Alene B. Duerk, the first woman to attain the rank of rear admiral in the Navy, has died, The New York Times reported.
Duerk achieved the distinction in 1972 after rising through the ranks of the Navy Nurse Corps. She was 98 when she died July 21 at her home in Lake Mary, Florida, the report said.
"It was a nice distinction to have and to be recognized as the first, but I wanted to make certain that I used that notoriety to do as much positive as I could," Duerk had said, The Times reported.
Duerk was awarded the Naval Reserve Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze star, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp, and the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Naval History and Heritage Command reported.
President Donald Trump commented Friday on Duerk's passing, saying "America is forever grateful!"
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