Nena Shelton was born December 5, 1875 in Lexington, Kentucky. Shelton studied nursing at Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1910, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps. Originally stationed in San Francisco, Shelton was transferred to the Division Hospital in Mindano, Philippines in June 1912 and remained there for two years. Shelton was discharged from active duty in March 1916. In February 1918, Shelton was recalled to active duty to serve in France for the remainder of World War I. She stayed in France for one year after the end of the war to assist with the demobilization of the Nurse Corps. She returned to the United States in November 1919. She was again discharged from active service and was reassigned to the Reserve Army Nurse Corps, assigned to duty with the Surgeon General in Washington D.C. In 1920, Shelton was promoted to Chief Nurse of the Army Nurse Corps. Three years later, she was honored for her work during the war by the United States Congress, which awarded her a Distinguished Service Medal. General Pershing presented the medal to her on March 21, 1923 in Washington, D.C. In 1935, she was promoted to Captain and was made the Assistant Superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps. Shelton continued to serve with the military until ill health forced her to resign in 1939. She passed away in Lexington, Kentucky on March 21, 1945.
From the description of Nena Shelton papers, 1875-1946. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 83805359
