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BEDPAN COMMANDO: The Story of a Combat Nurse During World War II
Young, confident and energetic, Lieutenant Wandrey climbed the gangplank of the SS Santa Elena bound for the battlefields of North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.
From her diary, notes and letters, live with her the life of a surgical nurse in a Field Hospital, often operating within the sound of gunfire. Feel with her the despair and infinite sadness as she cares for and comforts the wounded soldiers. Empathize with her agonized cry from the horrors of Allach and Dachau, "Where are you God?"
June Wandrey earned eight major battle stars for campaigns in Anzio, Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.
From her diary, notes and letters, live with her the life of a surgical nurse in a Field Hospital, often operating within the sound of gunfire. Feel with her the despair and infinite sadness as she cares for and comforts the wounded soldiers. Empathize with her agonized cry from the horrors of Allach and Dachau, "Where are you God?"
June Wandrey earned eight major battle stars for campaigns in Anzio, Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 5, 2010
June Wandry's Bedpan Commando offers the reader a lighthearted look at the life of an Army nurse during WWII. Her narrative focuses on the hardships a woman faced when living with men in a war zone, she rarely mentions the horrors she must have seen. This is due to the fact that the book is a collection of her letters home, and she probably censored herself to spare her family the worry, which makes the few occasions when she does share the human cost of war with them all the more poignant. Overall Wandry's collection is a realistic portrait of the hardships faced by those heroic nurses.
Due to it's inclusion in a recent WWII documentary, used prices for this book have unfortunately skyrocketed, and unless you own a Kindle, you're unlikely to find a good copy for under $70, most are going for over $100.
Due to it's inclusion in a recent WWII documentary, used prices for this book have unfortunately skyrocketed, and unless you own a Kindle, you're unlikely to find a good copy for under $70, most are going for over $100.
January 8, 2010
Glimpse into a part of WWII that is seldom seen. I watched WWII in HD on the History Channel and June's book was one that was quoted often. She was a nurse who served overseas during the war for 36 months going from Africa, through Sicily, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, back to Germany, and back to France before finally coming home in Oct of 1945. The life of a field nurse was nothing like what we see in MASH. As a former history teacher, I'm very glad I found and read this book.
May 5, 2016
June Wandrey is one of those rare individuals that you might be lucky enough to meet in a lifetime. Unapologetic and politically incorrect, she wore her heart on her sleeve, likely since the time she could walk.
Her collection of letters is the perfect insight into the horrors of war. As a fellow nurse, I could identify with her frustration, though I could not begin to appreciate the exhausting pace and privation she endured. I am so pleased that this was not edited to death by some slick publisher. The daily grind, the sameness of her terrible existence, the constant exhaustion and fear and anxiety is perfectly captured in the often mundane detail.
Though she did not dwell on such things, the humiliation and prejudice she suffered by being an intelligent, free-thinking, independent and beautiful woman was evident, and shame on those who did not appreciate her.
There is a love story here as well. The complete adoration she enjoyed by so many fellow soldiers and patients is evidence that June Wandrey was, as so many nurses in war, more than an able caregiver. She reminded those who touched her life the meaning of love in a place where such a concept is often forced into the furthest recesses of the mind.
This has been one of the most entertaining and enlightening books I've read in a long time. I wish I could have known her.
Her collection of letters is the perfect insight into the horrors of war. As a fellow nurse, I could identify with her frustration, though I could not begin to appreciate the exhausting pace and privation she endured. I am so pleased that this was not edited to death by some slick publisher. The daily grind, the sameness of her terrible existence, the constant exhaustion and fear and anxiety is perfectly captured in the often mundane detail.
Though she did not dwell on such things, the humiliation and prejudice she suffered by being an intelligent, free-thinking, independent and beautiful woman was evident, and shame on those who did not appreciate her.
There is a love story here as well. The complete adoration she enjoyed by so many fellow soldiers and patients is evidence that June Wandrey was, as so many nurses in war, more than an able caregiver. She reminded those who touched her life the meaning of love in a place where such a concept is often forced into the furthest recesses of the mind.
This has been one of the most entertaining and enlightening books I've read in a long time. I wish I could have known her.
March 23, 2010
This collection of letters and diary entries is a refreshing read on WWII. Most WWII books available focus on battles, strategies, or the atrocities that took place. However, June Wandrey's book centers on the everyday life of a nurse who lived near the front from Northern Africa all the way into Germany. Wandrey speaks mostly of her living conditions and quest for any sort of comfort from food, clothing, sleeping arrangements, or socializing. It's amazing to hear her struggle to meet basic needs and how little she complains. Wandrey speaks little of the horrors she must've seen, but that's what makes this book so great. Wandrey keeps the reader interested throughout the entire book without having to resort to any shock value. Although they are very different stories, Bedpan Commando gives me the same feeling I get when I read The Diary of Anne Frank. Without talking about battles and politics, the reader gets to see a side of the war that is rare, emotional, and more human.
