War and American Women: Heroism, Deeds, and Controversy [Hardcover]

William B. Breuer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0275957179 | ISBN-13: 978-0275957179

The Gulf War of 1991 saw 37,000 women serve in uniform who, like their predecessors, performed admirably and demonstrated courage under fire. This war and the subsequent Tailhook scandal renewed the call by feminist groups and their supporters in Congress to have the military remove, once and for all, the restrictions barring women from direct combat. While some saw this struggle as a quest for equality and opportunity in uniform, others fought just as vigorously to keep women out of combat. The 1990s saw women assigned to ships, to aircraft, and to jobs previously denied them due to an easing of the long-standing combat restrictions. This resulted in a nationwide debate which, many allege, contributed to the suicide of Admiral Jeremy Boorda in 1996. Allowing women to serve in the military during wartime has been a subject of controversy since World War I, when, for the first time in history, thousands answered the same patriotic call to duty as the men and volunteered. Unlike the men, however, these pioneers were targets of gossip and branded as "camp followers" by some. Since that time, some 3.5 million American women have served their country as spies, nurses, guerrillas, or war correspondents. Many of these volunteers were wounded or died in the line of duty, others suffered as prisoners of war--all with little or no recognition. During World War II, the military actively recruited women to fill support roles in an effort to free more able-bodied men for combat duty. This resulted in the creation of women's branches of the armed services, which enabled women to take on even greater challenges and more diversified roles than previously allowed. These new organizations included: WAACs--later WACs (Army) WAVEs (Navy) SPARs (Coast Guard) Marine Corps Women's Reserve WASPs (ferrying airplanes) These groups attracted more than 350,000 volunteers. The tradition of volunteering continued on through conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and each time, American women met their challenges with honor and distinction. War and American Women brings to life the compelling story of the ordinary and extraordinary women who served their country in times of war. Their largely unreported and unacknowledged acts of heroism are vividly recounted by an author whose style has been described by The New York Times as "vintage Hemingway."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Breuer (Shadow Warriors, LJ 5/1/96), a decorated veteran of World War II, here attempts to compile a history of women's participation in the U.S. military since World War I. He presents anecdotal evidence of combat participation (the Gulf War) as well as women's more traditional involvement in the roles of nurse, clerical worker, and WAC, and he explores issues of pregnancy, motherhood, and sexual harassment (e.g., the Tailhook scandal). Lacking an introduction, this volume cannot decide on its purpose. Is it an oral history or a narrative description of women in war? The documentation is so thin that it is hard to determine the source of much of Breuer's evidence. The women's stories are choppy, moving from anecdote to anecdote, and the issues are not placed in any historical context. Many other histories, such as David E. Jones's Women Warriors: A History (LJ 2/15/97) and Nan Heacock's Battle Stations (LJ 9/1/92), better represent women's participation in war. Not recommended.?Jenny Lynn Presnell, Miami Univ. Lib., Oxford, Ohio
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Breuer's book brings to life the stories of ordinary and extraordinary women and recounts the largely unreported and unacknowledged acts of heroism in a manner both vivid and compelling.”–Choice

“Readers searching for an overview of this subject would do well to delve into this latest in a long string of military histories from Normandy assault veteran Breuer.... In an evenhanded presentation, Breuer gives examples in which both women and the military have been ill served during recent controversial episodes....it's a substantive work that makes a genuine contribution to an underreported facet of military, and American, history.”–Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Trade (February 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275957179
• ISBN-13: 978-0275957179
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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