Airman 1st Class Kimberly Walton attends a mission brief prior to a patrol of Baghdad, Iraq last year. She is with Detachment 7, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron whose mission is to deploy into the city streets to assist Iraqi police in achieving self-sufficiency and enable orderly control of their battle space. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Steve Cline)Ê

Staff Sgt. Charethea Payne repairs a high mobility, multi-wheeled vehicle, Nov. 10. Sergeant Payne is with Detachment 7, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The mission is to deploy into Baghdad's streets and assist Iraqi police in achieving self-sufficiency and enable orderly control of their battle space. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Steve Cline)Ê

Vice President Richard Cheney presents the Distinguished Flying Cross for valiant flying under fire to Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lori Hill in a ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky. on Oct. 16. U.S. Army photo. Full story at DFC

Master Sgt. Tabitha Hendrix and Lt. Col. Sharon Bannister discuss the daily patient roster at MacKown Dental Clinic April 24 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Sergeant Hendrix was honored as the Child Advocate of the Year by the Child Advocates of San Antonio. Sergeant Hendrix is the NCO in charge of the Periodontics Flight, and Colonel Bannister is the deputy flight commander. (USAF Photo/Tech. Sgt. Thomas Coney)

Air Force Brig. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson (center), director of U.S. Air Force Public Affairs, participated in the pre-game ceremony with players at the WomenÕs National Basketball AssociationÕs annual All-Star Game held at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., July 15, 2007. General Johnson was a star basketball player at the Air Force Academy. Defense Dept. photo by Gerry J. Gilmore

I n October, 2006, Superintendent of the Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Rodney P. Rempt selected Captain Margaret ÒPegÓ Klein, USN, to be the 82nd Commandant of Midshipmen. The Naval Academy is the second service academy to appoint a woman to the job of commandant. Brigadier General Susan Y. Desjardins has served as commandant of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, since Oct. 2005.

Sather Air Base, Iraq - Reserve Master Sgt Luann Van Peursem, 914th Logistic Readiness Squadron, receives the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor from Brig Gen Burton Field, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing on July 12. MSgt Van Peursem rendered first aid and initial medical care for two 914th LRS members, TSgts Steve Paddison and Tim Juliano who were critically injured by shrapnel when a rocket exploded outside their building in Baghdad recently. (Photo by: TSgt Russell Wicke)

LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, La. Senior Airman Portia Payton talks to hurricane evacuee Betty Porter here. Airman Payton sat with Ms. Porter for almost four hours while talking, feeding and offering her water before her aeromedical evacuation flight to Lake Charles, La. Payton is a medical technician from the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland AFB,Texas. (USAF photo TSgt. Jason Tudor)

Seaman Margarette Fajardo keeps a watchful eye out as portside lookout by searching for surface contacts through a telescopic alidade from the bridge during a General Quarters drill aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) while underway in the Pacific Ocean Sept. 17, 2005. Sailors train to defend the ship and control battle damage during such drills. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Adam York)

U.S. Navy Lt. Jaime Barrata, a general medical officer assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa , checks a Batu-Batu native for a possible upper respiratory infection in the Philippines. The young boy was one of more than 1,300 patients treated by Expeditionary Strike Group One medical personnel in the small village of Batu-Batu in the southern Philippine island of Tawi Tawi. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Gabe Puello)

Read about the first all female C-130 crew - - combat mission in Iraq

Operation Iraqi Freedom CAMP UR, Iraq -- Maj. Michelle Stringer (left) and 1st Lt. Sarah Parris train Iraqi troops at this austere camp. Both are deployed here from the 78th Security Forces Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. USAF photo.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Ann Mitchell colors with Raya, a young Kyrgyz girl with cancer. She and other members of the Manas Air Base Outreach Society volunteer their day off to do the work at the center. Since 2003, the Airmen have donated more than $55,000 to help the needy of Kyrgyzstan. The sergeant is a 376th Expeditionary Services Squadron fitness instructor. (USAF photo by Robin Hicks)

