Twelve women turned the Pacific war’s tide by flying into Iwo Jima and Okinawa to evacuate wounded soldiers. Their daring missions saved thousands of American lives.
The Forgotten Heroes of the Pacific
Leah Garrett, author and Hunter College professor, told The Daily Wire that her new book chronicles how these Navy nurses saved thousands of lives. She said the story had been overlooked for decades.
“I wanted to tell the story because my great‑uncle served as a medic in the Pacific and I had heard a rumor that women flew into Iwo Jima,” Garrett said during a telephone interview. Garrett emphasized the personal connection to the narrative.
The program selected twelve Navy nurses who already held nursing degrees and volunteered for ship duty, then subjected them to grueling physical training and unpressurized aircraft flight instruction. The women learned to manage medical care without doctors onboard.
Armed with medical kits and authority to command pilots to adjust cabin pressure, the women flew solo missions from Guam to Iwo Jima and later Okinawa, evacuating thousands of injured troops amid ongoing combat. They operated under constant fire and sniper threats.
Garrett noted that Japanese forces treated Red Cross medics as legitimate targets, making rapid evacuation essential to prevent further casualties. The unique battlefield conditions heightened the urgency of medical evacuation.
“The danger was visceral; the nurses recalled every flight, yet almost no one died en route,” she said, emphasizing the unit’s remarkable safety record. Garrett said the record underscored their skill and composure.
Traditional histories overlook the brutal Pacific campaign and the unique Japanese approach to surrender, which left American POWs vulnerable and medics unprotected. These factors made the nurses’ work critical to saving lives.
Garrett argues that these women embodied unquestioned patriotism, stepping up without hesitation as the nation marked its 250th anniversary. They viewed service as a duty, not a quest for fame.
“They rolled up their sleeves, embraced duty, and found profound meaning in serving America during its darkest hour,” she added. Garrett said their reflections reveal lasting pride in their contributions.
The book, “The Flight Nurses’ War: The American Women Who Saved Thousands of Lives at Iwo Jima and Okinawa,” releases October 13. The release coincides with renewed interest in World War II stories.
