Book Review #The Woman with a Purple Heart #Diane Hanks #Sourcebooks Landmark Publisher # World War II Historical Fiction

 

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

This novel by Diane Hanks is a very interesting and gripping narrative of connected events that happened in 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Annie Fox returned from her transfer from the country Philippines in 1940 and was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii. She was transferred to Hickam Air Field Station Hospital, a small ward-bed facility with six nurses, after passing the exam to become Chief Nurse there. Assuming the job of Chief Nurse, Annie Fox, or 1st Lieutenant Fox as she was known in the Army, arrived at Station Hospital on Hickam Field in November 1941. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, causing widespread destruction and devastation to hospitals across the island. Annie, in charge of Hickam, faced deafening noise, bombs, and enemy aircraft, while staff tried to save wounded patients. In Honolulu, Hawaii, Hickam Field served as the Army's main airfield and bomber facility. It was close to Pearl Harbor, the principal Pacific hub for the US Navy. As the title of this novel captured my attention I understood that Army Lt. Annie G. Fox was the first female wearer of the Purple Heart in 1942 for her bravery during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Purple Heart was awarded for 

“outstanding performance of duty and meritorious acts of extraordinary fidelity. . .

During the attack, Lieutenant Fox, in an exemplary manner, performed her duties as head Nurse of the Station Hospital. . .

in addition, she administered anesthesia to patients during the heaviest part of the bombardment, assisted in dressing the wounded, taught civilian volunteer nurses to make dressings, and worked ceaselessly with coolness and efficiency, Her fine example of calmness, courage, and leadership was of great benefit to the morale of all with whom she came in contact...”

Many more American servicemen would probably have perished if not for the bravery and promptness of ladies like Annie Fox. I had never heard of Annie Fox at Pearl Harbor bombings before until I read the novel.

Fox received the Purple Heart for her outstanding service on the morning of December 7, 1941. She was recognized for her ability to calmly carry out her responsibilities as the station hospital's head nurse, which included supervising volunteer nurses and delivering anesthesia despite being heavily bombarded by Japanese forces. 

I adore the author's writing and the intense research on the events in 1941 WW2 between Japan and the USA. Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publisher for a complimentary digital copy for my honest review.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Based on the real life of Lieutenant Annie Fox, Chief Nurse of Hickam Hospital, The Woman with a Purple Heart is an inspiring WWII novel of heroic leadership, courage, and friendship that also exposes a shocking and shameful side of history.

Annie Fox will stop at nothing to serve her country. But what happens when her country fails her?

In November 1941, Annie Fox, an Army nurse, is transferred to Hickam Field, an air force base in Honolulu. The others on her transport plane are thrilled to work in paradise, but Annie sees her new duty station as the Army's way of holding the door open to her retirement. But serving her country is her calling and she will go wherever she is told.

On December 7, Annie's on her way to work when the first Japanese Zero fighter plane flies low over Hickam's Parade Ground. The death and destruction that follow leave her no time to process what's happening. She rallies her nurses, and they work to save as many lives as they can. But soon their small hospital is overwhelmed. Annie drives into Honolulu to gather supplies, nurses, and several women who will donate blood. However, the nurses are Japanese Americans, and the blood donors are prostitutes. 

Under Annie's leadership and working together in unexpected ways, they make it through that horrific day, when one of the Japanese-American nurses and Annie's friend, Kay, is arrested as a suspected subversive. As Hickam tries to recover, Annie works to find her friend and return Kay to her family. But Annie's love for her country is put to the test. How can she reconcile the American bravery and resilience she saw on December 7 with the prejudice and injustice she witnesses just a few months later?

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks Landmark (November 7, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
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About the author

DIANE HANKS

Diane Hanks has a BFA in Creative Writing from Roger Williams University and an MA in Professional Writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. A medical writer by day, she has written numerous screenplays and recently returned to her first love—writing novels. Diane also is a mentor for the Writers Guild Initiative, which makes the art of storytelling accessible to underserved populations. When not writing, she enjoys walking by the river near her home.