Bedpan Commando: The Story of a Combat Nurse During World War II

by June Wandrey

Laughingly labeled a BEDPAN COMMANDO by the troops, June Wandrey recorded WWII from ambulance and tent as her mobile surgical unit followed the infantry. BEDPAN COMMANDO is a nurse's story of a man's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0962555509
• ISBN13: 9780962555503
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Elmore Publishing Company
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

What would happen if it were like that today?

In the early 1990s I met June Wandrey at an army reunion I attended with my parents. I purchased a copy of "Bedpan Commandos" at that reunion and she graciously autographed it. It is an autobiographical work detailing some of June's experiences as a military nurse during World War II. I am a civilian who works in a US Army hospital (not as a doctor or nurse) and have allowed a few Army nurses to read it. It opened their eyes to see the trials and tribulations military nurses suffered during World War II. One should also realize that nurses could possibly, under similar conditions, do some of the same things June described. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in reading a piece of history, and especially to anyone in the nursing profession, or considering a career in nursing, civilian or military, to see what can happen "when the chips are down." "Bedpan Commando" contributed to my respect for those who served to protect this great nation and made me realize I don't have things so bad, and that a THANK YOU is deserved by those nurses. This is definetly a must read.

A Fascinating Look into a Different Time and Place

This book contains the letters and journals of a WWII nurse written as she was stationed overseas during the war. I had no idea just how close to the front lines these nurses worked and the difficult conditions under which they worked until I read her book. It makes you wonder whether you'd have had the ability to withstand the things June withstood. This book was also made memorable by the handwritten notes June added to the pictures and first page. Thanks, June! Two other excellent books I would recommend that add to the picture of American women's experiences during WWII are "Dearest Ones" and "No Time for Fear".

What a memoir!

This book brings to life the experience of one of the nurses in my book, No Time For Fear: Voices of American Military Nurses in World War II. June Wandrey's wonderful memoir relates what army nurses of the 10th Field Hospital experienced and Esther Edwards is one of the nurses who shared some of the day-to-day ordeals. I had interviewed June Wandrey when beginning research for my book, and she had just published her own. What a woman! She inspired me to seek out more nurses of her era, resulting in more than 100 oral histories of army and navy nurses who served overseas. Thank you June!

Authentic Letters and Diary of WWII Army Nurse

Great book! This WWII army nurse tells it as it really was for those brave girls who enlisted in WWII and grew up very fast under combat conditions. Remember, all this happened at a time when nice girls lived at home until the day they married. These brave young women volunteered to serve under difficult and dangeous conditions and did so with honor, bravery, and humor. A must read for WWII buffs and military personnel of all wars, police actions, and conflicts. WWII military women are the grandmothers and aunts of today's modern army, which is now 15% women. Yes, I'm a Vietnam-era vet myself, which is why it's so important to have the stories told. Lest we forget, women are veterans, too; and we did our jobs as well as the men, if not better (and frequently in high heels). Read this and learn why PTSD is no respector of gender. Fabulous book -- a great gift for any WWII survivor or other vet. A must-have for your military book collection.

Bedpan Commando a great WWII narrative of a combat nurse.

This narrative account by a WWII combat nurse accurately describes the day to day activities of a nurse serving in the combat zone.Skillfully written,sometimes grim and deadly serious,yet with many humerous episodes.You won't be able to put it down.Most interesting and entertaining.