Minnesota National Guard All-Female Christmas Day Flight . The two female Blackhawk crews stand with their individual state flags after returning from their Christmas Day mission. Hawaii, Washington and Minnesota are all represented in the 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, and Soldiers from all three states participated in the all-female mission. Credit: Sgt. Dale Sweetnam, Public Affairs

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, vehicle commander, 617th Military Police Company, stands at attention before receiving the Silver Star at Camp Liberty, Iraq, June 16. Sgt. Hester is the first woman soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star. USA Photo - Spc. Jeremy D. Crisp. Full story click here. -

2006 Air Force Thunderbirds team includes first female pilot. Major Nicole Malachowski, of the 494th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, joins the team as the first female demonstration pilot on any U.S. military high performance jet team.

Nov 2005 MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho Senior Airman Tamara Rhone and fellow maintainers and weapons loaders do the final preflight inspection on an F-15E Strike Eagle before takeoff here. Airman Rhone is a crew chief assigned to the 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit. (USAF photo Master Sgt. Scott Wagers)

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Regina Sewart takes inventory at a forward-deployed location. She is assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (USAF photo by Tech. Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Azalia Scott takes inventory at a forward-deployed location. She is assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (USAF photo by Tech. Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Maj. Lori Menke sets up an IV for a patient here. Major Menke is the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group nurses inpatient element chief, and she is deployed from the South Dakota Air National Guard. (USAF photo by Airman Alexis Lloyd)

Army Spc. Mariana Beshai cares for 8-month-old Fatemah Khalil Hassan while talking to her mother. Specialist Beshai is assigned to the Army National Guard's 230th Support Battalion stationed in Iraq. (USAF photo - Lt. Tracy Giles)

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) - Staff Sgt. Jessica Nuyt holds an Iraqi girl during a medical civic-action project visit. Sergeant Nuyt is an independent-duty medical technician with the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Squadron and is deployed here from Moody AFB , Ga. (USA photo by Staff Sgt. David Gillespie)

TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Airmen 1st Class Shawn Brown (left) and Lattrice Goldsby are sisters deployed here. Except for technical schools, the sisters have been together throughout their military careers. They are two of a set of quadruplets. (USAF photo by MSgt. Debbie Aragon)

Marine Cpl. Kayelee Yazzie, switchboard maintainer with 1st Marine Division in Iraq, grew up on a reservation in Tohatchi, N.M., Yazzie, a Navajo, comes from a long line of military family members. Her father was an airman in Vietnam; her 77-year-old grandfather served with the Army in Germany during World War II; and his stepbrother was a Marine codetalker in Japan. USMC photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald

Silver Medal Winners: Utah Army National Guard Spc. Shauna Rohbock, driver of the two-woman USA-1 sled, and brakeman Valerie Fleming completed their four women's bobsled runs in 3 minutes, 50.69 seconds. That was only .71 second behind the gold-medal winning German team of Sandra Kiriasis and Anja Schneiderheinza. An Italian team took the bronze.

MONUMENT, Colo. (AFPN) -- Jamie Dana and her military working dog, Rex, met Maj. (Dr.) Paul Morton recently. Major Morton helped save Sergeant Dana's life after an improvised explosive device detonated under her Humvee near Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. (USAF Photo) Update - Rex will stay with Jaime! Read it here

Southwest Asia: Capt Cheryl Lockhart, a Critical Care Air Transport Team Nurse with the 379th Expeditionary Aerormedical Evacuation Squadron administers an IV medication to a patient being evacuated from Iraq. She is deployed from the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB TX. This is her third SWA deployment. Photo by Maj John Cheney.

