Gail Norma Liberty

Colonel Gail N. Liberty, age 68, of San Antonio, Texas died on September 18, 2006 at Air Force Village I Health Care Center. She was born in Rochester, NH on February 18, 1938, the daughter of Frederick P. and Margaret Follansbee Liberty.

Her family moved to Auburn, ME in 1945. She graduated from Edward Little High School as Valedictorian of the class of 1956. She continued her education at the New England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston, becoming a registered nurse in 1959.

In 1960, Col. Liberty enlisted as a nurse in the Air Force and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She later attended the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a BS in nursing, graduating magna cum laude. In the mid 1970's she received a master's degree from the Arizona State University. She then attained the designation of Nurse Practitioner and Primary Care Physician's Assistant.

Col. Liberty served as an Air Force Nurse Practitioner and Physician's Assistant at various bases in the US and overseas. In 1965 she started a two year tour of duty as a flight nurse, serving as a member of the medical crew on aero medical evacuation flights from Vietnam to hospitals in Japan, The Philippines, Hawaii and the United States.

She received many awards and commendations during her twenty five year career: Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters and other professional commendations.

During the early years of her Air Force career, Col. Liberty took up competitive pistol shooting. She won 22 national and international medals, including national championship at Camp Perry, and tied for first at the International matches in Cairo, Egypt. She was inducted into both the Lewiston-Auburn Sports Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and was also recognized twice as Air Force Athlete of the year. In 1988 Col. Liberty was honored as San Antonio Outstanding Woman in Sports.

She was predeceased by her parents, Frederick P. and Margaret Liberty. She is survived by two brothers, Frederick of Auburn, Maine and Normand and his wife Judy of Yarmouth, Maine. A nephew Frederick lives in Olympia Washington. Her niece Lisa Liberty Becker and her husband Robert and their children True and Tate live in Concord, Mass.