Nurses have always been a part of war - Florence Nightingale and her lamp, and Clara Barton - "The Angel of the Battlefield" nursed soldiers in the Crimean abd Civil wars respectively. So why, when Frankie Mcgrath, heroine of Kristen Hannah's novel The Women, tries to talk about her War trauma, she's told "there were no women in vietnam"? The Women is Frankie's story as much as it is the story of all Army nurses who stitch blown apart soldiers back together. Frankie hetrself is blown apart after her Vietnam experience. But time, love and friendship heal Frankie.
Frances McGrath is a newly mentioned nurse when her beloved brother ships out. Upon his death she decides to honor his memory by becoming a war nurse. Sheltered by her family's wealth and privilege, Vietnam opens Frankie's eyes to life and love. When she returns home she finds a country angry at her for serving. Frankie experiences flashbacks and exhibits war related trauma, which her parents find embarrassing, and others just can't understand. Frankie relies on her friendship with Barb and Ethel, her fellow combat nurses. That friendship keeps Frankie strong. There WERE women in Vietnam. They did battle with keeping soldiers alive to tell their stories. Thank a vet for their service. Thank nurses for theirs too. They were there.
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