Airman selected as Miss Arkansas USA, 2Lt. Kelly George was selected as Miss Arkansas USA during the state pageant Oct. 28 held at the University of Central Arkansas. Lt. George is a resident of Sherwood, Ark., and is the deputy chief of Public Affairs for the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Ark. (Courtesy photo/Rhonda Garrett Gilliam)

Army Spec. Theresa Lynn Flannery an Army Reservist with the 350th Civil Affairs Command, has been recommended for the Bronze Star with a "V" device for valor, the nation's fourth highest military honor, for her actions in battle in Iraq. She is also being awarded the Purple Heart for the injury she suffered while under fire. The 26-year-old Flannery was involved in a battle at Najaf, Iraq. While under fire she shot back, then used her combat lifesaving training to treat her wounded comrades.

Coast Guard Lt. Holly Harrison, 30, of Vienna, Va. is the first woman in Coast Guard history to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Lt. Harrison was awarded the medal for her actions as commander of the Coast Guard Cutter Aquidneck in the waters near Iraq. (USCG Photo)

Army Airborne Captain Kellie McCoy demonstrated courage and leadership near the rebel stronghold of Fallujah on Sept. 18, 2003, that earned her the Bronze Star with combat "V" for valor when her convoy was ambushed. The citation reads: "Capt. McCoy willingly and repeatedly took action to gather up her soldiers under enemy fire and direct fire at the enemy". The medal citation also said. "Her actions inspired her men to accomplish the mission and saved the lives of her fellow soldiers."

Top DoD and Army leaders gathered at Mount Vernon, the home of the country's first war hero, recently to honor soldiers wounded in Iraq. Among those honored with the Purple Heart was Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Suzanne Haskins,45, Seaville, N.J.According to the Womens Memorial, 105 military women have received the Purple Heart during service in the current Iraq Operations.

Twins stick together, even on deployment - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq - - Staff Sgts. Sharon and Lerinda Carle joined the Air Force two weeks after graduating from high school in Silverton, Idaho. They are currently deployed together here. USAF photo by Capt. Shellie L. Russell.

First female B-2 crew. Maj. Kristin Goodwin and Capt. Jenn Jeffords fly a training sortie in a B-2 Spirit bomber. Flying the Spirit of Mississippi, they practiced conventional bombing and refueled with a KC-135 Stratotanker . The women are assigned to the 325th Bomb Squadron. Major Goodwin has been a B-2 pilot since May 2002; Captain Jeffords became B-2-certified in August.

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Airman 1st Class Catherine Dilena gets an unexpected visit here from her mother, Sheri Dilena on July 27. Airman Dilena is a client support administrator with the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here and is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Ms. Dilena is a morale, welfare and recreation coordinator at a nearby forward-deployed location. (USAF photo)

Army Sgt. 1st Class Erika Gordon, kennel master for the 25th Military Police Company, uses a building for cover while her military working dog, Hanna, clears a doorway at the military-operations-in-urban-terrain training site at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan recently. Photo by Spc. Cheryl Ransford, USA

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Capt. Kim Black performs preflight checks. She has flown B-1 Lancers for more than 9 years and is currently the only female pilot in the 37th Bomb Squadron. (USAF photo by Senior Airman Jason Piatek)

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Senior Master Sgt. Ann Highnote marches with the U.S. Air Force Band's ceremonial brass unit at Arlington National Cemetery. She is the band's superintendent and was recently selected as the recipient of the 2005 U.S. Armed Forces Spirit of Hope Award for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Casey McCormick)

Supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom ...read more.

Female B-2 pilot makes history...learn more

A-10 Pilot flies damaged aircraft safely back to base in Iraq...learn more.

Female fighter pilots take on challenges - read the story.

