A Piece of My Heart: The Stories of 26 American Women Who Served in Vietnam

by Keith Walker

Includes the stories of twenty-six WACs, USO performers, and Red Cross workers

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction, Biography, Womens, Historical

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to start by stating I am biased. My mother is featured in this book as one of the 26 women honored. I have an original copy signed by Mr. Walker. I watched her (as a preteen) through the process of meeting with the author, experiencing the plays based on the book as it was published - I feel the candid style of the interviewing was remarkable in capturing the accounts of these amazing women. I know first hand this book allowed my mother to further process her experiences from Vietnam and it allowed her teenage daughter to gain insight into a special piece of her mother's heart and her life. In later years, a distant cousin of the 24th evac vet reviewed the book for a college Sociology class project. This shows the far reach of the book's ability to impact generations. A Piece of My Heart surpasses limiting the war to combat veterans only, but to All the unique roles involved, placing it in it's own category. Worthy read...

[Mary Huissen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know about this book until after reading “The Women” by Kristen Hannah. This was hard to read, but it was interesting and felt important, especially after reading historical fiction on the same subject.

It’s also interesting to me personally because I’m a vet too. Even though my experiences were nothing like this and the Viet Nam war was over, I realize that I enlisted only 7 years after that war.

The wounds certainly remained for all the Viet Nam vets, but the world had changed, or at least the rest of us moved on incredibly quickly.

Like these women, I was really young when I served and it seems strange to me now that so little time had passed since they came home and I signed up.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening, horrifying, humbling. Unbelievable what these brave women went through both in Vietnam and when they returned to the U.S. I have so much respect and admiration for them.

[Peter Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb, excruciating book. One of the most significant things I've learned is that the women interviewed—no matter what their job was in Viet Nam—reported experiencing the same sensations as men upon returning to the world: despite the overwhelmingly terrible circumstances in which they had worked and lived, when back in the U.S. they missed the camaraderie, the constant adrenalin flow, and the complete commitment to an important job. Most had symptoms of what is now known as PTSD, and some had problems dealing with it which at least equalled those of combat veterans. Several of the women also expressed great compassion and empathy for the people of Viet Nam and all they had endured at the hands of both Americans and other Vietnamese.

This is an important book, a vital contribution to the literature of Viet Nam, women's roles in society, and history in general.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is composed of interviews of women who spent time in Vietnam during the U. S. occupation in the 1960s and 1970s. Some were nurses, but there were also Red Cross volunteers, WACs, WAVs, Quakers, intelligence personnel, and entertainers. Although there are similarities between the stories, each is also thoroughly unique, and each gives us a little more knowledge about the people, the place, and the time. Most carry a sadness, but the sorrow comes not only from the lives which were lost, but in the lives which are still tied to Vietnam years after they left.

[Histteach24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books about the female experience in the Vietnam War...you will cry your eyes out! There was a documentary made from the book!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a near contemporary of the women who shared their stories of Vietnam, I found this fascinating reading. In retrospect it is astonishing that the story was never told from this perspective! We were immersed in coverage of the protests and the outrages of the war, yet we were rarely, if ever, reminded that many of the participants were to be admired and were owed some gratitude for their service. These individuals bravely made the most of a situation that they found themselves in, some by clear choice, but others more reluctantly out of a sense of duty, and many who openly opposed the war and never wanted to be there at all. While the women's tales did nothing to dispell the futility of this war, they remind us that it is possible to have opposed the war and still appreciate the efforts of those who participated for varied reasons. In some ways the book was extremely depressing, and yet it is a fitting tribute to those who served in both military and civilian capacities, and a window into their motives, their hardships, and the scars they carried home with them. Very moving and thought-provoking!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is powerful. The stories of the women in Vietnam are often overlooked. This book shows you that everyone who went to Vietnam was impacted in some way. I found this book very moving. I will not forget the response of a nurse to the death of another nurse who had been "in country" for a very short time. Reflecting on the death the nurse comments it is unfair for the nurse to die when she hasn't been in Vietnam long enough to see the reality of the experience. The nurse reflecting sees death as an escape from the destruction and death that she has experienced on a daily basis.
If you like this book I would also recommend War Torn, in this book female journalists tell their stories about their time in Vietnam. I use parts of these books when I teach the 1960's and the Vietnam experience in my American Studies class.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing stories from 26 women who served in Vietnam, definitely worth a read if you like personal stories from history. It amazes me what these women went through while in Vietnam, most were nurses dealing with ongoing casualties, it amazes me that they were able to still function after getting back to the states. Some of the women wrote about Agent Orange and the effects that it has had on them and their children. Or PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and the fact that these brave women also suffered from the effects of this disorder. It shows me that even though this book was written in the 1980's that our government didn't really do much to help our veterans when they got back from combat.

