Lorinda Anna Blair Etheridge was a dedicated Union nurse and vivandière who served during the American Civil War. Born Lorinda Anna Blair in Wayne County, Michigan, in 1839, she spent her early life in her home state. In 1860, she married her first husband, James Etheridge. Her initial desire to pursue nursing was deeply personal, stemming from the time she spent caring for her father prior to his death. Before the outbreak of the war, she worked in a hospital that suffered from a poor reputation for patient care, where she actively attempted to improve the conditions and treatment of those admitted.
With the onset of the American Civil War, Etheridge chose to enlist in the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, serving her country as both a nurse and a vivandière. Her courageous service on the battlefield and in military hospitals earned her significant distinction; she was one of only two women to be awarded the Kearny Cross for her efforts. Etheridge passed away in 1913, leaving behind a legacy of military medical service. In recognition of her historic contributions, she was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2010.