Only those who were wounded severely or who had to endure a long convalescence were flown back to the U.S. Many persons have commented on what a depressing job it must have been to nurse wounded soldiers and sailors while they were being flown stateside. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The experiences of flight nurses and technicians with the wounded were exhilarating and interesting. The patients were in excellent spirits, mainly because they were getting out of the warzone and headed back to “normal” living. Most of them did not dwell on the future with their handicaps, just for the present if going home.
I vividly recall a baby-faced youngster of 19 who had been blinded by drinking buzz bomb fluid. I asked him why he did it. "Were you such a desperate alcoholic?” “No, I did it on a dare. When you’re in the war you don’t think of consequences or the future; you take your kicks for the present and figure tomorrow will bring what it will. Probably one won't be there for the morrow anyway."
Our work as flight nurses included very little physical nursing; we were on the planes, mainly to ease their discomfort during transit. Therefore we mainly talked to our patients, listened to them talk of their military experiences. They particularly enjoyed just having us with them; the soothing touch of our hands on their faces or hair. "I haven't seen an American woman for so long," they would say, “ I forgot how pretty you are.” It wasn’t a come-on or suggestive flirtation - just an expression of their feelings.
Only one wounded GI - in my 30-40 flights - who made an obscene comment. And it wasn’t just me. All the flight nurses to whom I talked had the same experience. Our patients were so appreciative, uncomplaining and happy to be en route that it made our job rewarding and ego-gratifying.
I learned a lot about the war from my patients. They told me about the people of the countries where they had been stationed, the food and climates that they had experienced, of relationships with their buddies in service. Seldom did they discuss their feelings, fears or actual battle scenes. These, I suppose were still buried in their subconscious.
I recall believing all the propaganda we had been fed: our side is the good side and our men are always fair, honest, kind and humane. What a shock to learn that some atrocities had been committed by our troops too. For example, I was told of an incident where 8 or 9 enemy soldiers were captured a long way from our line and killing those who were unable to walk back. Or the looting of homes or dead soldiers. Almost every GI had some souvenir; a German helmet, gun, wrist watch or ring.
After a few trips I was no longer shocked by these tales of atrocities, realized they were part of warfare. These men had learned to kill or be killed and to do this they had become brutalized, numb to suffering, not to see an opponent as a man like themself but as a monster, different and vicious.
I don't know how I would react if I underwent their experience but I do know that I learned from them that war is hellish. In fact, this exposure led to my resolution to work for peace as an imperative option to war.
END
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