Glory for the Brave is based on the real-life experiences of Charlotte McKay. In 1862 when Charlotte volunteered as a Union nurse, society condemned the idea of women caring for men outside their immediate families. Army nursing thrust her into a world of discrimination, alcohol abuse, and violence. The average age of a Civil War soldier was 25, but many were teenagers, living for the first time beyond parental and church restraints. Public scorn kept some females from pursuing positions altogether. Even if women behaved admirably, serving with the military could ruin reputations. Only rare heroines managed to endure battlefield conditions. Despite the overwhelming odds, Charlotte found a place in a male-dominated society and earned the gratitude of sick and wounded soldiers.