Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II - And If I Perish

A gripping book!

The authors keep you turning page after page as you follow in the footsteps of the U.S. Army nurses of World War II.

"Suddenly, the barge Haskell was in stopped its foward motion, dropped its bow ramp, and GIs farthest forward disembarked into a cold, choppy sea and began wading toward the beach. Haskell was shocked to see tall men disappear up to their necks in the Mediterranean. She watched as two of the shorter nurses in her party followed the soldiers and sank up to their eyes in cold, gray-green salt water." (excert from Operation Torch)

If the American public had known these nurses were wading ashore on D-day invasions, there would have been hell to pay!!

These nurses were a lifeline for our troops! By their very presence on the frontline hospitals, they gave hope to the wounded.

Very little has been published, in comparison, about the nurses who served alongside our military during World War II. You will read about the first Silver Star to be awarded to a woman, about their constant packing up and moving the hospitals forward, as the battles shifted and the front line moved forward, along with a sudden retreat where the enemy was only minutes away!

Some of the nurses survived the bombing of their hospital ship, only to be later placed on another hospital ship that also was bombed. Both ships had to be evacuated. The Battle at Anzio beachhead saw the continual bombing of the Army hospitals there, with many patients wounded again from shrapnel as they lay healing in the medical tents. Tents which were clearly marked with a giant Red Cross, per the Geneva Convention.

You won't regret one minute of your time spent reading this book!

This is an extremely well written and interesting book, covering a part of America's World War II history which has been sadly neglected. Almost half of the 59,000 female nurses who volunteered for the US Armed Forces during WWII served overseas. During the course of the conflict approximately 1600 of these nurses were decorated for their actions, receiving Distinguished Service Medals, Silver and Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts, among other awards. More than 70 of these nurses were captured and 217 died of injuries and illness, 16 as the result of enemy action. The authors spent over a decade tracking down surviving nurses and their friends and families in order to compile this well documented, personal and most entertaining book. Several of the key figures are followed from their recruitment before and during the early stages of the war throughout the entire North African and European campaigns. The rich detail and often tragic first-person accounts of landing with the Allies, particularly in North Africa, and the hard learned lessons of American unpreparedness for war are told with stark straight forwardness by those who participated. The authors have professionally woven in the larger strategic backdrop, along with significant tactical explanations, in a manner that tells the reader how the nurses and their various hospitals fit into the bigger scheme of the war. The nurses come alive through their narration, putting a very human face on horrific living and working conditions as their units keep close to the combatants. The portion of the book dealing with the nurses' struggles on the Anzio beachhead brings into sharp focus their absolute dedication to their profession under the most extreme of circumstances. This book is exceptionally well researched, with numbers and types of casualties treated in the various theaters of war routinely given, clearly putting emphasis to the great magnitude of what was being accomplished. A number of excellent photographs throughout the text show quite graphically the dangers of front line nursing and hospitals, the faces of the primary narrators and the environments in which they labored. This book will be a wonderful companion to the other great histories of WWII and is highly recommended.

"And if I Perish" is one of the best histories I've read lately (and I read a lot of histories!). Monahan and Neidel-Greenlee have done a great job of balancing history and medicine. If you are an historian, you won't get lost in medical jargon, and vice versa. They do get a little heavy with statistics, but if you aren't allergic to numbers like I am, they can paint an amazing picture of the tremendous load under which these true American heroines functioned. The personal reminiscences were the best part about the book, as you felt as if you were having a chat with the nurses in your living room. I recently found out that one of my cousins served in these campaigns, and because of this book, I have a greater appreciation for her sacrifices and a new respect for these unsung heroines.

I love nurses, especially World War II nurses who never got their due, despite their stalwart courage in the face of Axis bombing and shelling.
AND IF I PERISH traces the nurses' involvement from their landing (at the same time as the regular troops) in North Africa, to Sicily, to Anzio and the push northward in Italy, to the Normandy invasion, to the invasion of Germany and finally to the liberation of Nazi concentration camps.
30,000 nurses served in combat zones on the front lines of every American battlefield and yet they were treated like second-class officers. Most of them received "general" commissions, never rising above second lieutenant. Enlisted men were not required to salute them. Back home they were often viewed as prostitutes and lesbians. A woman living among unmarried men? What sort of woman would subject herself to that sort of scandal?
Unfortunately, the writing in AND IF I PERISH doesn't do these women justice. Hardly any of the nurses come alive and only one of the wounded soldiers is mentioned by name. Two of the nurses, however, are very memorable. Lt. Claudine "Speedy" Glidewell, who was almost killed when her hospital ship was bombed by the Germans, and Lt. "Frenchie" Miernicke. Frenchie tells off an uppity surgeon who treats her like a servant, and in the most touching anecdote in the book, Speedy's grandson, rather than do a report on Cleopatra, chooses his grandma instead.
Two incidents show the bravery of these remarkable women. When the American troops landed at Anzio their advance was stopped by the Germans and they were hemmed in near the harbor for months. There was no fallback position for the hospitals and the Germans would hurl artillery shells over the nurses tents, sometimes coming up short sometimes overshooting, sometimes scoring a direct hit. Yet the nurses stayed and did their duty. Also, during the Battle of the Bulge, the chief nurse was told to choose five nurses to stay behind to help patients who could not be moved. This was immediately after seventy some troops had been massacred by the Germans. Yet when she asked for volunteers more than fire volunteered, risking imprisonment or death.
Sixteen army nurses were killed by enemy action, 201 lost their lives due to illness or accidents. Many nurses received the DSM, the Silver Star, the DFC and the purple heart. Yet, when they returned home they were expected to return to their old roles as homemakers. Many relished this return to normalcy but for others this was just not possible. These women went on to further challenges and would become symbols to the next generation of women who fought for equal rights for their gender.

