Saratoga Standard

Helene Wallingford, a resident of Malta, New York, is a veteran from the Vietnam era and a former United States Navy Lieutenant. She served five years of active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1970 as a nurse. Her role involved providing healing care for injured and wounded American service members during the peak of the Vietnam War.

The professionalism and skill of Ms. Wallingford and her fellow nurses were instrumental in saving many lives during this period. "There are many veterans who would not be alive today if it was not for the professionalism and skill of Ms. Wallingford and the other nurses who were there to provide compassionate care for our wounded warriors," said an unnamed source.

Her courageous service during the Vietnam War earned her several awards, including the National Defense Service Medal and Navy Commendation. Concurrently, her future husband, United States Marine Corps Captain David Wallingford, was shot and wounded in Vietnam. He was evacuated to a military hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, where he met Ms. Wallingford who was stationed there.

Following her military service, Ms. Wallingford continued her nursing career at St. Peter’s Hospital and Saratoga Hospital. She also contributed to educating future nursing students at Maria College and the Excelsior College Nursing Program.

Ms. Wallingford has further contributed to her profession by serving as Past President of Sigma Theta Tau International.

In what has been described as a storybook romance, she met Mr. Wallingford while treating him for wounds sustained in combat during the Vietnam War. The couple fell in love, got married, raised four children together, and are now proud grandparents of eight grandchildren.

Both have been awarded the New York State Senate Liberty Medal for their courageous service to their state and nation during the Vietnam War.