At a party celebrating her brother Finley being shipped overseas to fight in Vietnam, Frances McGarth’s eyes are opened to the possibility of women as heroes. Found standing in front of her father’s coveted hero’s wall by Rye Walsh, Finely’s friend, who inspires her to serve. Frances proceeds to volunteer as a nurse, the only way women are allowed to participate in combat. Hoping she’d be able to see her brother and be the first female addition to the wall, adorned with her ancestors who served in various battles. Once there Frances finds out the infirmary is fraught with the trauma and danger. Leaving her in do or die situations.
It’s in Vietnam where she meets life long best friends Barbara Johnson & Ethel Flint, after being put through the wringer. Women who become family. Pulling her out of the trenches of despair as she battles ptsd, heartbreak, deception, betrayal, drug addiction and self-harm. Reacclimatizing to life back home is difficult when society invalidates the role women played in the war, denying their existent there altogether, and degrades veterans upon re-entry. A harrowing, bittersweet must read. To everyone who participated after being coerced by the United States Government and discarded, thank you for your service. Via: Amazon