These authors have found the way to incorporate the individual nurse's story with the overall history of WWII in the European Theater.
In order to verify an incident in my book I reread the whole book, unable to put it down. The sinking of the HMHS Newfoundland is one example of an experience you won't find in many history books. The U.S. Army nurses on board tell of an exciting escape, and how they then continued on to their next station. Many wonderful stories like this.

Diane Burke Fessler, NO TIME FOR FEAR, VOICES OF AMERICAN MILITARY NURSES IN WORLD WAR II

I have wanted to write this review since I finished "And If I Perish", but, quite frankly, I did not know how to start. As a lifelong reader, a woman of a "certain age" and an English teacher, I must have read thousands of books over the years. This one is, quite simply, the best book I have ever read. One of the jacket cover comments uses the word, masterpiece, that barely describes it.
The authors have done a magnificent job of weaving a seamless saga from the early days of WW II in North Africa, up through Italy and France and into Berlin. While I have read many books that chronicle the experiences of several people it was always difficult to keep them straight without a great deal of re-reading. Not so with these nurses, they are all recalled with no effort at all. While this is in no doubt due to Monahan & Neidel-Greenlee's formidable talents as authors, it is also because of these incredible nurses themselves. They were all of the things their daughters demonstrated about. They were brave, dedicated, self-reliant, tough, funny, compassionate, smart and inspiring. I am in awe of every one of them. They stand among the greats of the Greatest generation.
Monahan and Niedel-Greenlee have done us all a great service by telling this story. Thank you both.

I LOVE this book. I have read it a few times. I was given the book by my mother, who it was given to by my grandfather Berchard Louie 'Junior' Glant. I always heard the stories of how my grandfather lost his arm in WWII and one of my favorites was that in the middle of a fight he had to use the restroom and raised his hand and someone shot it off. I was so little back then that i didn't know really how it happened. Finally a few years ago, i was told the real story. Then i was fortunate enough to read about it in this book. Little things remind me of just how funny my papaw was. About how he was gonna let his friends son keep his prosthetic arm to play with. That was definitely my papaw. He passed away last November and we were able to donate his prosthetic arms to be used for others who might need them. He will forever be missed. But i am thankful for all the nurses and soldiers who fought for our country (and the ones that still do), and i am glad that i will have this book to be able to read over and over again. I recommend it to anyone.

For way too long has this story been untold. What a great book!!! What a great Christmas/Hanukkah present to give to family and friends. If I had my way, every American would read AND IF I PERISH, as soon as possible. It makes clear in a very readible way that Americans owe their freedom not just to the men who fought in WWII, but to the thousands of women, who served on the frontlines in order to help bring our fathers, brothers, sons, nephews, and friends home safely. One scene that was particularly touching to me was when a young US Army nurse in Anzio, Italy is ordered to prepare the body of a sister Army nurse for burial following her death after German artillery shells fell on the hospital tents on the beach head. As she washes and dresses the body, the young Lieutenant talks to her friend and tells her how sorry she is, that they have to meet again like this. This scene is even more poignant in that it takes place in a large tent used as the hospital morgue and the young Lieutenant is literally surrounded by death. Army nurses are not usually the heros of books, but after reading AND IF I PERISH, I think they should be.

There are no words to describe the feelings that are evoked by the reading of this book. It grabs you from the very beginning, artfully draws you in and holds you until the turning of the final page. As a nurse and a historian of all things nursing, this book will hold a place of honor in my collection. Thank you to Evelyn Monahan and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee for recognizing that these stories should and must be told before it is too late. The contributions that these women made to the lives of the soldiers cannot be underestimated. Thank you to all those who served and to the authors for creating the vehicle for these stories to be told.

