Moving history forward

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Toni Smith
  • 60th MDSS/SGSX
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Imagine if you knew what it was you wanted to do as a child and had the chance to live out that dream. That is exactly what Col. Carol Vermillion had the opportunity to do. Not only has she lived her dream, but it is more exciting than she ever dreamed it would be. With her mother as a nurse in the Civil Service system and a father who was a master sergeant in the Air Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, she knew at an early age what it meant to serve. 

During the past 28 years in nursing, she has traveled the world. Commissioned by a family friend who was an active duty nurse, Colonel Vermillion joined the military in 1980. As a nurse she has held numerous clinical, management and flight nurse positions. When asked what her motivation was working day after day as a nurse, she replied, " Doing what we're trained to do and taking care of our patients, whether in the hospital setting, in a tent or in the air." 

During Desert Shield/Storm, she served as the officer in charge of a Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility for nine months moving five times, with a staff of 23 nurses and medical technicians throughout Saudi Arabia, with their final location being on the Iraq border. In a squadron of more than1,950 she was a force to be reckoned with. She was awarded the Bronze Star for her superior performance. Adding more adventure to her resume, she was a participant in Operation Just Cause- the largest single contingency operation since World War II. 

Colonel Vermillion continues to set herself apart from the rest. She served as the first female commander of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and was selected to stand-up the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Many witnessed the arrival of the OIF prisoners of war on television. She had the unique opportunity to witness their return to Kuwait and then assisted in their aeromedical evacuation to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Colonel Vermillion has many memories of her time in Kuwait. The one event that she will never forget is the dirt road lined with personnel rendering a salute as the POW's departed the hospital for the flightline and one step closer to home. 

Her assignment prior to serving as the Chief Nurse at David Grant USAF Medical Center, was the 435th Medical Group commander at Ramstein AB, Germany. During her tenure, her group was selected as the Air Force Surgeon General's Medical Group of the Year. 

Her Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility team cared for and transported more than 30,000 OIF and OEF Marines, Airmen and Soldiers to definitive medical care. Also her medics proudly represented the medical group during the CSAF Installation Excellence team visit, which Ramstein AB won for 2006. Colonel Vermillion reflects that "being a medical group commander was a tremendous honor." 

When asked to reflect on her time in the military, she smiles proudly and says, "That it has been an honor and privilege to serve while being afforded numerous opportunities throughout my career." Colonel Vermillion is married and is the proud stepmother of a son, who is a recent graduate of Texas Tech University and will begin a career as a pilot in the Marines.