Book Review "The Women" by Kristin Hannah: Judgement, War, and the Forgotten Stories

 

Judgement, War, and the Forgotten Stories

 After reading the book “The Women” by Kristen Hannah, I reflected on the human cost of war, the danger of easy judgement, and the people history sometimes forgets. 

War is often remembered in headlines, history books, and politic. Rarely do we pause to consider the people who lived it. The young men and women sent to fight, the nurses who cared for the wounded, and the veterans who returned home carrying unseen scars…how often do we truly understand their stories? Reading “The Women” reminded me that behind every conflict there are real people, and sometimes the most important lessons come from simply listening.

The War I Remember as a Student

 When the Vietnam War was happening, I was a high school student in Australia. I remember hearing about the war on the news and seeing demonstrations against it. At the time I did not fully understand the anger directed toward the soldiers who had returned from Vietnam.

Many of those young men had not volunteered. They were conscripted through the national service ballot. Refusing to serve could lead to serious legal consequences. They were young and often simply obeyed the law and the orders of their country.

When they finally came home, many were met not with gratitude, but with criticism and judgment. I remember a teacher at my school—Fay Lopo, who was a Labor Party candidate at the time—openly condemning those who had gone to war. Even as a student, I struggled to understand that anger. These were people who had little choice; they were obeying the laws of their country and serving as they were required to. The idea of an adult, let alone a teacher, criticising young people for doing their duty never made sense to me. 

The Forgotten Women

Reading “The Women” revealed something I had never really considered before—the role of women in that war.

The novel tells the story of Frankie, a young nurse who serves in Vietnam and witnesses the horrors of war in hospital tents and operating rooms. These women cared for the wounded, comforted the dying, and lived with the emotional trauma of what they saw.

Yet for many years their service was barely acknowledged. History often remembers wars through political debates and military strategies, but it can forget the individuals who quietly carried the human cost.

 This is true not just in the United States—Australian women who served, particularly nurses, also faced delayed recognition for their bravery and sacrifice. Their stories remind us that heroism often goes unseen.  

Judgement and Understanding

The book made me reflect on a larger truth: it is easy to judge people who served in wars from a distance. Many of the young men and women sent to Vietnam did not start the war, did not make the decisions, and often had little choice about being there. Some witnessed horrors and suffered trauma, yet they returned home to criticism.

 Wars are decided by governments, but the burden falls on ordinary people. This is still true today. Veterans in Australia and elsewhere can be criticised or dismissed, even by those who have never served. The lesson is humility: we can question policies and governments while still recognising the humanity of those who served. Behind every uniform is a person, with a life, a family, and experiences that may leave permanent marks.

True understanding comes when we pause, listen, and reflect before passing judgement. 

A Harmony Haven Reflection

Soldiers often defend the very freedoms that allow people to question, protest, and debate. Yet sometimes, the weight of judgement falls most heavily on those who carried out their duty, rather than on the decisions that placed them there.

This raises difficult and uncomfortable questions: How do we seek truth without losing compassion? How do we pursue accountability without condemning those who may have had little choice? How do we honour service while still acknowledging the complexity of war?

Perhaps before we judge, we are being invited to pause—to recognise that most of us have never stood in those moments, never faced those choices, and may never fully understand what they require.

So maybe the deeper question is this:

If most of us have never stood in those life-and-death moments, is it truly just to judge those who were asked to act within them?

Stories like this remind us how easily judgement can take the place of understanding. War is not lived in headlines or debate. It is lived by people. Many soldiers are young, placed in situations they did not choose, asked to act in moments where decisions are made under fear, confusion, and survival. In those moments, it is not theory or politics—it is life or death.

At the same time, societies have the right to ask questions, seek truth, and hold institutions accountable. These are vital freedoms. But perhaps wisdom lies in how we hold these realities together: don’t be quick to judge if you have never been in a war zone, and don’t take reports at face value, especially when media outlets may have their own agendas.

For example, a recent court case involving the ABC and Heston Russell illustrates this tension. The ABC reported alleged misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. Heston Russell argued the reporting was false and harmed his personal and professional reputation. The court found some aspects of the reporting were inaccurate and that the ABC could not fully rely on public interest as a defense. As a result, Russell was awarded damages, meaning the ABC had to compensate him.

This case highlights how media narratives can sometimes disregard the sacrifices of soldiers, shaping public opinion while overlooking the danger and responsibility these individuals face. Living far from conflict, it is easy to forget the weight of service and the human lives involved.

Soldiers often defend the very freedoms that allow us to question, debate, and speak openly. Yet perhaps our truest act of respect is to seek understanding before judgement, remembering the extraordinary circumstances under which they serve.

So maybe before making a judgement ask yourself:

If you had to make life-or-death decisions under fear and confusion, how would you want others to understand your choices?

A Bible Verse to Close  

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” - Ephesians 4:2

This verse reminds us to approach others with humility and compassion, especially those who have lived through hardships we may never fully understand.

If you feel drawn to reflect more deeply on these themes, you may wish to explore The Women by Kristen Hannah.

To Sum Up

Reading “The Women” by Kristen Hannah made me reflect on how society treated veterans of the Vietnam War.Many were young, some were conscripted, and many carried the burden of decisions they did not make. Before judging others, we should first try to understand the human story behind the headlines.