Cheryl O'Brien recalls service as an Air Force nurse during Vietnam

Cheryl O'Brien, a former Royal Australian Air Force nurse, has shared her experiences serving during the Vietnam War. After beginning nursing training in 1964, she joined the Air Force nursing service at age 22.

O'Brien recalls the intense challenges of her role, which included stabilizing paralyzed patients on aircraft and treating soldiers with severe injuries from explosions. She described the grueling nature of her training, such as simulating aircraft evacuations by swimming through Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne during winter.

While she noted that the work provided her with a sense of meaning and lifelong friendships, the exposure to significant suffering and death resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite these hardships, she expressed that she would choose the career again if given the opportunity.