Fiction writer Kristen Hannah has somehow transitioned into the writer that everyone either loves or loves to hate. Her name frequently gets bandied about in social media book groups and I’m always shocked at how combative her haters are and how overzealous her supporters can be.
Personally, I like her more recent works but that’s not a hill I’ll die on. Meanwhile, I despise Stephen King but would never dream of going to a discussion about how great he is to rain on someone’s parade.
That’s probably bordering on unAmerican these days but, there, I said it. Discouraging others from embracing what they like isn’t my thing. I clearly don’t know how the internet works.
This has been on my mind since I finished reading Hannah’s new historic fiction book The Women earlier this month.
It’s about a young nurse who enlists in the Army to serve in Vietnam. She serves two tours before coming home a changed person with PTSD. I won’t tell you much because I don’t want to spoil the story for you but I will tell you some things that are general facts about Vietnam.
Her time in country was brutal. The hours and the devastation of endless waves of soldiers and civilians ripped limb from limb are described in this book. The horrifying and utter loss of it all was experienced by soldiers and the doctors, nurses and camp support staff there to help them.
Then, these veterans returned home to an ungrateful nation that was fighting its own war in the media and in protests across the country. They were spat upon, called unspeakable names and denied basic services. The federal government didn’t even consider these women nurses who served bravely in dangerous conditions to be veterans.
Yet, we don’t talk about these things enough or very well. We have generations of people living in this country today who know none of this and I have witnessed plenty of them lately showing their ignorance in online conversations about this book.
They don’t believe a combat nurse would be relegated to changing bedpans and taking temperatures in hospitals back home. They don’t know that women of that era couldn’t get a bank loan without a signature from her husband or dad. They don’t understand any of it or how our activities at the ballot box today can either advance women’s rights or turn back the clock decades at a time.
They don’t understand how those women were treated or how they suffered because their own government didn’t recognize their service.
I was in a Barnes and Noble recently and found just three books about Vietnam on the shelves. There was another one about President Johnson’s mucking up of the war but it really was about the man and his strategies rather than the people fighting under his leadership. Three books.
The section on feminism and women’s issues was pretty scrawny too.
It was downright sad.
Kristen Hannah has written some good books and some not-so-good books throughout her career. In this book, I found a couple of mistakes that should be attributed to her editors. The book stretches on a little too long. It’s like she got stuck in a loop and got herself lost on the way to the end. The main character isn’t the most likable.
But I’m happy to recommend this book and am glad that it exists. After all, with her enormous bestselling reputation, she has a platform to reach a breathtaking amount of people.
This story needs told and it needs heard. We still have plenty of Vietnam veterans living in this country today who deserve our sincere thanks and apologies and who might find some small comfort in knowing that history will judge them differently than their peers did.
When you read this book, check out the list of recommended reading in the back. Not a fan of fiction writing? Ken Burns did a fantastic documentary about Vietnam you might want to check out.
Yes, there are more and probably better ways to learn about Vietnam. This is one avenue and a darn good one if you want to learn the human side of war. The Women is available for purchase in hardback and audiobook right now. Your local library probably has a copy too. Give it a chance!
Do you know the name William H. Pitsenbarger? He’s the young guy pictured above, the good looking kid who looks like he’s barely old enough to vote. If you don’t know about him you should because his is an inspiring story of selflessness and heroism.
Anyone who would wave off a chopper to safety in favor of staying with a unit that was pinned down and in grave danger doesn’t do that sort of thing to have their picture in a museum. But having a display dedicated to his actions is a reminder of the brave sacrifices made by countless young men in Vietnam. It’s a poignant reminder that life isn’t fair and that young men, even the brave and strong, too often don’t come home from war.