Caldera named Greene County’s 2026 Veteran of the Year
Published on:
October 8, 2026
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Barbara Caldera served as an emergency room nurse in Vietnam and later as administrator of Greene County Family Planning. Photos contributed.
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CATSKILL―Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Barbara Caldera has been named Greene County’s 2026 Veteran of the Year, the Greene County Veterans Service Agency and Honor A Veteran Committee announced Thursday.
Caldera, a lifelong county resident who resides in Earlton, began her military career in 1966 at age 19 through the Army Student Nurse Program.
In 1968, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant and deployed to Vietnam, where she served as an emergency room nurse with the 312th Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai. She returned home to Fort McArthur Army Hospital in 1969, where she remained until transitioning to the Inactive Reserves in 1972.
In 1980, Caldera returned to the Active Army Reserve and continued her military career until retiring in 2000 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Her military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Following her military career, Caldera continued her service to the community as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. She served with Greene County Public Health as administrator of Greene County Family Planning, completing 20 years of service with the county before retiring in 2009.
Her commitment to service continued in retirement. Caldera volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Community Hospice in both New York and Florida. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she again assisted Public Health, volunteering with contact tracing, testing, vaccination clinics, and other response efforts.
Caldera will be honored during the Greene County Honor A Veteran Ceremony on Saturday, November 7 at 10 a.m. at the Historic Catskill Point. The ceremony is open to the public and all are invited.
