André, Valerie (1922–)

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André, Valerie (1922–)

French military physician. Name variations: Andre. Born Valerie Marie André in Strasbourg, France, April 21, 1922; dau. of Philibert André (professor at Strasbourg Lycée); m. Alexis Santini, 1963.

After receiving a medical doctorate, served in Vietnam; became a helicopter pilot and flew over 150 medical missions; named commanding officer of helicopter pilots at the Gialam air base in Tonkin province; became a lieutenant-colonel in the Medical Corps (1965); achieved rank of colonel (1970), then Médecin général (1976), thus becoming a general officer—the 1st female general in the history of France; received equivalency of the rank and prerogatives of a major general (1976); became a founding member of the French National Air and Space Academy (1983); received many awards.

See also Women in World History.