[Sandie]

Putting this book back on the shelf for awhile as I have not been able to get into it.

[Paige Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of interviews of women who served in one form or another in the Vietnam War. It was published only 10yrs after to war had ended officially so you could still see the rawness of the effects of what they went through. It is a tough read and very different from the books of nurses who served in WWII who rarely expressed doubts in what they were doing, including those who had been POWs. It shows the evolution of war, the new acceptance of PTSD, in women, not soldiers, and a time when protesting a war was more acceptable. As a nurse, it was a difficult read at times. But it is so well done, you want to stay with it to the end and left me wondering how many of these women are still doing now 40 yrs after the war.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bible of women Viet Nam vets is Lynda Van Devanter's "Home Before Morning", the autobiography of an Army nurse who tells her life story before, during and after Viet Nam. It is a book I have read and re-read. But one thing escaped me while reading her book: nurses weren't the only American women in Viet Nam. As "A Piece of My Heart" makes clear, there were intelligence agents, Red Cross staffers, Catholic Relief Services workers, and many others in addition to nurses. It is amazing to read their stories, and impossible not to see how similar they are. They all carry scars, and some of them deal more successfully than others. For anyone interested in women in the military, the Viet Nam war, or history, this is a highly recommended book.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walker's collection of interviews from women offers imperative insights into the Vietnam War and its participants, many of whom are forgotten or unrecognized. These stories provide viewpoints that differ from many war novels but that are tremendously important. In addition, the stories these women share allowed me to understand more fully the dynamics of the Vietnam war environment, which improved my understanding of the atmosphere of the times, times that continue for many--if not all--of us. These vivid and extremely meaningful accounts detail why this is a war and a place that both compels and repels. Fascinating.

[Shirley Lauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extra ordinary drama, sharing with readers and audiences the real experiences of women who fought and gave their lives in Vietnam. Based on interviews of women who served.

I learned so much about Vietnam War and realize -- all wars are the same, aren't they? Death, destruction, innocent people slaughtered.
Sandy

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tells the stories of women who served as nurses in Vietnam. Talks unflinchingly about the things they saw and were asked to help with. Yeah, but who was helping THEM? It makes you realize why so many people go into the helping professions -- because it makes everything they do so incredibly important.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't finished this all the way through, but the subject matter is so heavy, and each section is divided up by individual story so it's easy to get through. The stories of these women are so very different from women's stories from any other armed conflict in US history.

[Nicola Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis is such an intence book. Very graphic too about the war sometimes. I cried many times reading this, and sometimes had to put it down to take a break. However, this was a beautiful, well put together collection of memories. Wonderful and heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

So hard to read, but very worth it. Stories of nurses and other women who served in Vietnam. It's powerful to hear the stories of Vietnam but also to hear the changing roles and views of women as they happen.

[vikki beltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

Although I was too young for Vietnam, I am a nurse, and very proud of my profession. That there was no emotional \mental support is appalling. I don't know it i could be as. Strong as the women in this book. Thank you for your service and your stories.

[Nancy]

Anne Auger

[Meridee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave me a new respect for the women who served in various capacities during Vietnam.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking stories. While I understand our desire to serve our country, we need to find other outlets than war.