January 30, 2014
If you are into World War II and happen to be a nurse this book will bring you back to the roots of why you care for each person you come across. Against all odds this woman remains so courageous. I commend her daughter for putting this book together. I would hold my head high knowing what a strong influence my mother was.
February 1, 2017
** 3 1/2 - 4 stars ** I first discovered WWII Army Nurse June Wandrey's story on the History Channel's WWII in HD. It is a story of one woman's firsthand account of what military field hospital nurses endured during the war. Most of the book is in the form of letters Wandrey mailed home from Europe. The reader gets the distinct impression of what the women experienced, from exposure to bombings & shellings, to the everyday deprivations of food, warmth, and hygienic necessities. After reading it, I was left with further proof of the enduring spirit and courageous fortitude that was required by the Greatest Generation.
War is most often told from the perspective of men, and when dissecting the Second World War, women's stories are often relegated to the tales from the home front. It was moving to read a woman's perspective from the battlefront. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a glimpse into the past; a past worth admiring; a past worth remembering.
War is most often told from the perspective of men, and when dissecting the Second World War, women's stories are often relegated to the tales from the home front. It was moving to read a woman's perspective from the battlefront. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a glimpse into the past; a past worth admiring; a past worth remembering.
September 14, 2021
I didn't think I would enjoy this book, but it was great.
July 30, 2012
I cry easily so I was worried that this would be too emotional of a story for me to enjoy, but she is one of the people featured in the WW11 documentary on the History channel so I was interested. Late in the book was the only time that she got detailed in personally dealing with some patients and it became emotional. It has interesting details about general life as a nurse and even some humor. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed it.
April 20, 2010
An eye opening look at the days and life of a combat nurse in WWII. The unsung heros of the war. We had a family friend who proudly displayed her dress uniform from her time in Europe and how I wish she were still alive to tell the tale.
September 11, 2011
Interesting story about WWII nurse. Not enough depth or emotion. Tried to be flip and funny and sometimes seemed inappropriate.
January 19, 2012
Love this woman!
December 30, 2012
Unimaginable the conditions in which the nurses worked in to serve there country.
Want to read
March 25, 2013it was a great research help
April 14, 2013
Wow! The things they went through.
December 23, 2014
Detailed and personal view of a combat nurse.
June 29, 2023
June Wandrey was a surgical nurse from Wisconsin. She was working at the Mayo Clinic but volunteered for military service. She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and joined the Army. He story begins in March of 1943 at Fort Custer, Michigan when her Medical Unit was notified to report to New Jersey for deployment overseas. Her story unfolds in a combination of almost daily diary and letters to and from home and others. They deployed to Africa and landed as she writes in her letters, "Somewhere in Africa." June reports on the living conditions, the action around her and the operations of the hospital in which she works. This scenario continues throughout the book as her unit moves from Africa to Sicily, mainland Italy and then with the Southern France invasion force. She writes all through France and into Germany until her return to the US in October 1945. Her unit, which she never clearly identifies, serves close to the front in support of the fighting divisions. I think it was a Field Hospital. She worked long hours and in very trying conditions - weather, shelled, strafed and bombed, short of supplies, food and equipment. Often they slept without tents. She has good and bad to say about the people she worked for, with and met along the way. She describes interaction with local inhabitants of the countries and areas in which she served. This book is truly a glimpse into the daily life of a combat medical unit in WWII. It is funny, serious, heartbreaking and exhausting. On one occasion she recounts that the unit collected $200.00 and sent a cook out to buy a cow that they could butcher and eat in Sicily. She reports that the cow was terrible and then writes, "...So much for letting a cook, who was a mortician, do the shopping" (Wandrey, p. 50). June never really lost her sense of humor although I'm sure she was tested frequently! June lists the equipment she was supposed to have. The list is informative and she states that none of the clothing fit because she was so small! She was able to enjoy some outings away from the fighting like getting to Rome and meeting the Pope! In addition to the casualties she treated, her unit supported the soldiers liberated from a POW camp and the survivors of the Concentration Camp Dachau that US forces overran.
My dad was a Combat Medic in the 63rd Infantry Division in WWII and worked also as an ambulance driver and surgical tech. At one point in the war June's unit supported the 63rd ID. There is a possibility that my dad delivered patients to her hospital. I found that an interesting coincidence.
