The woman

rankie is raised in a privileged, sheltered household in Southern California, where her family glorifies military service—especially that of men. When her brother deploys to Vietnam, Frankie is inspired to do her part and joins the Army Nurse Corps. She is sent to a field hospital in Vietnam, where she experiences the brutal realities of war firsthand: the chaos of battlefield injuries, death, trauma, and the bonds formed between medics and soldiers. During her service, Frankie evolves from a naïve girl into a capable, strong woman. She forms close friendships with other nurses and struggles with the emotional and psychological toll of what she witnesses. After returning home, however, she is met with indifference, shame, and even hostility—a stark contrast to how male veterans are (sometimes reluctantly) received. Back in the U.S., Frankie feels alienated and haunted by PTSD. The novel explores her journey through grief, addiction, and recovery as she tries to rebuild her life in a country that refuses to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of women in the war.