On the Mall in the U.S. Capital of Washington, D.C. there is a statue dedicated to the 10,000 American women, civilian and military, who served in Viet Nam. Over 6,000 women served as nurses or medical specialists in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Over 500 women served as administrative specialists with the Army and the Marines. In addition untold numbers of Red Cross, Special Services, Civil Service and Recreation Specialists served in Viet Nam in support of American soldiers. Eight military women and 55 civilian women lost their lives while serving in Viet Nam.
While these numbers are very small in relation to the Vietnamese women’s contributions, they did provide the basis for a major expansion of women into the American military after Viet Nam.
Many of the women veterans who returned from Viet Nam suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because they lacked role models, outlets to discuss their military service with other veterans, and in the case of nurses and medical personnel, many of them remained in the medical professions which served as a reminder of their combat experiences, performing triage and dealing with deaths and injuries. The contribution of American women veterans, both military and civilian, is little noted or understood but a fitting subject for further study. And their contributions far exceeded their actual numbers of participants.
The paper will include a bibliography of twenty of the best references, book and film, for further study.