KMBC 9 Anchor Donna Pitman moderates a discussion between former U.S. Army First Lieutenant Lou Eisenbrandt and retired Army Captain Hugh Mills about the overlooked roles women played in the Vietnam War.  

More than 11,000 American women served in the armed forces during the war in Vietnam. The majority were volunteer nurses who saved countless American and Vietnamese lives. Upon returning home, like all servicemembers of the era, they faced hostile and hateful attitudes.   

Today, the women — and their work — are still under-recognized.   

Eisenbrandt, who lives in Leawood, joined the Army in 1968 at 21 years old. She kept a detailed journal of her time in Vietnam and later wrote Vietnam Nurse: Mending and Remembering. In 2002, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease due to exposure to Agent Orange. She continues to speak about other female veterans and their experiences to raise awareness about their work and keep them from being forgotten.   

Mills served 26 years as a combat veteran and did three tours in Vietnam. Among other honors and awards, he’s a member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame, has three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, and six Distinguished Flying Crosses.  

Pitman shares clips from KMBC 9 Chronicle: To the Women who Served.