes.

She reflected on her career.

“I loved the challenge of taking care of critical patients — taking the time to do it right. I loved the constant learning. Not just clinical learning, but everything that surrounded that. I hope I made a difference all along the way. My goal was to support the people I was responsible for. I started my career taking care of soldiers and ended it taking care of veterans. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Thank you for your Vietnam service and for serving veterans, Pam. Welcome home.

The Lyon County Museum is organizing an exhibit about the impact of the Vietnam War on Lyon County. If you would like to share Vietnam experiences or help with the exhibit, please contact me at prairieview pressllc@gmail.com or call the museum at 537-6580.