Women's Involvement in the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, many American women stayed at home and took care of their homes and children while their husbands, fathers, uncles and brothers were in Vietnam fighting in the war. However, there many women who did not just stay home, but actually got themselves involved in the war because they wanted to help.
Some of these women that did not stay home were nurses in the war. These women who served as nurses were all volunteers. Some were actually stationed in Vietnam and were in the middle of the entire mess. It was these women’s jobs to help whoever came in, whether they were on the American side, or if they were the enemy[1]. That seems incredible because they did not worry about he war that was going on outside the tents, they just wanted to help people because they knew that we are all humans and everyone deserves to be treated as one. This might be because they were women and women tend to be more caring and emotional, but either way, their duties were very honorable.
Although there were some women who helped in the war, most women stayed home[2]. This sounds like an easy job for them, but it was just as hard as being in the war, if not harder. It was very difficult for these women because they had to stay at home and take care of their children and act like everything is going to be okay when they actually had no idea if they would even be able to see their husbands ever again. Some women received the horrible news that they never imagined themselves receiving. They were forced to deal with a telegram that informed them that their husband, brother, uncle, dad, or son had been killed in the vicious war and would never be returning home, leaving the family at a loss for words. Other women received news that their loved one n the war had been labeled as “missing in action[3].” This can be a good thing because it leaves families with hope and a feeling that their loved one can return home, if he is still alive. But, it also leaves families in a state of limbo, not knowing if they are alive or dead. This would be one of the most difficult situations to deal with because everyday is a question of whether or not your loved one is still alive or not. Some women even get another telegram that states that their loved one has been captured and is now a “prisoner of war.” This is another very difficult thing for women at home to deal with because they know that their loved one is alive, but they also know that there is nothing they can do about it except hope for the best. Either these soldiers return home, or their families receive the dreadful news that they did not survive the war and they are a fallen soldier. So although being a women and staying home during the war seems like it would be an easy job, it is actually one of the most difficult and emotionally draining things that anyone could experience.
Although the men were at war risking their lives for our freedom, American women struggled greatly at home trying to maintain a calm façade, trying to keep their composure even though I am sure they just wanted to break down and cry. The women who helped with the war also had a very difficult time trying to remain calm with all of the craziness that was happening all around them[4]. Overall, women have proved to be very strong, especially emotionally.
Footnotes:
[1] HISTORY.com. "Women in the Vietnam War - Vietnam War." Accessed April 14, 2014. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/women-in-the-vietnam-war.
[2] Steinman, Ron. Women in Vietnam. New York: TV Books, 2000.
[3] Canwell, Diane, and Jonathan Sutherland. American Women in the Vietnam War. Milwaukee, WI: World Almanac Library, 2005.
[4] Gruhzit-Hoyt, Olga. A Time Remembered: American Women in the Vietnam War. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999.
By: Courtney Pacheco
Word Count: 683
During the Vietnam War, many American women stayed at home and took care of their homes and children while their husbands, fathers, uncles and brothers were in Vietnam fighting in the war. However, there many women who did not just stay home, but actually got themselves involved in the war because they wanted to help.
Some of these women that did not stay home were nurses in the war. These women who served as nurses were all volunteers. Some were actually stationed in Vietnam and were in the middle of the entire mess. It was these women’s jobs to help whoever came in, whether they were on the American side, or if they were the enemy[1]. That seems incredible because they did not worry about he war that was going on outside the tents, they just wanted to help people because they knew that we are all humans and everyone deserves to be treated as one. This might be because they were women and women tend to be more caring and emotional, but either way, their duties were very honorable.
Although there were some women who helped in the war, most women stayed home[2]. This sounds like an easy job for them, but it was just as hard as being in the war, if not harder. It was very difficult for these women because they had to stay at home and take care of their children and act like everything is going to be okay when they actually had no idea if they would even be able to see their husbands ever again. Some women received the horrible news that they never imagined themselves receiving. They were forced to deal with a telegram that informed them that their husband, brother, uncle, dad, or son had been killed in the vicious war and would never be returning home, leaving the family at a loss for words. Other women received news that their loved one n the war had been labeled as “missing in action[3].” This can be a good thing because it leaves families with hope and a feeling that their loved one can return home, if he is still alive. But, it also leaves families in a state of limbo, not knowing if they are alive or dead. This would be one of the most difficult situations to deal with because everyday is a question of whether or not your loved one is still alive or not. Some women even get another telegram that states that their loved one has been captured and is now a “prisoner of war.” This is another very difficult thing for women at home to deal with because they know that their loved one is alive, but they also know that there is nothing they can do about it except hope for the best. Either these soldiers return home, or their families receive the dreadful news that they did not survive the war and they are a fallen soldier. So although being a women and staying home during the war seems like it would be an easy job, it is actually one of the most difficult and emotionally draining things that anyone could experience.
Although the men were at war risking their lives for our freedom, American women struggled greatly at home trying to maintain a calm façade, trying to keep their composure even though I am sure they just wanted to break down and cry. The women who helped with the war also had a very difficult time trying to remain calm with all of the craziness that was happening all around them[4]. Overall, women have proved to be very strong, especially emotionally.
Footnotes:
[1] HISTORY.com. "Women in the Vietnam War - Vietnam War." Accessed April 14, 2014. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/women-in-the-vietnam-war.
[2] Steinman, Ron. Women in Vietnam. New York: TV Books, 2000.
[3] Canwell, Diane, and Jonathan Sutherland. American Women in the Vietnam War. Milwaukee, WI: World Almanac Library, 2005.
[4] Gruhzit-Hoyt, Olga. A Time Remembered: American Women in the Vietnam War. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999.
By: Courtney Pacheco
Word Count: 683