Julie Y. (naboo) reviewed on + 28 more book reviews
I have read many books by this author, but this one will definitely have a lasting impact.Â
Frances aka "Frankie" McGrath's brother Finley enlists in the Navy along with his best friend Joseph Ryerson Walsh aka "Rye" and are deployed to Vietnam. Before leaving, Frankie's parents have a going away party. Frankie spends time in her dad's office looking at the hero's wall and tells Rye that there are only men on the wall who "serve their country". Rye tells her, "Women can be heroes".Â
Fankie decides to serve her country by joining the The Army Nurse Corps and thus, serve a tour in Vietnam. Unfortunately, when she tells her parents they are absolutely livid! Moreover, on that exact same day, all three of them find out that Finley has been killed in action.Â
Frankie ends up being assigned to the Thirty-Six Evac Hospital and meets Ethel Flint, ER from Virginia, and Barb Johnson, surgical nurse from Georgia. Since Frankie has no clinical experience and obtained her nursing degree from some catholic school, she is assigned to the night shift at the neurology ward. All of the patients are brain-damaged and are waiting to see a neurologist at the Third Field Hospital.Â
Several weeks later, Frankie is then transferred to the OR. As a way to cope with the stress and trauma of working in a field hospital, she starts smoking and drinking. Furthermore, she meets Captain Jamison Callahan, aka "Jamie", a talented doctor and field surgeon, who develops romantic feelings for Frankie, but she does not reciprocate because he is married.Â
Later on, Jamie's helicopter is hit by enemy fire, and he is suffering from left leg amputation, head trauma, and a dangerous chest injury. As he is transported to the hospital via helicopter, his heart stops, leading Frankie to believe he is dead.Â
Soon after, Frankie is transferred to the Seventy-First Evac in Pleiku near the Cambodia border and heavy fighting. As a result, Barb puts in for a transfer to join her. While in Pleiku, Frankie takes an R and R break in Saigon and runs into Rye. Rye lies to Frankie about being married, and the two of them begin an intimate relationship.Â
When her first tour ends in March 1968 she decides to do another tour because she feels she is still needed and wants to continue helping. She finally returns to California in March 1969.Â
After returning from Vietnam, Frankie faces societal rejection, the psychological impact of the war, and the lack of governmental support for female veterans, leading to a difficult readjustment to civilian life. She struggles with PTSD and addiction, ultimately finding healing and purpose through therapy, reconnecting with old friends, and creating The Last Best Place, a haven for women veterans.Â
Frances aka "Frankie" McGrath's brother Finley enlists in the Navy along with his best friend Joseph Ryerson Walsh aka "Rye" and are deployed to Vietnam. Before leaving, Frankie's parents have a going away party. Frankie spends time in her dad's office looking at the hero's wall and tells Rye that there are only men on the wall who "serve their country". Rye tells her, "Women can be heroes".Â
Fankie decides to serve her country by joining the The Army Nurse Corps and thus, serve a tour in Vietnam. Unfortunately, when she tells her parents they are absolutely livid! Moreover, on that exact same day, all three of them find out that Finley has been killed in action.Â
Frankie ends up being assigned to the Thirty-Six Evac Hospital and meets Ethel Flint, ER from Virginia, and Barb Johnson, surgical nurse from Georgia. Since Frankie has no clinical experience and obtained her nursing degree from some catholic school, she is assigned to the night shift at the neurology ward. All of the patients are brain-damaged and are waiting to see a neurologist at the Third Field Hospital.Â
Several weeks later, Frankie is then transferred to the OR. As a way to cope with the stress and trauma of working in a field hospital, she starts smoking and drinking. Furthermore, she meets Captain Jamison Callahan, aka "Jamie", a talented doctor and field surgeon, who develops romantic feelings for Frankie, but she does not reciprocate because he is married.Â
Later on, Jamie's helicopter is hit by enemy fire, and he is suffering from left leg amputation, head trauma, and a dangerous chest injury. As he is transported to the hospital via helicopter, his heart stops, leading Frankie to believe he is dead.Â
Soon after, Frankie is transferred to the Seventy-First Evac in Pleiku near the Cambodia border and heavy fighting. As a result, Barb puts in for a transfer to join her. While in Pleiku, Frankie takes an R and R break in Saigon and runs into Rye. Rye lies to Frankie about being married, and the two of them begin an intimate relationship.Â
When her first tour ends in March 1968 she decides to do another tour because she feels she is still needed and wants to continue helping. She finally returns to California in March 1969.Â
After returning from Vietnam, Frankie faces societal rejection, the psychological impact of the war, and the lack of governmental support for female veterans, leading to a difficult readjustment to civilian life. She struggles with PTSD and addiction, ultimately finding healing and purpose through therapy, reconnecting with old friends, and creating The Last Best Place, a haven for women veterans.Â
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