TALLIL, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Tracy Praznik wipes away tears from an Iraqi baby's face as she gives his mother water during a visit here in May. The visit was supporting Operation Reachout, a program started by security forces Airmen to build a friendship with families living around nearby Tallil Air Base. Airmen visit the families and take them packaged meals, water and candy. Sergeant Praznik is assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. (USAF photo by SSgt. Christina Rumsey)

Arabian Gulf 2004 - Store Keeper Seaman Christie Brown of Oxford, Miss., helps move 13-thousand pounds of mail aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy (CV 67). Kennedy and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen are on deployment conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Hangin for Real - Over Iraq - Staff Sgt. Katie Jacquard scans for threats while aboard a C-130 Hercules. She is a loadmaster with the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The 746th EAS is one of two airlift squadrons assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and provides tactical airlift supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. AFPN (USAF photo by Capt. Aaron Burgstein)

Weapons inspection YOKOTA AFB, Japan (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Pamela Morton inspects M-4 carbine rifles at the armory here. Sergeant Morton is assigned to the 374th Security Forces Squadron. The squadron is responsible for protecting Department of Defense facilities, equipment and aircraft worth $2 billion here. They provide information security, confinement services, combat arms training and ensure the readiness of mobility personnel. (USAF photo by MSgt. Val Gempis).

Army 1st Lt. Mandy Nalls and her husband, 1st Lt. Bill Nalls, both with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, spend quality time at a dining facility in Baghdad, Iraq. The Nalls are one of several couples fortunate enough to share this deployment. Photo by Pfc. Matthew McLaughlin, USA

Millionaire celebs and millionaire jocks - (with one notable exception) - are not the ones out there protecting your freedom! How about a little less adulation for those not so munificent millionaires and a lot more admiration and support for our young men and women in the military? They need to know that America cares about them!!

They Gave More...

PFC Jessica Lynch, POW, Rescued. ...more.

SPC. Shoshana Johnson, 30, El Paso, Texas, Former POW Honored ...more.

Army PFC Lori Piestewa,23, the first Native American woman killed by enemy action in our nation's wars. ...more.

Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, Texas, died on July 9 in Balad, Iraq as a result of non-combat injuries.

Army Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, 27, died Sep 14 from what was described as a "non-combat weapons discharge."

Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, 21, of Houston, Texas, was killed on Oct. 1 in Tikrit, Iraq. Pfc.Esparza Gutierrez was in a convoy that was hit by rocket propelled grenades.

Pfc. Rachel Bosveld, 19, was killed Sunday Oct 26th during a mortar attack in Baghdad. Pfc. Bosveld, a member of the 527th Military Police, is from Waupun, Wisconsin.

Pfc. Karina S. Lau, 20, Livingston, California ,was killed in the helicopter crash in Iraq.

Chief Warrant Officer (CW5) Sharon T. Swartworth , 43, of Virginia was killed when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down Nov. 7, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. CWO Swartworth was the regimental warrant officer for the Judge Advocate General Office, based at Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon.

Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, 27, of Carlisle, Pa. was killed Sunday, 14 Dec, in Iskandariyah, Iraq, responding to an explosive ordinance disposal call.

Spc. Frances M. Vega,20, of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Vega assigned to the 151st Adjutant General Postal Detachment 3, Fort Hood, Texas, was killed in the helicopter crash.

Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton, 27, of Easley, S.C., was killed on Jan. 2, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq. Capt. Hampton, was the pilot on a Kiowa, OH-58, Observation Helicopter when it was shot down by enemy ground fire and crashed. She was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, 27, of Citrus Heights, Calif., died on Jan. 14 when she was struck by a vehicle on Mosul Airfield in Mosul, Iraq. Hines was assigned to the 108th Military Police, Combat Support Co., Fort Bragg, N.C.

SPC Rachel Lacy, 22, died in 2003 after receiving a series of shots in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. She became ill right after the inoculations, Two independent panels of medical experts found that the vaccinations may have triggered the illness that killed Spc. Rachel Lacy the Defense Department said.

