Background
Clara Leach Adams-Ender was born in Willow Spring, North Carolina in 1939. Her mother was named Caretha Bell Sapp Leach. Her father, Otha Leach, was a sharecropper and the family lived in Wake County, North Carolina on a tobacco farm.
army officer nursing corps chief
Clara Leach Adams-Ender was born in Willow Spring, North Carolina in 1939. Her mother was named Caretha Bell Sapp Leach. Her father, Otha Leach, was a sharecropper and the family lived in Wake County, North Carolina on a tobacco farm.
Bachelor of Science, North Carolina Agricultural and Technology State University, 1961. Master of Science, University Minnesota, 1969. Master in Military Art and Science, Command and General Staff College, 1976.
Diploma International in Management Relations and Leadership, United States Army War College, 1982.
She was the first woman to receive her master"s degree in military arts and sciences from the United States. Army Command and General Staff College. She is also the first African-American nurse corps officer to graduate from the United States Army War College. When she retired, in 1993, she was serving as commanding officer of Fort Belvoir.
She had nine siblings.
She was second in her class. She went to college at North Carolina A&T State University.
While there, she was a participant in the Greensboro sit-insurance Adams-Ender joined the United States Army in order to pay for her nursing school education.
After graduation she worked at Brooke Army Medical Center.
In 1961 she became staff nurse at the hospital at Fort Dix. While there, she also participated in an intensive care program at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center. In 1963, she left her position at Fort Dix to work in South of Korea.
She worked at the 121st Evacuation Hospital.
She attended classes at Fort Sam Houston. She would go on to become an instructor there.
She was at Fort Sam from 1964 until 1967. After 1967, she received a Master"s degree in medical-surgical nursing from the University of Minnesota.
She also got married during this time period.
She taught at Walter Reed Army Medical Center starting in 1969. She became the Director of Nursing at Fort George G. Meade starting in 1974. The following year she started attending the United States. Army Command and General Staff College.
She graduated in 1976.
She was the first woman to graduate from the college with a degree in military arts and sciences. After graduation, she started working as a hospital inspector at United States Army Health Services Command post at Fort Sam Houston.
In 1978 she moved to Frankfurt, Germany, where she started as assistant chief at the Department of Nursing at the 97th General Hospital. She would leave the position as chief in 1981.
She was promoted to colonel.
Completing her tour in Germany she returned to the United States. Adams-Ender did a lot of nursing recruitment. She relocated to Fort Sheridan and headed the nurse recruitment program there.
While working there, she attended United States Army War College.
She graduated in 1982. This made her the first African American nurse corps student to graduate from the college.
She left Fort Sheridan in 1984. Aside from recruitment, she also was active in seeking increased wages for nurses.
Adams-Ender retired in 1993.
She started a consulting company. She is the former president of Caring About People With Enthusiasm. In 1996, she was named one of Working Women magazine"s 350 women who "changed the world." She has been the recipient of the a Legion of Merit award, the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster, a Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Roy Wilkins Meritorious Service Award, and the Gertrude East. Rush Award for Leadership.
Vice president Rocks, Inc., Washington, since 1987. Board directors Boy Scout of America, Lake Forest, Ill, 1983-1984. Member American Nurses Association (member committee since 1984), National League for Nursing (lecturer since 1973), United States Army Medical Department (Professional Designator award 1985), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American Organization Nurse Executives, Chi Eta Phi (secretary, Outstanding Committee Member award 1987), United States Army War College Alumni Association Clubs: Walter Reed Officers Wives (chair ways and means committee 1985-1986), Washington Area 500.
Married F. Heinz Ender. 1 child, Sven Ingo.