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| Iraq |
| Female U.S. Soldiers Under Fire in Iraq |
| 2004-01-27 |
| The roadside bomb near the main American military base here killed one woman soldier, made another a hero, and turned attention to the new role American women are playing in the war in Iraq. The nature of the conflict, with U.S. soldiers facing guerrillas, not conventional troops, has blurred military traditions, and put usually rear echelon troops such as the military police — with their large contingent of women — under direct enemy fire, along with the infantry, special forces and other front line troops. Although women are barred from front line units, more than 10 American women soldiers have died in Iraq since U.S.-led troops invaded in March. Many others have been wounded. On Oct. 1, the dangers to women soldiers in Iraq struck home for the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division when Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, 21, of Houston, was killed as a roadside bomb struck her Humvee near Tikrit, ousted dictator Saddam Hussein’s hometown and a center of resistance to U.S. forces. She was the first women from the division to die in Iraq. At the same time, the quick thinking and bravery shown by Gutierrez’s friend and fellow support soldier, Spc. Karen Guckert, saved two troops injured in the blast and won her a U.S. Army Commendation Medal for Valor. "We were deeply moved when we lost Analaura Esparza," Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, said. "This is not to say we are not moved when we lose a male soldier, but her loss deeply affected us in additional ways." But Guckert and some other women serving in Iraq have different feelings about the dangers facing women soldiers. "Infantrymen say to me they couldn’t handle seeing a female getting hurt because it would remind them of their sister, aunt or wife," said Guckert, 24, of Yakima, Wash. "I understand their point, but at the same time we are all soldiers and we can all die for our country. So we can’t we fight for our country?" Many female soldiers like Guckert acknowledge that the physical stresses of combat, which include carrying packs close to their own weight for long distances or lifting men wounded in action, might prove too tough for some women. But most women, particularly military police soldiers who have been trudging Iraqi streets and conducting house raids for months, say this conflict has provided them with the same tasks as any infantryman. "Any soldier out here is at risk, whether they are male or female or infantry, military police or anything else," said Lt. Amanda Lee Dorsey, a 25-year-old military police officer from Hickory Hills, Ill. On Nov. 30 — a day that has gone down in recent army folklore as "Bloody Sunday" — military police, joined by infantry, armored and engineer forces, waged a half-hour gunbattle in Samarra with 60 Iraqis firing rockets and machine guns. The insurgents were trying to ambush Iraqi security trucks transporting money to Iraqi banks. U.S. officials say 54 Iraqis died, including 36 killed by American military police. One woman soldier was credited with killing three of them. No U.S. soldiers died in the clash, but six were injured, including a woman. "When it came down to it, my female and male soldiers of the military police were all fierce and killed many," said Lt. Col. David Poirier, commander of the 720th Military Police Battalion. Sgt. Maj. Angela Wilson, 49, the senior ranking enlisted military police soldier in Iraq, has witnessed great attitude shifts in the military during her 29 years of service. "I remember when it was optional for women to fire an M-16 rifle during basic training," she said. "We also had to learn how to wear makeup properly in the field." Yup, we used to worry about stuff like that. No more. "Now basic training is the same for all people, male and female. I am waiting for the day when they say women can enter the special forces. It doesn’t mean everyone can do it, but it means that people should be given the opportunity to be assessed on their own merits." As long as every one pulls their own weight, I agree. Poirier said the female soldiers have been invaluable during house raids — a staple task of the military police — in which they have calmed Iraqi women in targeted homes and searched their belongings without causing offense. Iraqis find it highly objectionable for male soldiers to deal with women. They also aren’t crazy about having a female US soldier kick their sorry ass. Could give their women ideas. Lt. Alexis Marks, a platoon leader, said when she was going through West Point, she was constantly being told that the military police was the "chick’s infantry." "But in the MPs, nobody sees a gender difference," said the 24-year-old from Melbourne, Fla. One of her soldiers, 23-year-old team leader Cpl. Casey Williams, said she is unfazed by risks faced during her patrols. "I think it’s cool to be in a dangerous position. It’s kind of fun," Williams, from Algiers, La., told the AP while driving to Samarra. "In the MPs, it is the closest women can get to combat." Well done, ladies. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 When I enlisted in the Air Force in 1977, we had these cute, impractical lady-like "utility" uniforms (navy skirt, blue blouse with short sleeves)and a lecture on proper make-up, instead of M-16 training. Thank god some good sense kicked in shortly thereafter, and women trainees got the same issued fatigues and weapons training as the men. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2004-1-27 12:31:16 PM |
| #1 We also had to learn how to wear makeup properly in the field. In the late Fifties the writer Florence King joined the Marines for a summer. She received lectures on hairstyles, lipstick, and nail polish. Everyone had to wear the same shade of lipstick, to match the red trim on the uniforms. Nail polish had to match that. King figured it was because they didn't want anyone to get the idea that women Marines were lesbians. Lesbians, as we all know, never wear makeup. Apparently things have changed some since then. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2004-1-27 11:02:41 AM |