Helicopter crew chief instructor Staff Sgt. Lori Anne Privette, 27 died when a UH-1N Huey helicopter crashed during a training flight. SSgt. Privette joined the Marine Corps in August 1994 and just returned from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Army Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, 24, of Quakertown, Pa., died Oct. 1, 2003, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C. Ramos died of non-combat related injuries. She was assigned to the 3rd Armor Medical Company, Medical Troop Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 39, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Nov. 8, 2003, at WRAMC. On Oct. 31, 2003, Jimenez fell and was injured. She was taken to the 28th Combat Support Hospital and later evacuated to Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center. Subsequently, she was moved to WRAMC where she later died. Jimenez was assigned to the 2nd Squadron Combat Support Aviation (Maintenance), 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.

Army Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, 19, of Taylor, Michigan was among three soldiers killed when a homemade bomb exploded Jan. 31 along a road near Kirkuk, Iraq, as their convoy passed by. She and the two other soldiers were assigned to Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas.

On March 23, 2003, during Operation Enduring Freedom, a pair of HH-60s scrambled from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The mission was an urgent medevac needed to save the lives of two injured Afghani children. While enroute to the rescue site, one of those helicopters crashed, killing six Airmen, including First Lieutenant Tammy Archuleta, the copilot of Komodo 11.

Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, 19, of Lena, Wis., died Feb. 16 in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device struck her convoy. Frye was assigned to Company A, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Department of Defense announced the death of, 41 year-old Capt. Gussie M. Jones, 41. in Iraq. Captain Jones was a surgical nurse assigned to the 31st Combat Support Hospital from Fort Bliss. Her death was as a result of a non-combat cause, possibly a heart attack. Captain Jones served in the military for 15 years rising from the ranks to become an Army nurse in 1998.

Spc. Michelle Witmer, 20, died when her Humvee came under attack. She had been stationed in Baghdad since March 2003 with the 32nd Military Police Company of the Wisconsin National Guard.Her sister, Rachel, 24, is with the same unit, which had been expected to prepare within days to leave Iraq. Charity Witmer, Michelle's twin sister, was sent to Iraq late last year as a medic with Company B of the Wisconsin Guard's 118th Medical Battalion. Witmer family Web site

Spc. Tyanna S. Felder, 22, of Bridgeport, Conn., died April 7, inBalad, Iraq, of injuries sustained on April 4 in Mosul when her convoy vehicle washit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Felder was assigned to the Armyís 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Spc. Isela Rubalcava, 25, of El Paso, Texas, died May 8 in Mosul, Iraq,when a mortar round hit near her. Spc. Rubalcava was assigned to the 296th Combat Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division(Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, 18, of Richmond, Va., died May 20, in Baghdad, Iraq,when her military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, as she was returning to Camp Eagle. Pfc. Jackson was assigned to A Company, 115th Forward Support Battalion,1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas.

Pfc. Melissa J. Hobart, 22, of Ladson, S.C., died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, after collapsing while on guard duty. Hobart was assigned to Company E, 215th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Tatjana Reed, 34, of Fort Campbell, K.Y., died July 22 in Samarra, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Sgt. Reed was assigned to the 66th Transportation Company from Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, 26, of Champaign, Ill. died Sept. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds sustained during a mortar attack. Sgt Morrison, who handled computer and satellite communications for her unit was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1544th Transportation Company, Paris, Ill.

Sgt. 1st Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, 33, of Sutton, Nebraska, died July 11 in Samarra, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Sgt. Tarango-Griess was assigned to the 267th Ordnance Company, Nebraska National Guard, Lincoln, Neb.

Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne, 38, was killed Sunday October 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, when two rockets impacted the camp where she served as a Supply Sergeant. Sgt Osbourne was assigned to the Army's Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, 21, of Normal, Ill., died Oct. 6 in Fallujah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Spc. Cawvey was assigned to the Armyís National Guardís 1544th Transportation Company, Paris, Ill.

