"The Women" is another fantastic and well-researched novel by Kristin Hannah, telling the story of a young twenty-year-old nursing student who joins the Army Nurse Corps and heads to Vietnam in 1965. We follow Frankie's life and her relationships, including those with her family and friends, which have helped shape her life. This story serves as a history lesson for so many who aren't familiar with the atrocities of this war and the controversy back home in the States. It also reveals the struggle of all the courageous men and women who served to treat the wounded under terrible conditions, only to be spat on when they returned home. The phrase "no women served in Vietnam" may have been overused a bit, but I'm sure that was said by many politicians, not knowing how to handle the lack of support for that war. Speaking of lack of support, these women returning home didn't have any support, and many suffered from PTSD. It is appalling but not surprising for those times.
While I was a very young girl, I remember the later years that were covered in this book. I, too, had an MIA bracelet, so hearing about them again brought back so many memories of this time. I recently discovered the details of the MIA Air Force pilot on my bracelet. Unfortunately, his plane was shot down by a rocket; he ejected and then landed south of Dong Lam. He died and was buried there, although his remains were recovered and returned to his family many years later.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down. As I said, it was another great read by Kristin Hannah, and I can't wait for her next one.