[Richard Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enlightening vignettes of American Women who served in Vietnam. Used for research for a novel under development. Good if you want to empathize with overlooked heroines.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful and touching. I learned so much.

[Kim Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a former military nurse. I found this book to be profoundly moving. My heart hurt for these brave women who struggled in a war zone to help young soldiers.

[Ken Hulse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I served during these days . I ended up in Korea for a year instead of Viet Nam. When I left Korea, all of the guys who were not finished with their 4 years were headed to Viet Nam. I had friends I grew up with die there. We all knew someone who died there that we were close to. Unlike today we all served. We knew from our youth that at 18 or so you were going in the military.

I was startled to hear those terms come back such as Doughnut Dollies. We had them in Korea also. And that one reference to why a nurse wouldn't wear her uniform cap because of what it was called startled me back into those years. She didn't explain but I remembered the reference it was called . it had to do with the shape of it and a female's anatomy. It's a word we would never use today.

Those nurses were amazing. treating and dealing with Young boy 18-21 with body parts maimed and destroyed in almost a factory like setting had a strong impact on them. A good nurse cares deeply about the patient. They are a stronger life line to your well being than most doctors.

I had no idea the amount of stress and difficulty they endured. It is a worthy read if you really want to understand the toll that war took on everyone . IT's not a soldiers story but it's the story of those who dealt with the same kind of grief and stress. I have a higher admiration for them than ever before. Read it if you want to experience what toll that useless war took on our country.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I picked this book up because of having read "The Women" earlier this year. This book was one of the ones cited as mild inspiration. I can see that.

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I did enjoy reading it, I also feel weird about enjoying it.

During the time most of these women were doing their thing over there, so was my dad. One of these women might have tended him when he was wounded. He might have been in the audience of one of the bands. Might have flown one of the women to their destination or partied with them during down time. Unlikely, I know, but it's a strange thought.

I like that this book didn't glorify or exaggerate anything. It was just normal women who are telling you something that they did once upon a time. This book was years after the war so a lot of the...impact? Crispness? Is blunted a little. I feel like the horrors were not downplayed, but more just stated as fact. We got several different perspectives, not just army nurses. I like that we saw some women civilians.

I feel like that was a rambling way to say, this was a good book and a very interesting perspective of women in Vietnam. Highly recommend.

[Huston Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immeasurable sacrifice

I didn't do much enjoy the reading ,I felt immersed in the book. That is to say, in oral testimony,the reader becomes close to the very source of the stories.. I became like a listener to the women as they reached far back to their experiences,and to the atmosphere,surroundings of an intense, terrifying at times, world about them. It's as if they too were in the jungle fighting - except that they too were doing a kind of combat that only people involved in. medical treatment can appreciate under such circumstances . They walked through the valley - over and over,despite having a few times when they could let themselves relax.
The return of these veterans of service was not always a happy time. No one except the nurses knew what they truly did to heal, comfort or stand by the dying. And to be looked up on ad pariahs was so disheartening and shocking was,to me,the worse part of reading about them. I sincerely hope that they all came through eventually to a era in their life of peace.

[Michelle Bibliovino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and emotional recounting of 26 women’s experiences in Viet Nam. Not only have I not had much exposure to the history of this war, but having this female perspective was amazing. The whole idea of PTSD becoming an official diagnosis so many years after this war is mind-blowing as the effects of war are not new or different. Finally, though, people gave it the attention it needed when so many people came back basically unable to function. And the journey of the country from supporting these soldiers, to deriding them and then finally accepting that the war was not the fault of these fighters is staggering.

I’m so glad I got to experience these voices. Their compassion and love for their fellow man is inspirational, as is their journey of healing and acceptance.

[Christine Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting!

As a nurse who almost went to Vietnam this book was very interesting and shocking at times. To be put in such life and death situations with little training must have been frightening...plus other factors like humidity, attacks, lack of help and equipment...Bravo to the nurses who went to Vietnam!