Dotty was the daughter of Norman and Alice Bleck. She graduated from Delaware Valley Joint High School in 1961. In 1965 she graduated from Roosevelt Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She attended New York University, State of New York. Dotty worked in the emergency room of Roosevelt Hospital from 1965-1969.
In January, 1969 Dotty entered the Army Nurse Corps as a
Second Lieutenant. While in the Army, Dotty graduated from Chaminade University of Hawaii earning her B.S.. While stationed at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY., Dotty graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master's Degree in Education/Community Agency Counseling.
Colonel Bleck spent 13 years in overseas assignments, including two tours in Vietnam. Among other awards and medals she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1979. She was highly respected by her peers, subordinates and supervisors. She was a soldier and a patriot.
Dotty was the ultimate Army Nurse Corps Officer. I met her during my tour of duty at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY in the mid-1980s. She was my supervisor and mentor. There was no Army Nurse more dedicated to her duty, and to making sure that her subordinates attained the level of professionalism she exemplified. She was not an easy taskmaster!
We happened to meet one afternoon at her apartment swimming pool. Dotty was alone, drifting on her blow-up raft in the deep end as she read a book. I was playing "Marco Polo" with friends. As an Army Brat and daughter of an Airborne Ranger, respect for authority was in my DNA. Someone in my group recognized her as the new supervisor, MY supervisor, at Ireland.
I immediately wanted to slip away....this setting was much too casual for a mere Captain to be in with a LT. Col.. But the game continued, and inevitably, someone hit the ball which promptly landed on LTC. Bleck. I went to retrieve it, fully expecting a lecture about respect. Not a promising start.
As I sheepishly approached her, pretending to be able to swim, Dotty grabbed the ball and threw it back to me. My concerns were laid to rest when she flashed me her wonderful smile and we introduced ourselves.
Over the next couple of years we came to know each other well. I found Dotty to be a kind, compassionate and thoughtful friend. She was exacting, professional at all times on the job, and a terrific mentor. She urged me to attend school with her, and we earned our Master's Degrees together. I will be forever grateful to her for her pushing me to excel. She never cut me any slack. She expected perfection, and she motivated me to deliver.
We were members of the hospital bowling league (I was completely undistinguished in that arena), the best part of which were the Coors we drank and the laughs we had with NCOs and officers.
Dotty had a private side. During my years of serving with her, I'd never known her to personally socialize with anyone. She rarely let her guard down, and I felt privileged to be someone she could talk to.
Dotty never married, although she had a long time friend, James Robert "Jimbo" Cecil {72589461} who rests with her.
Col. Bleck's career reflected well upon herself, The United States Army, and her country.
In January, 1969 Dotty entered the Army Nurse Corps as a
Second Lieutenant. While in the Army, Dotty graduated from Chaminade University of Hawaii earning her B.S.. While stationed at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY., Dotty graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master's Degree in Education/Community Agency Counseling.
Colonel Bleck spent 13 years in overseas assignments, including two tours in Vietnam. Among other awards and medals she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1979. She was highly respected by her peers, subordinates and supervisors. She was a soldier and a patriot.
Dotty was the ultimate Army Nurse Corps Officer. I met her during my tour of duty at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY in the mid-1980s. She was my supervisor and mentor. There was no Army Nurse more dedicated to her duty, and to making sure that her subordinates attained the level of professionalism she exemplified. She was not an easy taskmaster!
We happened to meet one afternoon at her apartment swimming pool. Dotty was alone, drifting on her blow-up raft in the deep end as she read a book. I was playing "Marco Polo" with friends. As an Army Brat and daughter of an Airborne Ranger, respect for authority was in my DNA. Someone in my group recognized her as the new supervisor, MY supervisor, at Ireland.
I immediately wanted to slip away....this setting was much too casual for a mere Captain to be in with a LT. Col.. But the game continued, and inevitably, someone hit the ball which promptly landed on LTC. Bleck. I went to retrieve it, fully expecting a lecture about respect. Not a promising start.
As I sheepishly approached her, pretending to be able to swim, Dotty grabbed the ball and threw it back to me. My concerns were laid to rest when she flashed me her wonderful smile and we introduced ourselves.
Over the next couple of years we came to know each other well. I found Dotty to be a kind, compassionate and thoughtful friend. She was exacting, professional at all times on the job, and a terrific mentor. She urged me to attend school with her, and we earned our Master's Degrees together. I will be forever grateful to her for her pushing me to excel. She never cut me any slack. She expected perfection, and she motivated me to deliver.
We were members of the hospital bowling league (I was completely undistinguished in that arena), the best part of which were the Coors we drank and the laughs we had with NCOs and officers.
Dotty had a private side. During my years of serving with her, I'd never known her to personally socialize with anyone. She rarely let her guard down, and I felt privileged to be someone she could talk to.
Dotty never married, although she had a long time friend, James Robert "Jimbo" Cecil {72589461} who rests with her.
Col. Bleck's career reflected well upon herself, The United States Army, and her country.
