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Ruth G. Haskell
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Helmets and Lipstick: An Army Nurse in World War Two Paperback – June 22, 2017

by Ruth G. Haskell (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,608 ratings
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“Our need for many more of these girls is urgent, and this book is intended to tell a bit about the trials and tribulations, the fun and the thrills, to be experienced as a member of the Corps.”



Helmets and Lipstick is the first-hand account of Second Lieutenant Ruth Haskell, chronicling her time spent as a combat nurse with U.S. troops in North Africa during Operation Torch.

Helmets and Lipstick also served as a call-to-action for the nurses in the U.S. who had not yet joined the war effort.

From deployment to the journey to North Africa via Scotland and London, Lt. Haskell tells her story with a dry wit and humor, perfectly portraying the comradery between the nurses and the Allied soldiers fighting in North Africa at the time.

She provides touching accounts of the lighter side of life in wartime, recalling the card games, dances and even Christmas celebrations that took place.

But these nurses were members of the U.S. Army and went through the same trials and tribulations of war as the male soldiers.

U.S. troops came under heavy fire throughout Operation Torch and Haskell’s group learned to nurse in these nearly impossible conditions, receiving tough training and expected to rise to the same high standards as the soldiers in combat.

Helmets and Lipstick, which was first published at the height of the war in 1944, is a classic account of combat nursing in World War Two, an important addition to the literature of the war in North Africa and of the history of non-combatants in the Second World War.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    154 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 22, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.39 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1521563675
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1521563670
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (June 22, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 154 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1521563675
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1521563670
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.39 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,608 ratings

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Ruth G. Haskell

Ruth G. Haskell

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,608 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amanda
5.0 out of 5 stars An often unseen part of the war, fascinating read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book was a gift from my husband who knows I’m obsessed with war memoirs and especially medical care during the later wars. This was a really enjoyable and interesting read and I’m shocked and disappointed that I’ve never heard of it before!

We’re very used to viewing war from an outside (and usually male) perspective but to read the thoughts of a woman who expierinced war from the frontlines while she was experiencing them is such an important and often left-out perspective. A few typo’s and misspellings did make me a little crazy but those points aside this is an important work of literature that many more people need to read; not only because it’s a woman’s perspective but also because of where and when she did her service. Such a fascinating part of the war that is more often than not breezed over or ignored completely in more popular war literature.

I will definitely be adding this to my permanent collection and to the list of books for my kids to read when they’re older.
13 people found this helpful
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Betty
4.0 out of 5 stars A set of challenges
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2016
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I eagerly embraced this book because two of my aunts served a lot more time than Ruth as WWII army nurses in even more challenging conditions. One aunt died prematurely due to wartime exposure to those conditions. On that basis, all Lt. Haskell writes is true, and grim enough--but it is a little too glib. I am considering that the book was written in 1944, and embodies a certain propaganda slant and political correctness of the time. With all these caveats, it is a good book and my reading time was edifying and well-spent.
On a Kindle presentation note, the book is riddled with transcription errors to the point of distraction. Die and Lie are substituted for 'the' many times, contractions have no apostrophe, numerals appear in place of vowels every once in awhile, etc. Even so, my daughter and I agree that it was worth the plowing ahead, and we would love to know where her postwar career took her.
6 people found this helpful
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Loves2spin
5.0 out of 5 stars Good glimpse into real story of WWII.
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
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My father-in-law served in this same area. That fact made this read compelling. Much honor is due to all who sacrificed so much.
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Hannah
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
Good read giving insight to the behind the scenes of nursing during the world. Wish there was a sequel to it
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Like Reading a Personal Letter
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was interesting, and a quick read. Interesting, especially, because it was completed before the war ended, so Ruth had no idea how much longer it would go on. Not the most well written book I've ever read, but still good for gaining insight from those in the front lines and those who served as support during WWII. It's helpful for remembering that "war is hell", especially for the humanity that's caught up in the middle of it.
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Mamma K 1947
5.0 out of 5 stars A book deserving 10 stars!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2015
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Army nursing in World War II is only now being given the attention it deserves. Of the books written about the African and European theaters of War two books stand out: "And if I Perish," and "GI Nightingales." Both are excellent, "must reads" for anyone interested in the role America's military women played in WWII. As a former Army nurse and Vietnam Veteran I cherish my hard copies of both books. Because they are over-views of nurses' parts in actions like Torch (North Africa) or Overlord (Normandy) both lack the "I was there" immediacy of a memoir.

"Helmets and Lipstick" filled in those blanks very nicely, whether Haskell was writing about endless meals of C Rations, the danger of being too close to enemy lines, or trying her darndest to be a GOOD NURSE even in the most appalling circumstances. Haskell's joy at being able to find a special treat for men on Christmas Day, her tenderness toward her patients, her love of dancing and desire for cigarettes in spite of black out remind readers that soldiers are people first. By my calculations Ruth Haskell would be over 100 if she were still alive. I wish I could meet her--and her compatriots.
32 people found this helpful
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Don Kidwell
4.0 out of 5 stars "Be a credit to that nation, the uniform that you wear, and most of all to yourselves...
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
...May God watch over and keep you, one and all." Meaningful WW2 memoir of regular army nurse's experience from genuine worries of being torpedoed before arrival in Scotland, witnessing the horrible aftermath of the Blitz in London, coming under sniper fire on the North African coast and the shock of battle-time surgery. Not really all that much an action book by far, but at it's best for giving you the everyday moments in a WW2 nurse's life whether it be responding to air-raid warnings, boosting morale of the injured, life on the go or simply standing in line for chow. Liked the mention of where she was on important dates in history (which made for good Net searches such as the assassination of Admiral Darlan and the retreat at Kasserine Pass), liked the book overall for it's personal viewpoint and I would recommend it as for being a quick, informative read..
15 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
Very interesting written by an Army nurse about her service in the African complaint during WW2. Ruth G. Haskell is a good writer. She puts strong emotions into her story especially when she writes about her time on the boat to England and her actual time in Africa. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about WW2.
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Top reviews from other countries

The Devil in the Dust
5.0 out of 5 stars Helmets and Lipstick
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
A fascinating account of nursing at the front in WWll. The bravery of all concerned shines through the pages and the support they give each other as they work as a team
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Brigid P. Gallagher
4.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2020
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Ruth Haskell a divorced mother, was a dedicated and heroic nurse. I cannot imagine how hard it was to leave her home in the US to work in N. Africa during WW11. Yet she and many others crossed the Atlantic, a danger in itself, landing in Scotland, travelling by train to England, eventually caring for troops in N. Africa.
"Helmets and Lipsticks" gives a very interesting insight into a period in time, when everyone worked together in dangerous circumstances, putting their own lives at risk to help others...
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Judith Benson
5.0 out of 5 stars Helmets and Lipstick
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2018
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What a story!
Ruth goes through training then off to Africa during the war as a Nurse during WW11.
Another of those books that once started you do not wan t to put down.
Well worth reading
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xxxx
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2017
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arrived on time would buy again
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The cat who reads
3.0 out of 5 stars Dated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2019
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Can't say this hasn't dated. By today's standards it's mildly racist and definitely elitist. Oh and only England was in the war from the UK
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