Review (PDF)

She Went To War: The Rhonda Cornum Story

Deep inside Iraqi territory, a U.S. Army helicopter on a medical rescue mission was shot down with eight Americans aboard. Five of them were killed instantly; the three survivors were captured by Hussein's Republican Guard. One of the survivors was Maj. Rhonda Cornum, who was imprisoned with two broken arms, a smashed knee, and a bullet wound. Here is her dramatic story, soon to be a major television movie. 16 photographs; 1 map.

Hardcover: 203 pages

Publisher: Presidio Pr (August 1992)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0891414630

ISBN-13: 978-0891414636

Product Dimensions: 1 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces

Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #994,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #100 in Books > History > Military > Prisoners of War #759 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Middle East #3907 in Books > History > World > Women in History

This book is a riveting account of Major Rhonda Cornum's capture and days as a P.O.W. in 1991. Most of the chapters alternate between Rhonda's life before deployment to Saudi Arabia, and her time in the Middle East and in captivity. It is a moving portrait of a woman who as well as being a loving mother and wife, had dedicated her life to medicine and serving her country as a flight surgeon, and it also gives civilians a glimpse into the day to day life of the military.Major Cornum's eight days at the hands of her captors are a testament to the power of the human spirit. I love the chapter where alone in her cell, her body broken and bruised, she kept her spirits up by singing, from the rock songs of the '60s to her favorite, "The Wind Beneath My Wings". At 5'5, and slender as a reed, Rhonda is a tower of strength. I first became familiar with her from a TV documentary on P.O.W.s, and what impressed me the most was her balance of sensitivity and personal empowerment, and honesty with herself as well as others, which can be the ultimate bravery; after seeing this film, I had to read her book.One of the elements of survival is humor, and Rhonda relates some funny episodes, and the book also has a lot to say about the rapidly changing role of women in the military. It is "as told to" Peter Copeland, and he has done a great job; it is well written, and very hard to put down. There are many black and white photographs, which though they look like "copies" and are a little fuzzy, help one understand the story, and add a lot to the book. The print quality is good, with a very readable font size.Rhonda is now Colonel Cornum, and presently commands the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

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