Dotty was the daughter of Norman and Alice Bleck. She graduated from Delaware Valley Joint High School in 1961. In 1965 she graduated from Roosevelt Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She attended New York University, State of New York. Dotty worked in the emergency room of Roosevelt Hospital from 1965-1969.
In January, 1969 Dotty entered the Army Nurse Corps as a
Second Lieutenant. While in the Army, Dotty graduated from Chaminade University of Hawaii earning her B.S.. While stationed at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY., Dotty graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master's Degree in Education/Community Agency Counseling.
Colonel Bleck spent 13 years in overseas assignments, including two tours in Vietnam. Among other awards and medals she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1979. She was highly respected by her peers, subordinates and supervisors. She was a soldier and a patriot.
Dotty was the ultimate Army Nurse Corps Officer. I met her during my tour of duty at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY in the mid-1980s. She was my supervisor and mentor. There was no Army Nurse more dedicated to her duty, and to making sure that her subordinates attained the level of professionalism she exemplified. She was not an easy taskmaster!
We happened to meet one afternoon at her apartment swimming pool. Dotty was alone, drifting on her blow-up raft in the deep end as she read a book. I was playing "Marco Polo" with friends. As an Army Brat and daughter of an Airborne Ranger, respect for authority was in my DNA. Someone in my group recognized her as the new supervisor, MY supervisor, at Ireland.
I immediately wanted to slip away....this setting was much too casual for a mere Captain to be in with a LT. Col.. But the game continued, and inevitably, someone hit the ball which promptly landed on LTC. Bleck. I went to retrieve it, fully expecting a lecture about respect. Not a promising start.
As I sheepishly approached her, pretending to be able to swim, Dotty grabbed the ball and threw it back to me. My concerns were laid to rest when she flashed me her wonderful smile and we introduced ourselves.
Over the next couple of years we came to know each other well. I found Dotty to be a kind, compassionate and thoughtful friend. She was exacting, professional at all times on the job, and a terrific mentor. She urged me to attend school with her, and we earned our Master's Degrees together. I will be forever grateful to her for her pushing me to excel. She never cut me any slack. She expected perfection, and she motivated me to deliver.
We were members of the hospital bowling league (I was completely undistinguished in that arena), the best part of which were the Coors we drank and the laughs we had with NCOs and officers.
Dotty had a private side. During my years of serving with her, I'd never known her to personally socialize with anyone. She rarely let her guard down, and I felt privileged to be someone she could talk to.
Dotty never married, although she had a long time friend, James Robert "Jimbo" Cecil {72589461} who rests with her.
Col. Bleck's career reflected well upon herself, The United States Army, and her country.
In January, 1969 Dotty entered the Army Nurse Corps as a
Second Lieutenant. While in the Army, Dotty graduated from Chaminade University of Hawaii earning her B.S.. While stationed at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY., Dotty graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master's Degree in Education/Community Agency Counseling.
Colonel Bleck spent 13 years in overseas assignments, including two tours in Vietnam. Among other awards and medals she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1979. She was highly respected by her peers, subordinates and supervisors. She was a soldier and a patriot.
Dotty was the ultimate Army Nurse Corps Officer. I met her during my tour of duty at Ireland Army Hospital at Ft. Knox, KY in the mid-1980s. She was my supervisor and mentor. There was no Army Nurse more dedicated to her duty, and to making sure that her subordinates attained the level of professionalism she exemplified. She was not an easy taskmaster!
We happened to meet one afternoon at her apartment swimming pool. Dotty was alone, drifting on her blow-up raft in the deep end as she read a book. I was playing "Marco Polo" with friends. As an Army Brat and daughter of an Airborne Ranger, respect for authority was in my DNA. Someone in my group recognized her as the new supervisor, MY supervisor, at Ireland.
I immediately wanted to slip away....this setting was much too casual for a mere Captain to be in with a LT. Col.. But the game continued, and inevitably, someone hit the ball which promptly landed on LTC. Bleck. I went to retrieve it, fully expecting a lecture about respect. Not a promising start.
As I sheepishly approached her, pretending to be able to swim, Dotty grabbed the ball and threw it back to me. My concerns were laid to rest when she flashed me her wonderful smile and we introduced ourselves.
Over the next couple of years we came to know each other well. I found Dotty to be a kind, compassionate and thoughtful friend. She was exacting, professional at all times on the job, and a terrific mentor. She urged me to attend school with her, and we earned our Master's Degrees together. I will be forever grateful to her for her pushing me to excel. She never cut me any slack. She expected perfection, and she motivated me to deliver.
We were members of the hospital bowling league (I was completely undistinguished in that arena), the best part of which were the Coors we drank and the laughs we had with NCOs and officers.
Dotty had a private side. During my years of serving with her, I'd never known her to personally socialize with anyone. She rarely let her guard down, and I felt privileged to be someone she could talk to.
Dotty never married, although she had a long time friend, James Robert "Jimbo" Cecil {72589461} who rests with her.
Col. Bleck's career reflected well upon herself, The United States Army, and her country.
Inscription
Colonel, U.S. Army, Vietnam
Gravesite Details
VIETNAM, PERSIAN GULF