This is a superb book if one wants to really understand what life was like in WWII for a US Army Nurse!
My dad was a Combat Medic in the 63rd Infantry Division in WWII and worked also as an ambulance driver and surgical tech. At one point in the war June's unit supported the 63rd ID. There is a possibility that my dad delivered patients to her hospital. I found that an interesting coincidence.
This is a superb book if one wants to really understand what life was like in WWII for a US Army Nurse!
July 13, 2022
Informative and funny.
The author tells her story as a combat nurse during WWII. She tells her story through the north Africa campaign, invasion of Sicily and Italy, the the southern France campaign and finally to Germany. She was active for 2years and experienced the grueling aspects of combat including the shelling and strafing. She often lived solely on C rations which resulted in her losing weight and and becoming sick. She ended up with severe jaundice.
She was brutally honest about her views of the war and the brass. She didn't believe that FDR should declare war yet she still did her duty. She didn't like the brass because they had privileges that she believed were not warranted such as constantly having steak when combat troops had C rations.
Even though she saw the saddest parts of the war (Dachau camp where she worked briefly), she still had a sense of humor and a desire to live life to the fullest. During her off time, she would hop a ride on a plane or commandeer a jeep to enjoy a good dinner or go swimming.
For those who believe that woman shouldn't be in battle should read this book. It took until the 1980's before women had the rights they deserved.
The author tells her story as a combat nurse during WWII. She tells her story through the north Africa campaign, invasion of Sicily and Italy, the the southern France campaign and finally to Germany. She was active for 2years and experienced the grueling aspects of combat including the shelling and strafing. She often lived solely on C rations which resulted in her losing weight and and becoming sick. She ended up with severe jaundice.
She was brutally honest about her views of the war and the brass. She didn't believe that FDR should declare war yet she still did her duty. She didn't like the brass because they had privileges that she believed were not warranted such as constantly having steak when combat troops had C rations.
Even though she saw the saddest parts of the war (Dachau camp where she worked briefly), she still had a sense of humor and a desire to live life to the fullest. During her off time, she would hop a ride on a plane or commandeer a jeep to enjoy a good dinner or go swimming.
For those who believe that woman shouldn't be in battle should read this book. It took until the 1980's before women had the rights they deserved.
April 4, 2023
I've read several books about nurses in WWII and this is a nice addition to the canon.
Since this book is a compilation of journal excerpts and letters, the reading can seem disjointed at first. Just be aware so you're not expecting a flowing narrative. June's voice really comes through and I got a good sense of her as a person. I did feel that, at first, some of her family were slightly disrespectful to her as an adult and a person. The one thing that really bugged me was her constantly asking for panties in small and her mother sending medium or large. What the heck? Why would you do that? I do think after a time, her family understood better the deprivations and stress she was working under. Credit June. She did not spare her parents or sisters with overly upbeat letters, but instead conveyed a real sense of the stress, sacrifice and sadness of war. All without losing her unique sense of humor.
This book should be required reading for today's generation of entitled and spoiled young people. Maybe then they'd have a better idea of what real suffering and sacrifice means.
Since this book is a compilation of journal excerpts and letters, the reading can seem disjointed at first. Just be aware so you're not expecting a flowing narrative. June's voice really comes through and I got a good sense of her as a person. I did feel that, at first, some of her family were slightly disrespectful to her as an adult and a person. The one thing that really bugged me was her constantly asking for panties in small and her mother sending medium or large. What the heck? Why would you do that? I do think after a time, her family understood better the deprivations and stress she was working under. Credit June. She did not spare her parents or sisters with overly upbeat letters, but instead conveyed a real sense of the stress, sacrifice and sadness of war. All without losing her unique sense of humor.
This book should be required reading for today's generation of entitled and spoiled young people. Maybe then they'd have a better idea of what real suffering and sacrifice means.
July 2, 2024
I liked this book. Didn't pay much attention to the title when I bought it (Kindle version of course) but thought afterwards that this was a rather unfortunate title for a very good book. Derived largely from letters home from Nurse (Lt) June Wandrey it is really a remarkable look at an extraordinary war experience. June lived through what few others did - North Africa, Italy, the move north from southern France and the final battles in the Alsace and into Germany. I admire her for blending much good humour into what otherwise would be a pretty grim story. And it was grim at times, largely with ailments she suffered but also some revealing tales of patients that did not make it. The weather was a greater enemy than the Germans for those in the field hospital, although she and her colleagues suffered their share of direct action as well. The narrative provides glimpses of the huge, bureaucratic and often inept US Army, manned by draftees for the most part who simply did not give a damn. I can well imagine it, and sense her frustration. June survived the war - although not without issues - and thankfully provided the material for this excellent and easy read.
