Dorothy Pocklington

American Army general (1934–2024)

Dorothy Pocklington

Birth name| Dorothy Ann Butcher
Born| (1934-03-25)25 March 1934
Louisiana, U.S.
Died| 3 October 2024(2024-10-03) (aged 90)
Allegiance| United States
Branch| United States Army
Years of service| 1964–1994
Rank| Brigadier General
Awards|

* Distinguished Service Medal
* Legion of Merit

Alma mater|

* Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning
* Catholic University of America
* University of Maryland

Dorothy Pocklington (born Dorothy Ann Butcher; 25 March 1934 – 3 October 2024) was a United States Army nurse. She was the first female member of the Army Reserve to attain the rank of brigadier general.[1]

## Early life and education

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Pocklington was born in Louisiana on 25 March 1934,[2] and raised in Lafayette.[3] She earned a B.S. degree in Nursing from the Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning in 1956. She received an M.S. degree in Nursing from the Catholic University of America in 1960. Pocklington continued to study for a Ph.D. degree at the University of Maryland[4] while also working as a Nursing instructor at her alma mater, which had been renamed the University of Southwestern Louisiana.[1]

## Military career

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Pocklington joined the Army Nurse Corps in August 1964 and was commissioned as a captain. She served on active duty for thirteen years, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. Pocklington transferred to the Army Reserve and continued to serve for another seventeen years, attaining the rank of brigadier general in 1989.[4] As a general officer, she helped to mobilize 20,000 nurses and other Reserve personnel for the Gulf War.[1] Pocklington retired from the Army Reserve in April 1994. She remained an inactive member of the Army Nurse Corps until March 1999.[4]

Her military honors include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal.[4]

## Personal life

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Pocklington was the daughter of Curtis Harold Butcher and Lena Cecile (DelaHoussaye) Butcher.[2] She married Alvin Eugene Pocklington[5] on 28 November 1970 in Fort Myer, Virginia.[2] Her husband had enlisted as a seaman in the U.S. Navy, but transferred to the Army and retired from service as a sergeant.[5] He later worked in the field of biomedical electronics. The couple lived in Ellicott City, Maryland.[1] After his death, her husband was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 1 July 2008.[5]

Pocklington died on 3 October 2024, at the age of 90.[6]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Joe, Sherry (25 April 1994). "1st female brigadier general retires from Reserve". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
2. ^ a b c "Marriage Return". No. 70–045090\. Richmond, Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.70–045090&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Dorothy+Pocklington" class="Z3988">
3. ^ L'Acadien. Lafayette, Louisiana: Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning. 1954. p. 184.
4. ^ a b c d "Army Medical Department Profiles: Brig. Gen. Dorothy A. Pocklington, Army Nurse Corps Reserve" (PDF). Arlington, Virginia: Office of Medical History, Office of The Surgeon General. December 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
5. ^ a b c "Pocklington, Alvin". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
6. ^ "Dorothy B. Pocklington". Delhomme Funeral Homes. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

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