Customer Reviews

Bedpan Commando: The Story of a Combat Nurse During World War II

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Great book! This WWII army nurse tells it as it really was for those brave girls who enlisted in WWII and grew up very fast under combat conditions. Remember, all this happened at a time when nice girls lived at home until the day they married. These brave young women volunteered to serve under difficult and dangeous conditions and did so with honor, bravery, and humor. A must read for WWII buffs and military personnel of all wars, police actions, and conflicts. WWII military women are the grandmothers and aunts of today's modern army, which is now 15% women. Yes, I'm a Vietnam-era vet myself, which is why it's so important to have the stories told. Lest we forget, women are veterans, too; and we did our jobs as well as the men, if not better (and frequently in high heels). Read this and learn why PTSD is no respector of gender. Fabulous book -- a great gift for any WWII survivor or other vet. A must-have for your military book collection.

In the early 1990s I met June Wandrey at an army reunion I attended with my parents. I purchased a copy of "Bedpan Commandos" at that reunion and she graciously autographed it. It is an autobiographical work detailing some of June's experiences as a military nurse during World War II. I am a civilian who works in a US Army hospital (not as a doctor or nurse) and have allowed a few Army nurses to read it. It opened their eyes to see the trials and tribulations military nurses suffered during World War II. One should also realize that nurses could possibly, under similar conditions, do some of the same things June described.

I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in reading a piece of history, and especially to anyone in the nursing profession, or considering a career in nursing, civilian or military, to see what can happen "when the chips are down." "Bedpan Commando" contributed to my respect for those who served to protect this great nation and made me realize I don't have things so bad, and that a THANK YOU is deserved by those nurses. This is definetly a must read.

This book brings to life the experience of one of the nurses in my book, No Time For Fear: Voices of American Military Nurses in World War II. June Wandrey's wonderful memoir relates what army nurses of the 10th Field Hospital experienced and Esther Edwards is one of the nurses who shared some of the day-to-day ordeals. I had interviewed June Wandrey when beginning research for my book, and she had just published her own. What a woman! She inspired me to seek out more nurses of her era, resulting in more than 100 oral histories of army and navy nurses who served overseas. Thank you June!

June Wandrey is portrayed in The History Channel's "WWII in HD".
I was quite moved watching and listening to her experiences during the war and wanted to know more about her.
In searchhing, I came across this book that was used as a basis for the series.
It's a great read. What began as a great adventure for an optimistic young woman ends with her attempting to come to grips with the stark reality of war and suffering and death. Maintaining her keen sense of humor and irony amid the chaos and cruelty of combat begins to take its toll on June as the war progresses, Her faith in authority and god are shaken by what she witnesses. June struggles to crave out a new identity; one that is more compatable with her new life as a combat nurse.June battles not only the Nazis, but also hunger, exhaustion, weather, and sickness.
"It doesn't pay to dwell on the present too much because it is all pain, hardship, sleepless nights, and lots of young men dying miserably or fighting to keep from dying."
Eventually, she learns to adapt her behavor and internalize her feelings.
"It was difficult being carefree and gay, but they wanted laughter and female chatter... and I tried."
I sent a copy of this book to my 13 year old niece who was looking for a "role model" to write an essay about for her class. She read it in one sitting.
Stripped of all the bravado and bluster that characterizes so much writing about the war, Wandrey's book is an enlightening tale of the effects of combat on the troops and those who cared for them.

This book contains the letters and journals of a WWII nurse written as she was stationed overseas during the war. I had no idea just how close to the front lines these nurses worked and the difficult conditions under which they worked until I read her book. It makes you wonder whether you'd have had the ability to withstand the things June withstood. This book was also made memorable by the handwritten notes June added to the pictures and first page. Thanks, June!

Two other excellent books I would recommend that add to the picture of American women's experiences during WWII are "Dearest Ones" and "No Time for Fear".

This narrative account by a WWII combat nurse accurately describes the day to day activities of a nurse serving in the combat zone.Skillfully written,sometimes grim and deadly serious,yet with many humerous episodes.You won't be able to put it down.Most interesting and entertaining.

I purchased this book after seeing it used as a source in a recent History Channel special on WWII. This book is out of print, so I got a used copy that turned ouot to have been authographed by the author. The book is based upon letters Ms Wandrey wrote home during the War, tied together by her recollections. It is candid, humorous in parts, and touching in many others. The Midwestern nurse suffered injury and disease, yet never seems to have lost her sense of duty to newly-wounded soldiers. Tough lady, good read.

WOW! June's story is breadth taking. There is not gore to speak of, but her story lets you connect with a time that should never be forgotten. I have since recommended this book to several teachers. The book offers every young woman and every young man the potential to see that "girls" can do anything.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I'm a nurse and a WWII enthusiast. I was well rewarded! Through her letters, journals and recollections you get a real picture of the every day grind of following combat troops in a mobile field surgical unit. She had me laughing out loud at her spunky remarks and daring escapades, then crying with her at the desperation and fear of the injured and dying troops. Something I did not expect was the way women were treated in the military during that time. June and the other nurses were heros unrecognized by most at the time. They were so unselfish. They were all volunteers. They chose to give up prime years of their lives to support our boys in their fight against evil.

Amazing courage along with the ability to find humor while being a front line nurse seeing young men die. She really lived.