March 28, 2020
"It doesn't pay to dwell on the present too much because it is all pain, hardship, sleepless nights, and lots of young men dying miserably, or fighting to keep from dying, hanging onto my hand until it hurts, as if I could keep them from slipping into that dark chasm."
June Wandrey was an army nurse in WWII working through theaters in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and Germany, caring for sick and wounded GIs. This book is compiled of her notes and letters sent home. An honest and heart-wrenching account of a nurse attached to a field hospital.
June Wandrey was an army nurse in WWII working through theaters in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and Germany, caring for sick and wounded GIs. This book is compiled of her notes and letters sent home. An honest and heart-wrenching account of a nurse attached to a field hospital.
February 1, 2020
I was REALLY disappointed by this one. It was apparently self published which, in my opinion, really does a book a disservice unless the author/publisher is a professional editor. Obviously Ms Wandrey was not. It is basically a diary with notes written to family & possibly friends, not sure. I stopped paying attention. Do yourself a favor & don't spend any money on this one. Pick it up at the library, if they were desperate enough to buy a copy, or a garage sale.
June 3, 2024
Must read
Amazing book about 1 amazing tough cookie of a nurses journey through the hell of war alongside her fellow soldiers sailors and airmen. Very little consideration, recognition or even the basic necessities of life! They saved so many lives, lived in the same strange hellish places as the troops and all this while keeping everything sterile and prepared for the doctors to perform miracles. All of this with hardly any water, food or sleep. Magnificent!!
Amazing book about 1 amazing tough cookie of a nurses journey through the hell of war alongside her fellow soldiers sailors and airmen. Very little consideration, recognition or even the basic necessities of life! They saved so many lives, lived in the same strange hellish places as the troops and all this while keeping everything sterile and prepared for the doctors to perform miracles. All of this with hardly any water, food or sleep. Magnificent!!
May 28, 2022
An awesome glimpse into the real life of an Army nurse in WW2
This is a sometimes but wrenching read but so worth the effort. I have, a new appreciation for every veteran and the untold sacrifices made be each one. Nurses will especially enjoy learning about the some of the history of our heritage.
This is a sometimes but wrenching read but so worth the effort. I have, a new appreciation for every veteran and the untold sacrifices made be each one. Nurses will especially enjoy learning about the some of the history of our heritage.
May 8, 2023
Scintillating.
Compiled from the diary notes and letters home of a surgical nurse in WWII who saw Northern Africa, Tunis, much of Italy, France, Germany, and more as her hospital unit followed several units of American soldiers through the war. Her stories are heartfelt, heartbreaking, brave, and funny. An fascinating read.
Compiled from the diary notes and letters home of a surgical nurse in WWII who saw Northern Africa, Tunis, much of Italy, France, Germany, and more as her hospital unit followed several units of American soldiers through the war. Her stories are heartfelt, heartbreaking, brave, and funny. An fascinating read.
June 20, 2024
This book was so insightful and full of raw emotion. It gave me a much deeper understanding of nurses in war situations. I have watch every MASH episode there is and after reading this story, I feel they did a pretty good job of making a visual presentation of many of the harsh realities of war. My utmost respect to June Wandrey and the many others like her. I am humbled by her story.
September 17, 2021
Outstanding
Not much seems to have changed with the Army since WWII. The life of the G.I. remains the same; shuffled here and there with no pity.
June kept an awesome diary and collection of letters to let the world know what life was really like for the G.I. during war.
Not much seems to have changed with the Army since WWII. The life of the G.I. remains the same; shuffled here and there with no pity.
June kept an awesome diary and collection of letters to let the world know what life was really like for the G.I. during war.
August 14, 2022
History lived
I enjoyed reading about the history lived by this women. The struggles with mud, weather, rations. The horror of the concentration camps through the eyes of a nurse, the small bits about world leaders and their demise, while she lived through the war. Great book!
I enjoyed reading about the history lived by this women. The struggles with mud, weather, rations. The horror of the concentration camps through the eyes of a nurse, the small bits about world leaders and their demise, while she lived through the war. Great book!
November 29, 2025
sobering reading
Gives the reader a different point of view on WWII, and the part women played in WWII. It also makes you realize how little credit women get for their service and sacrifice in any of the wars and conflicts we as a country have been involved in.
Gives the reader a different point of view on WWII, and the part women played in WWII. It also makes you realize how little credit women get for their service and sacrifice in any of the wars and conflicts we as a country have been involved in.
December 2, 2019
Interesting story of this nurse's time in ww2. Was diary and letters home
July 7, 2020
Interesting 1st person story of a WWII combat nurse
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews