I recently read The Women (Kristen Hannah), which chronicles a fictional Army nurse before, during and after tours in Vietnam. I have been haunted by reminders that most Americans did not realize there were women risking their lives to support the injured over there. I have been haunted by the lasting physical and emotional scars of war. I wonder why their stories have not been shared? I wonder how these women are doing now?
I also reflected on The Code Girls (Munzy) which chronicles the real lies of young women who were recruited for the meticulous work of code-breaking which shortened WWII. They were sworn to secrecy and their stories were silenced for more than 70 years. I wonder about the frustration that decades of silence caused? I wonder about the messages they decoded and the information they buried? I now suspect my Aunt was one of them after piecing her WAC timeline and her discharge papers. But, I will never know for sure.
Perhaps,"we have come a long way" as women now serve with men rather than behind them? I wonder about the impact of more women in "definitive" and "leadership" roles?
4 comments:
The Women is next on my list, and I share many of your wonders about progress or lack of it. If you haven't already read it, The Frozen River is a powerful book to read with similar questions in mind.
Anita, I saw The Women in a book store just today. So now, after reading this, I've added it to my TBR list. How fascinating that your aunt was a WAC. Is there any way to learn more about her history? Thank you for speaking up about the women who also gave their lives and sometimes emotional and physical health to help our country during times of war (and everyday defense, as well).
I have The Women on my hold list at the library—73rd in line. In the last few months, I've read Frozen River (as Melanie says, well worth your time to add depth to women's ignored history), but also Alice McDermott's book Absolution which tackles Viet Nam and the wives of servicemen, layered and thought-provoking. In a different way the role of silenced history plays, Tommy Orange explores inherited trauma in his latest, Wandering Stars; he's always worth reading.
I look forward to reading this book. My daughter read Frozen River and enjoyed it. I'm on the library holds list for it. Holding off on The Women until our book club reads it.It's on our schedule for this year. I loved the BBC program about the women who were codebreakers in WW II. I can't remember the title, but it was good!
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