Inspired by sacrifice so others may live

Second Lt. Noel Carroll, 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, McChord Field, Wash., visits her brother's grave in Montesano, Wash. where they grew up. Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis was a combat controller who died in combat in Afghanistan, February 2009. Lieutenant Carroll shares a similar story with another nurse in her squadron, Capt. Beverly Davidson, whose former husband was a pararescueman who died in a helicopter crash eight years ago while saving lives. The two nurses joined the Air Force Reserve for that purpose ... to save lives. (Courtesy photo/MacLeod Pappidas of The Daily World)

Flight nurses serve to honor fallen loved ones

Published March 1, 2011
By Jake Chappelle
446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- As flight nurses Capt. Beverly Davidson and 2nd Lt. Noel Carrolley serve so others may live. But they also serve to honor loved ones they lost in war.

Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Carrolley are reservists with the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here. Captain Davidson returned to service after a 12-year absence. Lieutenant Carroll joined two years ago.

Captain Davidson's former husband, Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, an Air Force pararescueman, was killed in an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan in March 2003. Lieutenant Carroll's brother, Staff Sgt. Timothy Davis, an Air Force combat controller, was killed in combat in Afghanistan in February 2009.

"I was an ER nurse, so I already had the desire to take care of patients," said Lieutenant Carroll. The Des Moines, Wash., native worked an ER nurse at Highline Medical Center, Burien, Wash., in her civilian career. "When my brother died, I knew I wanted to take care of wounded Soldiers."

Captain Davidson, from North Bend, Wash, also felt the need to take care of injured troops in honor of her former husband.

"Mike gave his life for the rescue effort," said the ER manager at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, Snoqualmie, Wash. "I wanted to come back to the reserve as a flight nurse when he died. Now that my sons are grown, I'm finally able to do it."

Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander, shares her admiration for these flight nurses.

"Both of these women are excellent representatives of the type of people who fly aeromedical evacuations," she said. "It takes strength of heart and mind, dedication to the mission and self sacrifice, which these two strong women have done both professionally and personally. They both have the strength to give back and support a tremendously important mission and are examples for others to look at in times of personal adversities. They demonstrate the Air Force Core Values- especially Service Before Self. I am proud to serve with both of them."