星空视频

Lynne Dunn

The Women by Kristin Hannah provoked a crisis of conscience for me. It is a work of fiction based on fact and tells the story of a young American woman who served as a nurse in the Vietnam War. She returned to a country that denied any knowledge or recognition of her service and resulting problems. The heroine, Frankie, impulsively and idealistically joins the Army, after completing her nursing training. 

The story relates the horrifying reality of war, as well as the value of friendships formed with other females in comparable situations. It also deals with the romances and heartbreak endured during the heroine鈥檚 time in the war-torn country. The women witnessed death and horrendous injuries, and faced danger on a daily basis. They saved lives and provided comfort to the injured and to the dying. 

When Frankie returned to the United States, she returned to a family ashamed of her service and to a country which denied the existence of women in the war zone. They were not supplied with the medical and psychological support that was made available to male veterans, and mostly relied on the friendships formed in Vietnam with women who had endured the same trauma. 

This is a story of friendship, love, heartbreak, idealism and trauma. It is not just a story of Frankie, but also of the estimated 10,000 women who served, mainly as nurses but also in other medical, clerical, and other military fields. Civilian women, too, played their part, in providing assistance and support. 

This novel led me to investigate the treatment of Australian women veterans and civilians upon their return from Vietnam. There were 150 military and 200 volunteer nurses who fought long and hard for recognition and support. The facts highlighted in this story made me laugh and cry – and then cheer. It left a lasting impression on this reader.