This book looks at the European theater of World War II from the prospective
of Army nurses and the hospitals that followed not far behind and sometimes
along with the fighting soldiers. I do not know exactly why but I learned so
much about World War II that I did not know before. Perhaps it is because I
identified with the hospital and medical environment. I spent my whole
career working in hospital maintenance and operations. I came to admire nurses
in the Veterans Administration Medical Centers for their knowledge and resorcefulness
and common sense. After reading this book, my admiration for the nursing profession
has increased even more. The book follows the lives of several nurses and also gives
a very enlightning overview of the whole war. The book is based on
completely footnoted research. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in history
or the medical and nursing profession. This book provides recognition for the vital
and very dangerous part nurses contributed to our winning World War II.

I found this extraordinarily comprehensive book to be very well written and informative beyond expectation! While reading the personal accounts, I often felt as if I were there with these courageous women, experiencing the challenging conditions, numbing sadness, and occasional joy. This expressive syle of writing adds immeasureably to the portrayl of an historic account. Of course, it also creates a pleasurable reading experience. Thank you so very much, Evelyn Monahan and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee, and US Army nurses, as well!

If history had been taught like this when I was in school, I might have become an historian instead of a nurse. AND IF I PERISH makes it very clear that history is alive with wonderful stories and heroes yet unsung. I thank Monahan and Neidel-Greenlee for writing a book that is meticulous in the facts it presents, and thoroughly enjoyable as a good read----a combination not often found in books dealing with historical subjects. I hope these two authors will grace us with many more books in the future. As for AND IF I PERISH, it should be designated a national treasure and read by every American. It belongs in every library and on the bookshelves of every home. Once I began reading, I could not put it down. Wonderful, Wonderful!

I was expecting this book to be a dull read and having to force myself to turn the pages. However, after reading just the prologue, I was completely drawn into the storyline. Very well written! The authors have captured the essence of the lives, experiences and true character of these angels of mercy. These "ordinary" women and their stories will stay with you long after the last page is turned. An overall stunning tribute to these forgotten veterans of the Greatest Generation.

Mankind has insufficient understanding of what womankind has brought to the table.

Unfortunately, American culture has too often not given women the credit and reward they deserve. Monahan and Neidel-Greenlee have created an expansive chronicle of nurse (primarily women) contributions throughout the WW II fields of combat. While I do have some criticisms of the writing style and the authors' focus priorities and interpretations, my critiques are immaterial compared to the importance of more people understanding the outlines and frameworks of the massive, intelligent, and sacrificial efforts these women freely gave.

I found this book to be a gripping account of an era of unselfish dedication to ones duty to both country and professional calling. Credibility is gained from strong first party stories that resulted from meticulous research by the authors. For me, perhaps the greatest inspiration was in the picture painted by the authors of the evolution of the role of U.S. Military women in the 20th century despite the many obstacles they endured and overcame both inside and outside the military and political institutions of the time.

This book should be required reading for all nursing students and nurses who think they have it bad. The nurses of WWII did so much with so little for so many and they are an inspiration to all of us in the nursing profession. They showed compassion, bravery, ingenuity, and loyalty to their patients, co-workers, and even German POWs. The many details about battles, troop movements, weather, and terrain only make them more wonderful in my eyes!

My Mom was in the Army Nurse Corps in the EAME Theatre and received 4 Bronze Service Stars and 5 O/S Service bars during her military service. I was always interested to know what experiences she had, however she was reluctant to speak of those memories. After reading this book, I can understand why. "And If I Perish" is a great read to help one understand the dedication of the women of World War II and what they had to endure.

I loved this book. It is a powerful history of the dedicated women who risked their lives, experienced the emotional toll inflicted on participants in a war zone and whose efforts saved countless numbers of wounded soldiers. Many of them lost their lives or suffered the trauma of losing colleagues as well as the patients under their care. It is told from their perspective and in their own words, in many cases. It's time their contribution was recognized and assigned its proper place in the history and heroic stories of WWII.

Nurses have ben on the front lines since the civil war and they continue to serve.......after finishing this book I read Band of Angels, the true story of the nurses who were captured by the Japanese when Bataan and Corregidor were taken. Proud to be an R.N. and proud of my sisters who serve.

"And If I Perish" was recommended to me by a 5th Army nurse who was in Italy during the war and I found this book to be a great deal more than anticipated. A excellent reference that provides an insight into the daily lives and sacrifices of those in the medical corp who served. A must read for those interested in the war in North Africa and Italy.

And If I Perish: Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II Wow! This is, hands down, one of the best books I have read about World War II. Not only did it give the true story of the nurses on the front lines, but wove the chronology of the war, starting in North Africa, up to the end of the war. You don't have to be a nurse to be fascinated by this outstanding history of the the war.

I found myself crying. I could only read a few pages at a time, in some parts of the book. I found out things about WW2 I didn't know.
If you love history, you would love this book. Nothing I read is in regular history books.

Outstanding book!
Monahan & Neidel-Greenlee tell these women's story of their personal experience in the context of the overall military background and situation at the time. Compelling reading, educates, informs, entertains and raises a profound sense of awareness of the Army Nurse Corps in WWII.
A great read and now I must read their other books!