In 1965, Frances “Frankie” McGrath decides to serve her country by joining the Vietnam War as a nurse. The story follows her as she learns to work in military hospitals, deal with “mass casualty” events, survive mortar attacks, face anti-Vietnam protestors, suffer from PTSD, and navigate complicated romances. For the most part, it’s a grisly, heart-breaking, and moving story. The story overstays its welcome a bit towards the very end, but overall, it’s a powerful and worthwhile read.
The book feels well-researched, and does a great job of capturing a fascinating and turbulent time in history. The transition from the conservative 50s to the wild-and-free 60s; the changing role of women in the workplace and the military; the war, and the anti-war protests. The scenes in the military hospital are brutal, but all the more so when contrasted with the disgraceful way the country treated veterans when they came home (often with physical injuries and PTSD). I could feel Frankie’s anguish each time she’s told “there were no women in Vietnam.”
The book does a good job of navigating a difficult question: can you protest a war while still respecting the soldiers who were sent to fight it? It also features terrific characters; we all need friends like Ethel and Barb. The only thing I didn’t like were the romances later in the book (the ones after the war). They were not unique or interesting, especially compared to the weighty topics the rest of the book deals with, and they made the story drag towards the end. Fortunately, the book eventually gets past them, and the conclusion is satisfying and powerful.
