Irene Clark Woodman

Mildred Irene Clark Woodman (January 30, 1915 – November 25, 1994) was the twelfth chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps (1963–1967). She is credited with, during her tenure, playing a large role in the survival of the Nurse Corps in the Vietnam War. She has been inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

Biography Woodman was born on January 30, 1915, to Martha Darling and William James Clark, in Elkton, North Carolina. The youngest of five children, she attended and graduated the Baker Sanatorium Training School for Nurses in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Woodman served as chief nurse of the XXIV Corps. She was the only woman staff officer (as chief nurse of the Far East Command) assigned to General Douglas MacArthur when the Korean War began. Later she served as Director of Nurses and Medical Specialists in Office of the Surgeon General, during which she implemented the Army Student Nurse Program. Woodman became Chief Army Nurse in 1963.

She worked throughout the Vietnam era to increase the minimum educational requirements for army nurses.

For her work, she received the Army Commendation Medal with Pendant, and the Distinguished Service Medal. When Woodman died, she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The Clark Health Clinic is named after her.