A Delaware Humanities Program with Nancy Lynch.

Inspired by best-selling author Kristin Hannah’s hit historical novel, The Women, award-winning journalist Nancy E. Lynch presents The REAL Women, Veterans of Vietnam on April 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Elsmere Public Library.

Lynch’s program, underwritten by a grant from Delaware Humanities, is sponsored by the Elsmere Library at 30 Spruce Ave., Elsmere, DE.

Lynch will share REAL war letters from REAL Delaware nurses and a REAL Delaware Donut Dolly that she received from the combat zone and published in her popular News Journal newspaper column, Nancy’s Vietnam Mailbag, from 1968 to 1972.

Lynch compares their REAL experiences to those of Hannah’s fictional Army nurse, Frankie McGrath, a privileged Californian who served two tours in Vietnam after a family tragedy—and found a path forward.

Contrary to public perception, about 10,000 REAL military women served in Vietnam. Not all were nurses. Barred from combat, they also worked in communications, intelligence, and administrative jobs.

Civilian women also volunteered for duty in Vietnam and served as Donut Dollies for the American Red Cross, and in various positions with the Army Special Services, USO, and as news correspondents.

“Women can be heroes” was a revelation to the fictional Frankie but a non-negotiable reality for the REAL women who served, and died, in Vietnam.

Lynch promised in her last column in December 1972 to someday put all the nearly 1,000 war letters and hundreds of pictures she received in a book to honor all Vietnam veterans. She fulfilled her mission on Veterans Day 2008 with the release of her acclaimed Vietnam Mailbag, Voices From the War: 1968-1972.

A University of Delaware graduate, Lynch has written seven books, all non-fiction, and lives in Bethel, Del.