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serving, particularly with fellow basic training private retired Major Andrea Hoadley Gardner, and the nurse who patched her up that day after she was hit by the IED, Retired Air Force Major Lori Wichman. To this day, the three get together often, and the camaraderie helps.
Hansen enrolled with the VA in Muskogee in 2018, eventually moving to Stillwater. In May 2022, she graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’ s in biochemistry. Now, she’ s gone from fighting for her country to fighting for a cure for cancer as a third-year Ph. D. student studying microbiol- ogy and molecular genetics at OSU.
“ My job was very difficult at times, but if I had been asked to continue to do it, I would have 100 percent,” Hansen said.“ I would have stayed in as long as they asked me to. … I was hired to do a job, and
SwOk that’ s what I did.”
STORY BY: JESSICA MARSHALL Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Autumn, left, in Army Basic Combat Training with her best friend, Andrea Hoadley Gardner.
Caa to reserve your pet’ s spot today!
Complimentary chauuer service is available from baker animal clinic
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