Pocono News Section

Group Honors Dunmore Native Killed in Vietnam

Group Honors Dunmore Native Killed in Vietnam - Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 04:19AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday May 13 2010
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THROOP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - We're just two days away from Lackawanna County coming together to honor veterans both past and present.

Groups and organizations across the Scranton-area are getting ready for the big Armed Forces Parade. Organizers of the parade hope the streets of Scranton are filled with people Saturday to honor military members.

One woman, a native of Dunmore, will be honored with a special float. Carol Ann Drazba was the first woman and first nurse killed in the Vietnam War.

Thursday afternoon, several people came together in Throop to transform a donated Bob Bolus wrecker into a special float in her honor.

"It's such an honor, you know?" Joanne Katula said. "I can't say enough about the Friends of the Forgotten for picking up on this and doing it."

Katula is the sister of Carol Ann Drazba. She came to help out in the decoration-effort. She says Carol Ann died doing what she loved...being a nurse and helping people.

"She wanted to go over to Vietnam because she felt that if she were there, she could learn so much more than she could learn here in the United States," Katula said.

When the float is finished, Drazba's classmates from the Scranton State School of Nursing will ride on top of it in Saturday's Armed Forces Parade.

The organization Friends of the Forgotten recently heard about Drazba's story. They wanted to make sure it was told and honored.

"It was 1966. She was considered an auxillery part of the army. She wasn't even considered a soldier at the time. Look at the women serving now. We're gonna change that and have her recognized for what she truely did," Kim Onda Atkinson said.

Besides the float, the group is also trying to get a permanent memorial for Carol Ann Drazba.

In the meantime, they hope the public will turn out for Saturday's parade.

"We're hoping they realize what the veterans give. They give the ultimate in some cases for our freedom," Carol Lee said.