 |
|
|
Title: Women and War
Author: Violet Davis Camp
ISBN: 1-4137-1041-7
Published Date: 2004
Publisher: Publish America
Page Length: 138
Genre: Nonfiction
Reviewer: Linda Germain
Available From:
Publish America http://www.publishamerica.com/
shopping/index.htm
Amazon http://www.amazon.com
(Search by ISBN or title)
This little book is full of true stories told by women who served their country, with stalwart support of their military husbands and by keeping the homes fires burning when he went off to war. These "silent warrior wives," as the author calls them, share experiences from 1941 to 2003. That includes World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.
Ms. Camp says she got the idea for Women and War while watching Marines on television who were on their way to Iraq. Having been a wife whose husband had a job that only allowed him to come home once a month, and all the challenges she faced alone, she wondered how the spouses of these brave military folk coped.
Most of the chapters begin with a black and white picture of the husband and wife. Sometimes he is in his uniform. At the end of each letter these women have sent to her, the author has written a short poem about that particular couple's situation.
Memories the women shared reveal the untold sacrifices many war brides made (and make). No matter the year in that span of 62, there seemed to be a universal loneliness that embraced this unique sorority called "military wives." The determination to support and love their husbands rang true in every response. The feelings of anguish in not knowing what was happening, or not hearing, or even those scary moments seeing an unknown car drive up with what might be dreaded bad news, was expressed in more than one story. There were also times of joy found in the letters that would finally arrive, or the once-in-a-while phone calls back then, to the e-mails in more recent times.
The other thread that ran through this diverse group of women was the strength to carry on through thick and thin. When they were allowed to accompany their men who were deployed to foreign countries, the living conditions could be pretty grim. Some told of having to climb many flights of stairs with babies and groceries, of pitiful laundry facilities in basements, and of cramped quarters, but throughout, there was a theme of real love in their commitment to their husbands.
Even in the face of depression, illness, fear, and sometimes extreme youth, these female voices from different generations have an obvious common bond: courage. They may have taken a deep trembling breath and stepped out into strange territory and away from the safety of their parents' homes, but through faith, and sometimes sheer will, they emerged from these war-forced separations and challenges as stronger and more independent women.
The experiences these women recount, and the examples they set by standing tall beside their husbands, may serve as an encouragement for today's military wives or, for that matter, any wife. The survival of those who lived through conditions specific to war, and their flourishing as a helpmate in the midst of those tough experiences, is a validation of the deep love and respect for the men they married.
The author puts it most succinctly in her introduction. "None of the women ever jumped ship or gave up; yes, they were all lonely and afraid, but they all had hope. They were committed to their marriage vows and loved their husbands with a passion." Their individual personal memories in this collection of stories testify to that.
|
|
|
|
|
