Diane Carlson Evans Dies at 79 After Winning Vietnam Women’s Memorial

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 4

Diane Carlson Evans died May 20 at her home in Helena, Montana, after becoming the driving force behind the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall.
Her daughter said the cause was urothelial cancer, a urinary tract or bladder cancer that studies have linked to Agent Orange exposure during Evans’s Vietnam service.
Evans was one of about 11,000 women who served as nurses in Vietnam, working in combat medical units near the front lines and treating both U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese civilians.
The memorial campaign grew from her belief that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the adjacent "Three Soldiers" statue, unveiled in the early 1980s, largely honored men despite eight women’s names on the wall.
That decade-long effort culminated in the 1993 unveiling of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, giving public recognition to thousands of women who served in the war.

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The New York Times5h ago

Diane Carlson Evans, Vietnam Women’s Memorial Campaign Leader, Dies at 79

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National - Diane Carlson Evans envisioned the idea for a memorial to honor over 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam war. As a former Army combat nurse and Vietnam veteran she

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Amazon.com: Healing Wounds: A Vietnam War Combat Nurse's 10-Year Fight to Win Women a Place of Honor in Washington, D.C.: 9781682619124: Evans, Diane Carlson, Welch, Bob, Galloway, Joseph: Books

How did one nurse’s decade-long battle permanently change the face of heroism on America’s National Mall?

Decades after Vietnam, what silent genetic damage from Agent Orange are scientists now uncovering in veterans?

Diane Carlson Evans (1946–2026): Championing the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the Recognition of Women Veterans

Overview

Diane Carlson Evans, a pioneering Army nurse and advocate, passed away in 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer. Her life was dedicated to ensuring women in military service received recognition and honor. Deeply moved by the support she received in her final years, Evans showed remarkable strength and resilience, especially when facing challenges. Her unwavering spirit was clear both during her wartime service and in her efforts to create the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Evans’ legacy lives on, inspiring continued recognition and support for women veterans and highlighting the importance of honoring all who serve.

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