Nancy Leftenant-Colon, the first Black woman to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps following the military’s desegregation in the 1940s, has passed away at the age of 104. She died earlier this month in a nursing home in New York, leaving behind a legacy of breaking racial boundaries throughout her extensive military career.
Known affectionately as “Lefty,” she grew up in a family of six siblings, many of whom served in the military. Her brother, a celebrated member of the Tuskegee Airmen, tragically lost his life in a mid-air collision over Austria during 1945, with his remains never recovered, as detailed in her biography on the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. platform.
Her nephew, Chris Leftenant, shared heartfelt memories, stating, “She was just an awesome person. She never created waves when she was doing all this first this, first that. She never made a big thing of it. It was just happening.” After the 1948 desegregation of the military, Leftenant-Colon began her military career as a nurse with the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group before transitioning to the U.S. Air Force following the group’s disbandment. She played a vital role in supporting U.S. operations during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Among her significant contributions were establishing hospital wards in Japan, assisting in the evacuation of French Legionnaires from Vietnam, and participating in the first medical evacuation flight to Dien Bien Phu, a critical point in history where the French colonial army faced defeat. She concluded her military service in 1965, retiring as chief nurse.
After her military career, Leftenant-Colon became a school nurse at Amityville Memorial High School in New York, where she worked from 1971 until 1984. She was remembered for her empowering phrase, “The sky is the limit,” and in her honor, the school’s library media center was named after her.
In addition to her nursing career, she became the first woman to be elected president of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., leading the organization from 1989 to 1991. In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by then-President George W. Bush, acknowledging their contributions to U.S. history.
“She led the way, and she kept all the doors open behind,” her nephew remarked. “She was just the first one. But then she made it whenever and wherever possible for someone else to follow behind.” Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, who honored Leftenant-Colon with a proclamation in 2022, fondly remembered her as a “firecracker,” emphasizing the honor it was to spend time with her, recognizing her authentic and humble personality.
Richberg noted, “She was humble about her history. She said, ‘I was doing my part.’ As much a hero she is to her family, she wanted everyone to know you can do more.”
Born in Goose Creek, South Carolina, in 1920, Leftenant-Colon was one of twelve children and the granddaughter of a freed slave. Her family left the South for Amityville, New York, in 1923, where Leftenant-Colon ultimately passed away on January 8.
