DeepSummary
In this episode of the Unladylike podcast, host Cristen Conger interviews Diane Carlson Evans, the founder of the Vietnam Women's Memorial. Diane shares her remarkable journey of being a nurse during the Vietnam War and her determination to get a monument built in Washington D.C. to honor the women who served in the conflict.
Diane explains how she became interested in joining the Army Nurse Corps after her brothers were drafted, and how she was able to enlist while still in nursing school due to a shortage of nurses. She vividly describes her experiences on the battlefield, witnessing the realities of war and dealing with PTSD afterwards.
Despite the challenges, Diane's main goal became the creation of a figurative monument dedicated to the women who served in Vietnam. She details the lengthy process of getting the memorial approved and erected in the nation's capital, a mission that spanned over a decade.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Diane Carlson Evans founded the Vietnam Women's Memorial to honor the women who served in the Vietnam War.
- Diane was a nurse during the Vietnam War and witnessed the realities of the battlefield firsthand.
- Despite the lack of media coverage for women in the war, Diane was determined to join the Army Nurse Corps.
- Diane faced gender barriers and inequalities in pursuing a military role as a woman during that time period.
- The process of getting the Vietnam Women's Memorial approved and built in Washington D.C. took over a decade.
- The episode provides a content warning for graphic details about the Vietnam War and PTSD.
- The host, Cristen Conger, was blown away by Diane's story and the efforts required to build such a monument.
- The episode explores the broader theme of who is considered worthy of being memorialized and celebrated in public spaces.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I'm Diane Carlson Evans, and I'm the founder of the Vietnam Women's Memorial.“ by Diane Carlson Evans
- “Walter Cronkite. Every night at 06:00 I watched and we saw images of men everywhere, but never, ever an image of what the women were doing.“ by Diane Carlson Evans
- “Now, remember, women did not have ROTC back then. I couldn't join ROTC and become an officer and a gentleman. Yes, that's what they called us, officers and gentlemen. So I guess that's where the unladylike part comes in. I now want to be an officer, but I'm not a gentleman.“ by Diane Carlson Evans
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Episode Information
Unladylike
Unladylike Media
4/21/24
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What does it take to erect a monument to women's history? Just ask Diane Carlson Evans, without whom the Vietnam Women's Memorial would not exist...
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