Primarily details Emily Harris Preyer's days at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and her experiences with the American Red Cross during World War II. Preyer discusses her father's death and her family; Woman's College (WC) professors, including Louise Alexander, Dean Harriet Elliott, and Dr. Malcolm Hooke; pouring tea for Eleanor Roosevelt during Roosevelt's visit to WC; being involved with WC student government; and June German dances in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. " Topics related to World War II include Preyer's reasons for choosing the Red Cross over the other services; her pet koala bears; her duties with the Red Cross; her relationship with servicemen and other Americans in Australia; babysitting for General MacArthur in Brisbane; working in shifts in the hospitals; cultural differences she encountered in Australia; the general attitude the Australians exhibited toward Americans; reactions to V-E Day and V-J Day in Australia; and her husband's military experiences in the North Atlantic and at Okinawa. " Preyer also discusses her life after the war, including her continued work with the Red Cross in Greensboro; her children's experiences in similar organizations, like the Peace Corps and VISTA; and her opinion of women in combat positions.