Meet the Veteran, Alma Rigdon

After graduating from Sebring McKinley High School and the former Alliance Hospital School of Nursing , Alma enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, following the military paths blazed by her father and brother.

One of the first flight nurses, Alma cared for polio and burn patients in iron lungs aboard hospital planes from Germany to Hawaii

After discharge, Alma accepted a 2-year contract to serve as an industrial nurse in Saudi Arabia.

Upon returning to the U.S., Alma enlisted in the U. S. Army and earned her BSN while serving as head nurse of a hospital cardiac unit.

During her Viet Nam tour of duty, Alma traveled into villages to treat native children and mothers for which she was awarded the Bronze Star

As chief nurse in the 44th Surgical Field Hospital, Alma worked a stone’s throw from the DMZ in Korea.

Alma moved from her retirement home in Florida to Copeland Oaks to be near her son and enjoy watching her grandson grow up.

A resident in a cozy catered living apartment at Copeland Oaks, she serves as the librarian for the weekly Bible Study group and often visits residents at Crandall Medical Center.  She is known among both staff and residents for her sparkling personality and contagious smile.