Angels of Mercy: The Army Nurses of World War II

By Betsy Kuhn

Book Overview

"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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689820445
• ISBN13: 9780689820441
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.1" x 11.1"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Great Book, Great Images

A wonderful book for children or adults on the history of the Army Nurse Corps. Very well done.

Women of Courage and Bravery

Even though I am only a girl of twelve I felt very moved by this book. I felt as if I wanted to do the things that they did. This book did a wonderful job describing what women as nurses in the Red Cross did during WWII. It shows women can do just as good as men. This book recognizes the bravery and courage of women in combat zones and the challenges and hardships they overcame. I think that people of today should give more recognition to the nurses and WASPs of WWII and that is what this book has done. They give me courage to do things I didn't think I could do. If you enjoy this book you might enjoy On Silver Wings as I have.

Women of Courage and Bravery

Even though I am only a girl of twelve I felt very moved by this book. I felt as if I wanted to do the things that they did. This book did a wonderful job describing what women as nurses in the Red Cross did during WWII. It shows women can do just as good as men. This book recognizes lots of bravery and courage from the women in combat zones. These women faced many hardships and challenges and over came them. I think that people of today should give more recognition to the nurses and WASPs of WWII and that is what this book has done. They give me courage to do things I didn't think I could do. If you enjoy this book you might enjoy On Silver Wings as I have.

Decent book, terrible acknowledgments

My mother was one of the women Betsy Kuhn interviewed for this book. Kuhn opted not to use any of my mother's quotes. This is within her rights as author, but on the page in which she acknowledged her sources she failed to thank my mother for her time. Like so many WWII era vets, my mother is approaching 80 years of age. It would have been a kick for her to see her name in print even if only as part of a longer list of names. I gave her this book knowing she'd been interviewed by its author, but it ended up being something of a disaster when she discovered that several close friends from her unit were prominently featured in the book while she got nada, zip, zero. I sincerely hope Betsy Kuhn sees this and feels a moment or two of remorse for hurting the feelings of a wonderful woman who I'm proud to call my mother because she really is an Angel.

Angels of Mercy- The Army Nurses of World War Two

Angels of Mercy, The Army Nurses of World War Two is on the American Library Association's list of recommended books for young readers. I saw it on display at the ALA's annual conference in San Antonio and was immediately captivated by the colorful cover--a typical young nurse of the forties being "capped," preliminary, one supposes, to entering the Army Nurse Corps. The face could have belonged to any number of the nurses the author follows through the course of World War II. The book is a wonderful combination of history and human interest, weaving the events of the war with the true stories of the nurses who tended the sick and wounded soldiers. For example, while painting the background of MacArthur's surrender in the Philippines, the author gives touching and personal accounts of the daily life of the nurses left behind to care for patients in the internment camp. The account of the war is a good general introduction to that period of history for young readers unfamiliar with it. I would recommend this book for any young reader. I would especially recommend it to all the nurses who were part of the war effort. They should give a copy to all their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews to provide an insight into the life of an army nurse on active duty.