Dedicated to ApacheFran and Other Vietnam Nurses on Memorial Day

[Woodmonkey]

Nurses

These are the Veterans of Vietnam we hear nothing about,
and what they went through - but we never say a pout,
when we were real bad beside our beds they were knelt,
keeping us smiling - despite how we felt.

They had no idea of what we'd been through,
and had no idea of what we were returning to,
a lot of us believe that they went through more than us,
because everyday they were ankle deep in the blood and the buts.

As the song was written "and the beat goes on",
but then "9 to 5" was the title of another song,
all they saw was death, destruction and misery,
but yet for us a smiling face was all we could see.

They sat and talked to some during their last surviving hours,
and then supposedly forget them with a long cold shower,
we were wounded, scared and homesick all at one time,
but they never failed to cheer us or give us a good sign.
Yes, if you ask me their blood flows red, white and blue,
dear round eyes what would we have done without you,
so give them the statue they deserve with outs and then,
we'll be able to say once mores,
TOGETHER THEN - TOGETHER AGAIN!

Written from the heart by Galen Hoover

Click here to see the source of this story

[Woodmonkey]

Hello, David

Hello, David--my name is Dusty.
I'm your night nurse.
I will stay with you.
I will check your vitals
every 15 minutes.
I will document
inevitability.
I will hang more blood
and give you something
for your pain.
I will stay with you
and I will touch your face.

Yes, of course,
I will write your mother
and tell her you were brave.
I will write your mother
and tell her how much you loved her.
I will write your mother
and tell her to give your bratty kid sister
a big kiss and hug.
What I will not tell her
is that you were wasted.

I will stay with you
and I will hold your hand.
I will stay with you
and watch your life
flow through my fingers
into my soul.
I will stay with you
until you stay with me.

Goodbye, David---my name is Dusty.
I'm the last person
you will see.
I'm the last person
you will touch.
I'm the last person
who will love you.

So long, David--my name is Dusty.
David--who will give me something
for my pain?

Click here to see the source

[las47032]

Woodmonkey

Thanks for posting about the nurses who served in Vietnam.

I agree about the nurses not getting much attention.

Here are some links about the combat nurses who served in country.

All About Military Nurses in Vietnam
http://www.illyria.com/vnwnurse.html

Bibliography of Military Nurses in Viet Nam
http://www.illyria.com/nursebib.html

Many Women Served in Vietnam
http://www.illyria.com/vnwmany.html


Nurses who died in Vietnam

Women of the Wall
http://thewall-usa.com/women/index.htm

Women Who Died in the Vietnam War
http://www.illyria.com/women/vnwlist.html


Also, Lynda Van Devanter, Army, Vietnam War, nurse passed away at age 55 on 15 November 2002. Death is attributed to Agent Orange. She served with the 71st Evacuation Hospital, Pleiku from 1969 to 1970, and her life history motivated China Beach.

Devanter authored the book, "Home Before Morning," publication about her life before and after her tour in Vietnam, and emphasized women's battle with PTSD and Agent Orange.


Lynda Van Devanter
http://www.illyria.com/women/vn_lynda.htm

Taps Gallery, Vietnam Veterans Home Page
http://www.vietvet.org/tapsgal.htm

I don't go off to war, so they--
Who then
Has worn my boots?
And whose memories are these
Of blood, of burns
Of dressings and blank stares,
Of heartaches, of sadness,
Of duty, of love and honor?
I haven't known fear
Of rockets and mortars
And enemy guerillas, so they say.
For I'm a Woman--
I don't off to war
Why then
Did I cradle you in my arms,
Young soldier,
As the lights went out
And deafening barrage
Crashed through my helmet?
As chaos around
Left be burning
With anger and fear
As our hospital
Submits to attack?
It's not noble,
It's not fair,
What are the rules?
These men have no weapons
As they lay suffering
Under steel beds--Is this their protection?
Yes. And it's their hell.
Man or woman,
We are prey
To inhumanity
And to suffer
And survive together.

I'm a woman
And I have tasted
Man's hell-- his war.
I have taken his blood,
His limbs and his life
To unknown places.
And he has asked
Nothing of me.
He knows
I'm a woman
And I am in his war
And that I love him
In no greater way
Than to care
And share in his
Life or his
Death.
For he knows
I cannot prevent
That unknown place
Called Heaven or Hell--
He knows it better than I.
It is then I realize
His concern for me
As he says
Nurse, how are you?
For he knows
I'm not at war
And I'm a woman.
Please don't forget me--
I've been through war's hell
And only if you'll listen
I've a story
Of young men and their valor
Who bled
for us all.

Diane Carlson Evans served in the Army Nurse Corps from 1966-1972, and was at the 71st EVAC in Pleiku in 1968-1969.

Copied. VVA Veteran Volume 4, Number 4

[JohnRN]

I agree that nurses don't get much recognition as it is - I'm ssoon to become one

But the lot of our medical staff of the armed forces is bad enough anyways. But as one veteran told me - he doesn't need recognistion nor platitudes. Just playing with the grandchildren of the "boy" he managed to somehow save in the jungle decades ago is reward enough.

I don't disagree with awarding them more recognistion though.

Here's to the nurses of the Armed services - may they reach greater heights still!

[AT3Weins]

Nurses are unsung heroes. It is a shame they don't receive any real recognition.

[11th/ACR Scout]

>>>>>>>>>>>Very Good Katie<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Nurses of Vietnam deserve a lot more recognition then they got...

There relentlessness and caring saved many a man...

"God Bless Them All"

Even the occasional Nurse Ratchet...

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