As someone who is already a fan of books by New York Times best-selling author Kristin Hannah, I couldn’t wait for her newest release, The Women. It’s a story about the war in Vietnam during the late sixties and early seventies when thousands of people were dying for a dubious cause. Sadly, no one acknowledged or appreciated the contribution made by the women at that time, including more than ten thousand military nurses, as well as Red Cross workers, and volunteers who served during the fighting.

Hannah’s book is about a fictional army nurse called Frances (Frankie) McGrath. She came from a privileged California background and enjoyed all the benefits of being born as part of the boomer generation that followed WW2. Frankie’s beloved brother Finley chose to do his patriotic duty by joining the Navy. Life for the McGrath family took a dramatic turn when he was killed in Vietnam.

This tragic loss spurred Frankie to use her nursing degree and skills for a seemingly higher cause by joining the army as a combat nurse in Vietnam. As a twenty-year-old graduate, she did not possess the mandatory two years of hospital experience required by the Navy so she volunteered for the Army. Following basic training, she landed in Saigon, just in time for the escalation of the war.

I must confess that when I first started reading The Women I was not hooked. The first chapter read like a romance novel. Things picked up in the second chapter when Frankie arrived in Vietnam but it was like I was rewatching episodes of M*A*S*H. The point I would like to make here is, do not assume the whole book is like the beginning. The story grew some real teeth about a third of the way in. While her characters may seem stereotypical and some of the plot lines are predictable, she is describing the way things were at that time. We lived under a different social and moral code in the late sixties and early seventies.

After two years in combat zones repairing and saying goodbye to broken minds and bodies, Frankie returns home. She’s shocked and confused by the hostile reception given to returning veterans. Instead of receiving a hero’s welcome like The Greatest Generation did after World War 2, Vietnam vets were spat upon, insulted, ignored, and made to feel ashamed that they had offered up their lives in service to their country.

The summer of love (1967) was a turning point in our lives. As the war in Vietnam escalated and the years went on, our generation became increasingly disillusioned with how our leaders were lying to the population and trivializing the lives of young people who marched, burned draft cards, escaped to Canada, and protested to try to end the carnage.

The Women is a heartbreaking story with brief moments of redemption. Once you get into it you will not be able to put this book down. Boomers in particular will relate to the numerous touchstones of our generation—the music, the marches, the protests, the fashions, the news stories, and the fallout. As you read, your mind will replay all the memorable songs we recognize and remember that were immortalized in the soundtrack from the movie Good Morning Vietnam.

Like all veterans, Frankie becomes a different person during her two consecutive tours of duty in Vietnam. She experiences the joys, the heartbreak, the vices, and the rewards. She grows professionally and personally but like everyone who went there, there is underlying permanent damage.

The issues covered in this book are tragic. The United States is still living with the fallout—homeless vets, permanently damaged minds and bodies, and a lack of respect and too-late recognition for their sacrifices. The nurses and other non-combat forces in battle also suffered for their service.

As old men continue to drag the helpless civilians of various countries into current wars we are reminded of the devastation and horror of war for innocent people. The lies, the misinformation, the dubious causes, and the lack of stomach for war are ignored by those in power. Have they learned nothing from history?

I highly recommend The Women by Kristin Hannah. Once you engage with the story, you will be hooked and will not want to put it down. This book is also a testament to the power of female friendships, and a must-read not just for baby boomers, but for everyone.

If you are unable to obtain The Women by Kristin Hannah at your local bookstore or library, click on this link and have it delivered directly to your door from Amazon. (Disclosure: I may receive a teeny, tiny commission. Thank you.)