Heroic Women in War - Four Incredible Stories

Contributed by Lissa Clark, Hive Overland Park

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From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the deserts of Kuwait, women have been serving in the military in one form or another for more than 200 years. They have had to overcome decades of obstacles to get to where they are today: serving in greater numbers, in combat roles and in leadership positions all around the world.

WWII created an unprecedented need for service members. As more than 16 million Americans stepped up to serve on the front lines – the majority of those being men – the U.S. military was left with many non-combat roles that needed to be filled. So, the women of the United States stepped up too, and for the first time in history, all branches of the military enlisted women in their ranks. In total, nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform during World War II.

This selection of books, by Lissa Clark, Hive member and retired nurse, highlights the efforts of women in war; as nurses, mechanics, secretaries, and snipers! These are heroic women in war!

The Girls of Atomic City  by Denise Kiernan   

Imagine interviewing for a job, being told to pack a bag, go to the train station, and get on a train to an unknown destination! And in addition, tell no one where you are going or when you’ll be back! This book tells the story of the women of Oakridge, Tennessee; a top-secret town created for the sole purpose of the Manhattan Project.  The plutonium enrichment plant, known as The Clinton Engineer Works, provided fuel for the atomic bombs that ended the war in the Pacific.  It was so secret, no one in town knew others’ tasks or what the ultimate outcome was.  They only knew their jobs were absolutely critical for the war effort; and talking about it with others was treason. The women's work varied from clerical tasks to operating newly-invented, complicated machinery never seen before.

This story is the result of interviews with many of these women recruited for the Manhattan project. The hastily constructed barracks and work spaces, along with the required secrecy and limited small talk, led to  feelings of loneliness and isolation.  Recognizing this problem, the workers created their own social microcosm with a dance hall, a movie theater, a band, gardens, schools, quilting bees, and art classes. 

The Girls of Atomic City celebrates the ability of people to create beauty, community, and belonging within the constraints of  absolute secrecy. It also explores the emotions of the residents when the purpose of all their sacrifices was revealed. It took true patriotism and love of country to commit to the project.  

Although I had heard of the Manhattan Project, I never knew the extent, geographically, or the existence of Oakridge and the role it played. Interesting reading for the Googlers out there!

 And If I Perish: Frontline US Army Nurses in WWII  by Evelyn Monahan  

Through interviews and memoirs, the author highlights the bravery and significance of the nurses in the US Army.  It tells the first-hand stories of several nurses and the perils of setting up field hospitals on the frontlines; traveling with troops and field surgeries in various campaigns in Italy, North Africa, and the Pacific.  Forced to use their ingenuity, many new and complex medical procedures were developed without traditional supplies or equipment.  Some women were tasked with so much responsibility they found it difficult to transition back to nursing in the States.

My great-aunt Mil was an army RN in the Pacific during the war.  She served in the medical-surgical area but transitioned to Labor and Delivery when she came home because of the trauma in the war.  One thing she wished she hadn’t done while there was - start smoking.  It became a lifelong habit she couldn’t kick because of its calming effects on her “nerves.” Epilogue: Aunt Mil delivered me!       

Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn    

This book tells the story of the real-life Lyudmila (Mila) Pavlichenko, a serious history student and librarian in Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s.  She becomes a teen mother and is abandoned by the father.  As the years go by and Nazi Germany is threatening war, Mila enlists in the Russian army, where her talent for marksmanship is noted.  Mila becomes a Soviet sniper who is so good at her job she is given the nickname “Lady Death,”  credited with killing over 300 Nazis. 

Mila is sent to the US with a contingent of Russian war heroes to solicit American support for the Russian front. Many interesting events occur, including an assassination plot and an unlikely (but real!) friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt.  This book follows Mila back and forth through time examining her perseverance despite social expectations of women, patriotism, and bravery.  It examines World War II from a Russian perspective.

The Women- Kristin Hannah  

Set in the turmoil of the 60’s and the Vietnam War, The Women follows Frankie, a young nurse who is forever changed by the hardships of becoming an army combat surgical nurse. She makes lifelong friends and loses others. Her experiences during the war shape her future as she transitions to civilian life.

As an illness, PTSD is in its early days as an accepted diagnosis and Frankie must endure the judgment and misunderstanding of friends, family, and society to heal.  This book explores the anti-war atmosphere in the US at the time and the negative treatment veterans experienced. As always, Hannah’s attention to historical detail, culture, and character development are spot-on. 

This book is an important examination of the valued role nurses played in the Vietnam war; worthy of respect and awe.  It’s a depiction of every-day people doing extraordinary things.  In my career as a nurse, I have had the honor of meeting and being mentored by several exceptional Vietnam-era nurses.  I will always remember my valued colleague Mary who could not speak of her time as a Navy Corps nurse without choking up when speaking of “my boys.”

Let us know your favorite read in the comments.