Diane Carlson Evans is being remembered for her wartime efforts that paved the way for other females besides herself to garner national recognition.
Evans, 79, of Helena, Mont., died May 20 after what was described as a long and courageous battle against cancer, according to her obituary. She was a U.S. Army nurse who volunteered to serve during the Vietnam War, ultimately leading to finding her longtime husband, starting a family, and, ultimately, initiating the Vietnam Women’s Memorial—the first of its kind in the United States, more than 30 years ago.
She was born in 1946 in Buffalo, Minn., to a dairy farmer and nurse, and attended the Carlson Country School for eight years near the farm where she grew up. Upon graduating from Buffalo High School, she studied nursing at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis and then at the University of Minnesota, where she attained her registered nurse degree.
Evans joined the Army Nurse Corps Student Program in 1966. After graduating in 1967, she was commissioned a second lieutenant and completed basic officer training. She volunteered for service in Vietnam while serving as a medical-surgical nurse at Fort Lee, Va.
That one-year deployment began in the summer of 1968. She was a surgical and burn nurse at the 36th Evacuation Hospital in Vung Tau, and head nurse in a surgical unit at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in the Central Highlands of Pleiku.
When she returned to the United States, Evans was promoted to captain and assigned as head nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. That is where she met her future husband, Michael Evans, who at the time was a surgical resident. They married in April 1971.
“Diane’s love for her family was boundless,” her obituary states. “She said the best part of her life was raising her children and spending time with her grandchildren. Nourishing those she loved with her incredible cooking, baking, and homemade jam brought her great joy; she cherished time outdoors with her family, ideally by a lake with some loons calling, and the kids playing together in the water.”
She was a tremendous role model and moral compass, with an exceptional work ethic and deep commitment to her mission and values. She often shared that those attributes came from her own mother, and she passed that same spirit on to her children.
Evans is survived by her husband, four children, six grandchildren, brother and sister.
Veterans Groups Remember Evans
Evans is being hailed by various veterans groups as someone who made service her mission.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) issued a statement upon Evans’ death, referring to her as a “proud” VFW Life Member of VFW Post 4393 in Helena, Mont.. The VFW previously honored her “extraordinary leadership and advocacy” by awarding her the organization’s Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal of Merit.
“Through her public advocacy, education efforts and unwavering determination, Evans brought national attention to the vital role women played in Vietnam as nurses, intelligence specialists, air traffic controllers and support personnel,” the VFW said in a press release. “Her work helped generations of women veterans gain the visibility, respect and recognition they earned through their service.”
VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore, the VFW’s first woman national commander, a retired Army nurse, and a member of the Women’s Army Corps, issued her own remarks reflecting on Evans’ legacy.
“The courage and compassion of Vietnam nurses brought comfort, healing and hope to countless service members in the midst of war,” Whitmore said. “Diane Carlson Evans epitomized that care to soldiers in Vietnam. Founding the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., Diane ensured the legacy of the women who served during that time would never be forgotten. We will never forget you, Diane. Thank you for your service.”
In 1993, the first memorial was dedicated to U.S. women in uniform in the United States, situated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Evans advocated for veterans in other ways, including detailing her work with the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in a book Healing Wounds: A Vietnam War Combat Nurse’s 10 Year Fight to Win Women a Place of Honor in Washington, D.C.
In January 2025, Evans was awarded the Presidential Citizen Medal by then-President Joe Biden. But due to her cancer, she could not attend. American Legion National Commander Denise Rohan accepted the medal from Biden on Evans’ behalf.
That honor began by executive order in 1969 at the direction of President Richard Nixon, as part of a way to honor U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds or services for the nation or fellow citizens.
“Since it started in 1919, the American Legion has always accepted women as members, but they’d never had a female commander” Evans said last year, according to the Faribault Daily News in Minnesota. “I decided to send Denise Rohan because she is the first woman to be commander, ever. She’s one of the people who were meant to be honored by the memorial. She did a great job accepting the medal.”
Evans was also a member of American Legion Post 2 in Helena and the recipient of The American Legion’s Patriot Award and Distinguished Service Medal, which she received due to her Vietnam Women’s Memorial efforts.
“Remarkably strong and resilient, Diane was often at her very best when tackling the hardest of challenges,” the American Legion said in a statement. “That was evident during her wartime service, trailblazing work on behalf of veterans, and the way she said goodbye these last few years.
“Her cancer journey was filled with letters and calls from friends, family, veterans and connections from across the country. This outpouring of care and compassion meant so much to her. She shared deep gratitude for the circle of compassion and the exceptional medical and nursing care she received.”
Evans’ family implores others to, in lieu of flowers, instead thank a veteran for their service or invite them to share their story if they wish. Donating to veteran organizations is also encouraged.
A Celebration of Life will be planned for Evans this fall in Helena.
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