Angels of Mercy: The Army Nurses of World War II [Paperback]

Betsy Kuhn (Author)

Book Description

"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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A lively blend of narrative and first-hand reminiscences is underserved by its drab appearance. This compelling account of the army nurses of WWII breathes life into an often-overlooked corner of American history. Nearly 60,000 American women signed on to serve as nurses during WWII, and Kuhn (Not Exactly Nashville) interviewed dozens of them, relating their stories here with an eye to the sort of detail that children in particular will savor. She chronicles the grimmest aspects of wartime dutyAair raids, deprivation and death, being taken prisonerAbut she also includes some surprises. These nurses wash out undies in helmets, whip up a wedding dress out of a parachute and make fudge in a foxhole. The book's chronological framework covers the years between Pearl Harbor and the postwar occupation forces, interweaving episodes from the Pacific Theater to North Africa, the liberation of Dachau and beyond. Unfortunately, the layout is bland and institutional, with gray sidebars and grainy reproductions of period photos and recruiting posters; it doesn't lure an audience to the eminently readable text. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-Kuhn has done a remarkable job of illustrating the diversity of Army nurses' assignments and the breadth of their experiences. Among those profiled are nurses who walked 800 miles to freedom when their plane was shot down over German-occupied Albania, those who were prisoners of war in Manila, and those who helped liberate the concentration camp at Dachau. Sidebars provide information on African-American nurses and women who served on the home front as everything from postal carriers to airplane mechanics. The book also provides a brief overview of the causes of World War II and a short history of Army nurses in prior battles. Excellent reproductions, maps, and a time line accompany the clear, well-written text. Compelling comments from the dozens of women interviewed reveal their despair, fear, camaraderie, and hope, and give the accounts a sense of immediacy. Shaaron Cosner's War Nurses (Walker, 1988) briefly covers women nurses from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam, but is not as comprehensive or as engaging. Angels of Mercy provides a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about a relatively unknown segment of Americans who are often ignored in favor of the better-known soldiers and statesmen.
Leah J. Sparks, Bowie Public Library, MD
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689820445
• ISBN-13: 978-0689820441
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #782,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women of Courage and Bravery, January 11, 2002

By 

Dennis Y (Wheaton, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels of Mercy: The Army Nurses of World War II (Paperback)

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.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Angels of Mercy- The Army Nurses of World War Two, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Angels of Mercy: The Army Nurses of World War II (Paperback)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women of Courage and Bravery, January 11, 2002

By 

Dennis Y (Wheaton, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels of Mercy: The Army Nurses of World War II (Paperback)

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.