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HomeNewsGreat niece of hospital’s namesake visits Fort Campbell's Blanchfield Army Community Hospital

Great niece of hospital’s namesake visits Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital

Blanchfield Army Hospital - BACH - Fort Campbell KYFort Campbell, KY – The great niece of Col. Florence Blanchfield, Vicki Blanchfield, visited Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in late April for the first time since its opening in September 1982.

Col. Telita Crosland, hospital commander, provided a tour for Blanchfield and her husband who were visiting Tennessee for a family reunion in Nashville. Traveling from their home in Orlando, FL, the two decided to extend their travel a day to visit the hospital and tour the facility.

Vicki Blanchfield, great niece of Col. Florence Blanchfield, toured Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.
Vicki Blanchfield, great niece of Col. Florence Blanchfield, toured Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.

“Aunt Florence would be so proud to see how progressive the hospital facilities and services are and the respect shown to her memory as a pioneer in nursing care. It’s clear the hospital is in very capable hands under the new commander’s guidance,” said Blanchfield.

During the Blanchfield visit, Col. Crosland inquired about family members in the photos displayed in a glass cabinet in the hospital’s main lobby. The photos were taken during the hospital’s dedication ceremony September 17th, 1982. Vicki was able to identify her Aunt Ruth, Florence’s younger sister, in one of the photos who settled in Falls Church, VA, and lived to be more than 100 years old.

Sgt. Josephat Ondieki, a medic working the staff duty desk, took photos of the Blanchfield family visit. Ondieki was born and raised in Kenya, Africa, before joining the U.S. Army. According to Ondieki, he believed in the good work that the U.S military does around the world and wanted to be a part of that team.

“He has such a unique background and outgoing personality. I was touched by the compassion he had for the wounded warriors he treated in Afghanistan,” said Blanchfield.
Ondieki will remember one Soldier in particular he cared for who paid the ultimate price and did not get to return home.

“Caring for the Soldier made me realize how fragile life is, and that there is a deep sense of brotherhood amongst service members. The emotions evoked were the same emotions from the demise of an immediate family member,” said Ondieki.

“What a brave, adventurous young man, choosing to leave his country and family to resettle in the U.S. to serve our country. Aunt Florence would’ve been proud to serve with such a Soldier and nurse,” said Blanchfield.

Ondiekisaid he was equally excited to meet Vicki Blanchfield. “I never thought I’d meet a relative of the person this hospital is named after,” he added.
Vicki Blanchfield was impressed with Ondieki saying this with such reverence of her Aunt Florence.

“It was a very fitting conclusion to my visit. The private tour was very inspiring, but emotional for me.  It’s hard to put into words how proud it made me to have had a great-aunt whose military career was so well respected that a major Army hospital at such an important post as Fort Campbell would bear her name. I was also truly humbled!”

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