"You Are Needed Now," the posters proclaimed. "Join the Army Nurse Corps." And so they did: Over 59,000 American women signed up to serve their country in the war effort. Some joined expecting to experience the romance and adventure of war in faraway places while working to save lives. Many more quickly learned war's harsh realities -- and that their own lives could also be in danger.
The Army nurses of World War II served in the United States and abroad, in dense jungles, war-torn villages, and on barren ice fields. Many encountered hardships: bombings, crude living conditions, inadequate food. They also experienced the frustration of receiving lesser pay and privileges than their male counterparts as they worked, sometimes around the clock, to treat the wounded while confronting air raids, the threat of invasion, and capture by the enemy.
Nonetheless, in additon to their devotion to saving lives, some of the most important things the nurses brought to their units were courage and cheer. From holiday parties in makeshift hospitals to fudge making and softball games amid the grueling conditions of war, these angels of mercy brought light -- and life -- to the American forces of World War II.

 

This book was recognised in the YA category by the Jefferson Cup.

This book has been graded for interest at 10-14 years.

There are 128 pages in this book. This is a reference book. This book was published 1999 by Simon & Schuster .

Betsy Kuhn, who wanted to write books for children since she was eleven years old, grew up in western Pennsylvania. She became interested in the nurses of World War II from listening to her aunt, June Bossler, and her friend, Alice Weinstein, describe their nursing experiences in England and the Pacific. Since leaving Pennsylvania, Betsy has lived in England, New Mexico, and Connecticut. She now makes her home in Maryland with her husband and their twin sons. She also has written a children's novel, Not Exactly Nashville.

This book has the following chapters:
CONTENTS

TIME LINE

MAP OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA

MAP OF THE PACIFIC THEATER

1941

"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?"

MILDRED IRENE CLARK: "IT'S MANEUVERS"

AN ORDEAL IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE JAPANESE ATTACK

CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH, 1941

THE ARMY NURSE CORPS IN WORLD WAR II

1942

REPORTING FOR DUTY

THE 95TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL: "YOU ARE NEEDED NOW"

AN ORDEAL IN THE PHILIPPINES: SURRENDER

ALICE IN THE PACIFIC: ANTHILLS SIX FEET TALL

THE 48TH SURGICAL HOSPITAL: THE 48TH WADES ASHORE

CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH, 1942

1943

DANGEROUS WATERS, DANGEROUS GROUND

THE 95TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL: WELCOME TO THE WAR

AN ORDEAL IN THE PHILIPPINES: A CAPTIVE EXISTENCE

ALICE IN THE PACIFIC: TWO HELMETS A DAY

A FLIGHT NURSE'S STORY: BEHIND ENEMY LINES

CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH, 1943

1944

"THE RAIN BEATING DOWN, THE GUNS FIRING"

A FLIGHT NURSE'S STORY: A VERY GOOD CHOCOLATE BAR

THE 95TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL: "HELL'S HALF-ACRE"

THE 128TH EVACUATION AND 51ST FIELD HOSPITALS:

D DAY, JUNE 6, 1944

THE 95TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL: BONJOUR, FRANCE!

THE 128TH EVACUATION AND THE 51ST FIELD HOSPITALS:

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

ALICE IN THE PACIFIC: TO TACLOBAN

AN ORDEAL IN THE PHILIPPINES: SLOW HUNGER

CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH, 1944

1945

"A CREDIT TO MY COUNTRY"

AN ORDEAL IN THE PHILIPPINES: FREEDOM

THE 51ST FIELD HOSPITAL: INTO THE LAND OF THE ENEMY

THE 95TH EVACUATION AND 51ST FIELD HOSPITALS:

THE HORROR OF THE CAMPS

ALICE IN THE PACIFIC: THE WAR'S NOT OVER YET

NOW THAT IT'S OVER

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ENDNOTES

INDEX