MANSFIELD — Earlier this month, two members of the Jared Mansfield Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sheila Larson and Pat Jennings and Debra S. Robinson from the Richland Co. Veterans Service Commission went to visit and honor Veteran Agnes Haley.

Haley was cited for her service to our country as a Lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps during the Korean War.

She was raised on a farm in Edgeland, North Dakota, one of 10 children. Four brothers and one sister were also in various branches of military service. She graduated from St. John’s Nursing School in Fargo, North Dakota, before joining the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps in 1952.

Agnes loved to travel so the Navy took her first to St. Alban’s Naval Hospital and then to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital near Chicago, then on to Japan.

After a short stint on the Navy ship, the USS J.C. General Breckinridge, she was transferred to Bremerton, Washington, her last duty. While serving there she met her future husband, Gary Haley from Mansfield, who was also serving at the same base as a dentist.

Agnes served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1958.

After Agnes and Gary were married they moved back to Mansfield and he had his dental practice here. They raised two children. They have three grandchildren and tw great grandchildren. Gary passed away in 1993.

Agnes is a member of the Richland County Chapter 51 of the Korean War Veterans Association and the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. She walks daily and likes to bake, cook and play bridge.

Last Sept 10 Debra Robinson accompanied Agnes on a first all-women Veterans Honor Flight out of Columbus to Washington D.C. All 81 women veterans enjoyed the trip very much.

Jared Mansfield Chapter members presented Agnes with a certificate to thank her for her service to our country, along with several other gifts.

The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.

Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join. Contact the chapter Registrar at 419-683-3667.