Home Before Morning

The Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam

By: Lynda Van Devanter

Narrated by: Ann Sprinkle

Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Lynda Van Devanter was the girl next door, the cheerleader who went to Catholic schools, enjoyed sports, and got along well with her four sisters and parents. After high school she attended nursing school and then did something that would shatter her secure world for the rest of her life: in 1969, she joined the army and was shipped to Vietnam. When she arrived in Vietnam her idealistic view of the war vanished quickly. She worked long hours in cramped, ill-equipped, understaffed operating rooms. She saw friends die.

After one traumatic year, she came home, a Vietnam veteran. Coming home was nearly as devastating as the time she spent in Asia. Nothing was the same—including Lynda herself. Viewed by many as a murderer instead of a healer, she felt isolated and angry. The anger turned to depression; like many other Vietnam veterans she suffered from delayed stress syndrome. The war that was fought physically halfway around the world had become a personal, internal battle.

Home Before Morning is the story of a woman whose courage, stamina, and personal history make this a compelling autobiography. It is also the saga of others who went to war to aid the wounded and came back wounded—physically and emotionally—themselves. And, it is the true story of one person's triumphs: her understanding of, and coming to terms with, her destiny.

©1983, 2001 Lynda Van Devanter (P)2023 Tantor

Brutally honest and informative

I loved listening to this book. I have read it twice, but never had the feeling’s surface as when I listened to it. Thank you Linda for your courage and the life you gave to our United States of America. You are wonderful.

Excellent

Lynda wrote a captivating recount of her time in Vietnam and upon returning home. It was a truthful and vulnerable telling of her experiences. It was page turning and you were rooting for her throughout the book. Highly recommend!

Incredible

The writing, the story, the narration… all incredible! After reading The Women, I wanted to learn more about the women who served in Vietnam and was immediately drawn to this book in particular. Linda’s story and writing is amazing. Highly recommend!

One of the greatest so far!

I can't explain how this book made me vision the past lives of most of my loved ones.. just wish it would have included the POA.. overall a very great book and loved the narrator! AWESOME JOB!!

Amazing book

I learned so much from this book that it literally changed my perspective on war. War is such a terrible thing. Why do we have to hurt or kill peoples to get our way. The big question is WHY.

beautifully told, a sad story of war. A private experience feel like.

highly recommend this book!
this is such a wonderful story about a nurse and how she experienced the war.

Real, raw story of a Vietnam Nurse

Story is fast paced and well written, still relevant today for anyone who has had a family member return from combat and deals with the aftermath of being exposed to it at a young age. The narrator does a good job conveying the emotions without being over the top. Good listen for those who want a first hand perspective of Vietnam from the medical side.

thank you Lynda

I am a Nam combat wounded vet and I just want to thank you cuz I have a little bit of understanding now why I have that empty feeling. To be honest getting shot up and spending 2 years at army VA hospitals they managed to put me back together, at least physically. I did the same as you, after learning a few hard lessons I denied I was ever in Vietnam. The problem was after about 20 years I couldn't remember anything and thought all my nightmares were my vivid imagination. Now I'm rated with 100% p&t disability. I have three diseases resulting from agent Orange spraying, yes we were sprayed not once but twice. So along with my gunshot wounds in the PTSD they wanted to know where I've been all these years and how I could possibly manage. I told him it was simple I had seven children I got up in the morning went to work as a paramedic for 30 years and supported my family how about you. you made me feel better when you told me about who you how you fought on and went to work. I stopped going to counseling about a year ago I felt I wasn't getting anything after reading your book and learning about your empty feeling I think I understand mine a little better I'm empty because I want to remember and maybe I need to remember so I can forget and get on with my life albeit I'm 75 years old. So thank you Lynda from the bottom of my heart. I wish you well and you will get better cuz God would not burden you any more than you are and you and I and their brothers and sisters have already been through hell you get well soon and God bless.

Great story

It was a great book, especially the nursing aspect. But the epilogue was very long.

A Heart-Wrenching True Story of Bravery and Sacrif

“Home Before Morning” is the poignant memoir of Lynda Van Devanter, whose service as an army nurse in Vietnam is a profound narrative of war, its brutal realities, and its aftermath. This book stands as a true testament to her courage and the experiences of many nurses whose stories remain untold.

Van Devanter’s honest account resonates with authenticity and provides a window into the harrowing conditions of the Vietnam War. Her descriptions of the operating rooms, the soldiers she cared for, and the emotional toll it took on her are delivered with a rawness that only someone who has lived through such times can convey.

The memoir might have been met with mixed reviews upon its publication, with some questioning the veracity of her experiences. However, it’s clear that Van Devanter wrote with a deep sense of truth and a desire to share the unvarnished reality of her experiences. Her narrative challenges us to acknowledge the complexities and the often harsh truths of war.

Reading “Home Before Morning” after Kristin Hannah’s “The Women” adds another layer of understanding to the female experience in war. While we can only speculate how Lynda would have felt about Hannah’s work, it’s evident that both authors share a commitment to shedding light on women’s roles in these challenging environments.

Tragically, Lynda Van Devanter passed away at the young age of 55, with heart complications likely linked to Agent Orange exposure. Her legacy, however, lives on through her memoir. It’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve and the enduring impact of war on their lives.

“Home Before Morning” is a must-read, not just as a military memoir, but as a human story of resilience, transformation, and the enduring spirit of those who have served. It deserves a place of honor on the shelves of history and in the hearts of readers everywhere.