Courage: Experiencing War: Veterans History Project (Library of Congress

Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project

What is courage? Our stories from veterans of all eras show that war demands special kinds of courage, both physical and moral. We see willingness to risk life and limb, and the ability to face hardship with intense determination. Our veterans accepted challenges that put not only their lives, but their emotional well-being and their reputations on the line. We see from these stories that a display of courage often rubs off on others. It is a striking part of the EXPERIENCE of war.

"...It was like playing God…there was no one else to do it..."

During the height of the war in Vietnam, there was a severe shortage of Army doctors in the field. In a remote hospital in An Khe, acting chief nurse, Rhona Marie “Ronnie” Knox, was called on to perform surgeries in makeshift tents in non-sterile environments. In triage, it was her job to decide: “...Let that one go; put that one on the table; this one can wait...”