James Wise - Women at War: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Conflicts

IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN,
AND OTHER CONFLICTS

James E. Wise Jr. and Scott Baron

NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS

Annapolis, Maryland

The latest edition of this work has been brought to publication with the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest

Naval Institute Press

291 Wood Road

Annapolis, MD 21402

2006 by James E. Wise Jr. and Scott Baron

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First Naval Institute Press paperback edition published 2011.

ISBN 978-1-61251-407-9 (eBook)

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

Wise, James E.

Women at war : Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflictsJames E. Wise Jr., and Scott Baron.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Women soldiersUnited StatesBiography. 2. Women sailorsUnited StatesBiography. 3. Iraq War, 2003WomenUnited StatesBiography. 4. Afghan War, 2001WomenUnited StatesBiography. I. Baron, Scott, date II. Title.

U52.W578 2006

355.0092273dc22

[B]

2006018561

Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Legend for photo credits: U.S. Army (USA); U.S. Navy (USN); U.S. Marine Corps (USMC); U.S. Air Force (USAF); U.S. Coast Guard (USCG); Army Nurse Corps collection (ANCC); U.S. Naval Historical Center (NHC); Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc. (The Womens Memorial); U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Archives (NBMSA); and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Photographs from private collections are so noted in the given credit line.

Dedicated to the American military women who have served and continue to serve our nation with steadfast patriotism, courage, and valor, and to those who are left behind to pray for the safe return of their loved ones.

May their many sacrifices, in peace and war, never be forgotten.

WOMEN AT WAR: IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND OTHER CONFLICTS contains a series of interviews with, and stories about, U.S. women who have served and continue to serve in the global war on terror. The insurgency war in Iraq, which has no front lines, has made the debate regarding women in combat irrelevant. In such a war zone, anyone can be killed or injured at any moment.

Today women in all military services are involved in the war as fighter, bomber, helicopter, and transport pilots; as physicians, medics, and nurses; and as crew members ashore and afloat. Servicewomen are frequently engaged in fire-fights with enemy insurgents while guarding convoys, traveling in hostile territory, or performing military police duties and other vital support functions. Unique to this war is the role of searchers, played by female military women as they pat down Muslim women, checking for weapons and harnessed suicide bombs before they cross through checkpoints.

Like their male counterparts in these conflicts, many have been killed and wounded, some with grievous loss of limbs. They continue to carry out their missions with determination and great courage. During interviews with them they displayed extraordinary dedication to their tasks and the military men and women with whom they serve; they are truly inspiring. Perhaps this military force of American men and women volunteers may someday be called Americas Second Greatest Generation.

Women at War: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Conflicts will give the reader a new and perhaps underreported perspective of just how valiantly our women have served in the global war on terror. As in past wars, American women serving in uniform or as members of such civilian agencies as the American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, among others, have proven to be vital to Americas war efforts.

Note: The military women included in this book were selected for their diversity of wartime experiences and courageous service. It was hoped that more women could have been included, but the authors were unable to contact many active duty and discharged servicewomen. The active duty personnel were deployed, being redeployed, changing duty stations, etc. and were not available to participate in this project. Also, it should be noted that the chapters vary in length because no literary restraints were placed on the women who related their compelling experiences. The voices of these women deserve to be heard.

THERE ARE MANY TO THANK FOR assisting us in this comprehensive work. As in all of our writing efforts, we must first recognize the exceptional research and administrative work done by our chief research assistant, Natalie Hall. She is an indispensable member of our team.

Women at War could not have been written without the invaluable assistance of Kate Scott, the oral historian of The Womens Memorial. It was her tireless work in interviewing the many servicewomen included in this book and sharing the transcripts of these interviews that make up the core of this work. Kate is an extremely dedicated historian, and her enthusiasm and professional demeanor make it a joy to work with her.

Another member of The Womens Memorial staff who supported this effort was Britta Granrud, Curator of Collections. Britta maintains the organizations photographic files and memorabilia collection. Many of the photos contained in the book are from Brittas extensive archival files. Other staff members who shared their administrative and contact files were Judith Bellafaire, chief historian; and Lee Ann Ghajar, historian.

Additionally, we would like to thank Hanna Cunliffe, Glenn Helm, Jack Green, Diane Dellatorre Stevens, Roger Cirillo, and the editors and production staff of the Naval Institute Press.

I MEFI Marine Expeditionary Force

AAAAnti-Aircraft Artillery

ADAAir Defense Artillery

AFBAir Force Base

AFNCAir Force Nurse Corps

AITAdvanced Individual Training

AITAdvanced Infantry Training

ANCArmy Nurse Corps

AOArea of Operation

APIAviation Preflight Indoctrination

ARVNArmy of the Republic of Vietnam

ATARSAdvanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System