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Nurses of the Vietnam War Roundtable

Approximately nine thousand U.S. military nurses served in Vietnam during the U.S.- Vietnam war. Though women did not serve in combat, nurses encountered the consequences of war on a daily basis as they cared for its casualties — military and civilian, American and Vietnamese.

Like so many other Vietnam veterans, they struggled with their wartime experiences once they returned home. The fact that they were women veterans added another layer of difficulty to their readjustment, however. The assumption was that all veterans were men.

Man and woman talking at an event

Author Kim Heikkila chats with an audience member

Sisterhood of War book cover

 

In Minnesota, a handful of nurses who had served in Vietnam banded together as sister veterans and offered each other the help, support, and recognition that no one else had.

Dr. Kim Heikkila, author of Sisterhood of War, led a discussion of Minnesota nurses’ experiences during and after the war at the March Roundtable at Concordia.

There was a real feeling of being together in this.

Joan Paulson- 67th Evac Hospital

“The GI's really cared for each other and they helped one another. They shaved each other, helped with dressings. There was a real feeling of being together in this.”

Panel of female nurses at an event

I went from babies to the battlefield.

Jeanne Mahafey- USS Sanctuary

"I joined because I was a Navy brat. My dad was a blimp pilot in the Navy. I thought, ‘If I want to travel, I'll have to do it myself.’ My father swore me in and to swear his daughter in was one of his proudest moments. I requested to go to Vietnam and be on a hospital ship. I went from babies to the battlefield.”

Watch Jeanne's Story Wall interview.

Woman at table talking to a man

Jeanne Mahaffey shats with an audience member after the panel

Panel of female nurses at an event
Power Point slide witt female nurse photos

 

WOMEN WHO SERVED

265,000 women served during Vietnam

11,000 served in in Vietnam 

9,000 of those who served were nurses 

20% of Army nurses were men 

There was a 98% survival rate for men who made it to a military hospital

10 nurses in total died in service in Vietnam- 8 women, 2 men 

Women talking at an event

Nurse MaryLu Brunner

Man and woman taking at an event

Mary Breed chats with an audience member

I grew up on WWII movies. WWII was in black and white. Vietnam was in Technicolor.

Mary Lu Brunner - 71st Evac Hospital

"If they had given me a tour of those hospitals, I would have run away. I grew up on WWII movies. WWII was in black and white. Vietnam was in Technicolor.

The most memorable time was when I returned for the dedication of the Vietnam Womens Memorial and Parade on Veterans Day '93. At the end of the parade, there was a man that I treated there to greet me. For someone to remember me was the best feeling."

 

Women standing at an event

Vietnam War nurses stand to be recognized

Elain Heiss - 85th Evac Hospital

“The young Viet Cong were just kids- trying English words, camaraderie and helped each other. They told me to go home and have many babies… and I did! I felt humanity and connection that altered my whole life perception. People are people. They were worried as well. They didn't know how to connect with their families."

I felt humanity and connection that altered my whole life perception.

The war didn't end in Vietnam. Those memories, the trauma and the hurt are not erased.

Hat with many Vietnam War pins on it

Mary Breed's hat covered in Vietnam War pins

Biographical Details

Story Subject: Military Service

Veteran Organization: Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps

 

THE VIETNAM WAR ROUNDTABLE

This new series at Concordia University is an opportunity for veterans, students, and those interested in the war and its legacy to gather the third Monday of each month to honor, remember and understand this tumultuous time.   mnvietnam.org/roundtable

A partnership of TPT, Concordia University and the Minnesota Military Museum.

Mary Breed - 95th Evac Hospital

"The war was very personal for me. It was my generation going over. I went back to Vietnam with a Vietnam veteran. The Vietnamese said, 'We honor you for doing what your country asked you to do and we can be friends.' We shared tea. The veteran I went with needed to hear that. 

The war didn't end in Vietnam. Those memories, the trauma and the hurt are not erased."

Read an essay by Mary.

Watch Mary's Perspectives story.

 

Women talking in a conference room

Vietnam nurse, Kay Bauer, chats with another audience member

Story Themes: Army Nurse Corps, Concordia University, Jean Mahaffey, Kim Heikkila, Minnesota Military Museum, Navy Nurse Corps, Sisterhood of War, TPT, Vietnam War Roundtable

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