Gayle Lewis tells of her early life, education, and lengthy service as officer and nurse in the navy and the navy reserve. Lewis primarily documents her military career, spanning the period between the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, as a navy nurse. She details the emotional and physical rigors of caring for wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War, her wartime deployment to Guam, and the changing nature of the post-Vietnam navy." Lewis also discusses her civilian education, early life, and feelings towards the Vietnam War. Additionally, Lewis explains why she saw no contradiction between military service and her support of the anti-war movement." Other topics include post traumatic stress disorder, Lewis' cohabitation with Pulitzer Prize winning author Louis Puller, sexual harassment and discrimination in the military, the assassination of both John. F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, the Portland race riots, the Apollo 11 moon landing, the role of women in combat, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.