Sgt. Cari A. Gasiewicz, 28, of Depew, N.Y., died Dec. 4 in Baqubah, Iraq. She was killed when two improvised explosive devices detonated near her convoy. Depew is a suburb of Buffalo, NY. Sgt. Gasiewicz was assigned to the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Sgt. Tina S. Time, 22, from Tucson, Ariz., died Dec. 13 near Cedar, Iraq, when she was involved in a vehicle accident. Sgt. Time was assigned to the Army Reserve's 208th Transportation Company, Tucson, Ariz. Sgt. Tina S. Time, is the first American Samoan woman and the first female soldier from Tucson to die in the war.

Sgt. Jessica M. Housby, 23, of Rock Island, Ill., died Feb. 9 in Route Golden, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy. Sgt. Housby was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1644th Transportation Company, Rock Falls, Ill.

Spc. Katrina L. Bell-Johnson, 32, of Orangeburg, S.C., died Feb. 16 in Ba'qubah, Iraq, when she was involved in a vehicle accident. Spc. Bell-Johnson was assigned to the Army's 418th Transportation Company, 180th Transportation Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.

Former Air Force Captain Barbara Heald who worked for the Army's Project and Contracting Office, was killed Jan. 29, on the eve of the Iraqi national elections, when a mortar round crashed through the roof of the Republican National Palace in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Spc. Lizbeth Robles, 31, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, died at the 228th Command Support Hospital in Tikirt, Iraq, on March 1. Spc. Robles died from injuries sustained in a military vehicle accident that occurred Feb. 28 in Bayji, Iraq. She was assigned to the Army's 360th Transportation Company, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Spc. Adriana N. Salem, 21, of Elk Grove Village, Ill., died Mar. 4 in Remagen, Iraq when her military vehicle rolled over. Spc. Salem was assigned to the 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Spc. Chrystal G. Stout, 23, of Travelers Rest, S.C., assigned to the Army National Guard's 228th Signal Brigade in Spartanburg, was killed when a CH-47 helicopter crashed April 6 in a sandstorm in Ghanzi, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Maj. Barbaralien Banks, 41, of Harvey, La., assigned to Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii was also killed in the CH-47 helicopter crash.

Pfc. Sam W. Huff, 18, died April 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle. Pfc.Huff was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash. She is from Tucson, Arizona.

Spc. Aleina Ramirez-Gonzalez, 33, of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, died April 15 in Tikrit, Iraq, when a mortar struck her forward operating base. Ramirezgonzalez was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Troop Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Spc. Carrie L.French, 19, of Caldwell , Idaho, died June 5th in Kirkuk, Iraq when an improvised exposive device hit the front of her convoy vehicle. Spc. Fench was assigned to the Army National Guard 145th Support Battalion, Boise, Idaho.

Lance Cpl. Holly A. Charette, 21, from Cranston, R.I., died June 23 from wounds sustained when a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device struck her vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. She was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Cpl. Ramona M. Valdez, 20, of Bronx, N.Y., died June 23 while traveling in a convoy that was attacked by a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device in Fallujah, Iraq. She was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Petty Officer 1st Class Regina R. Clark, 43, of Centralia, Wash., died June 23 in a convoy that was attacked by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Fallujah. She was a culinary specialist deployed with Naval Construction Region Detachment 30, Port Hueneme, Calif., and was temporarily assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Staff Sgt. Tricia L. Jameson, 34, of Omaha, Neb., died on July 14 in Trebil, Iraq. SSgt. Jameson, a health care specialist was responding to a casualty incident when a secondary improvised explosive device detonated near her location. She was assigned to 313th Medical Company, Army National Guard, Lincoln, Neb. The Combat Medic Training Center at Logistical Support Area Anaconda was renamed on Sept. 14 to the Sgt. 1st Class Tricia L. Jameson Combat Medic Training Center to honor the fallen Soldier of the 44th Medical Command.

Spc. Toccara R. Green, 23, of Rosedale, Md., died on Aug. 14, 2005, in Al Asad, Iraq, where multiple improvised explosive devices detonated near her unit during convoy operations. Spc. Green was assigned the Army's 57th Transportation Company, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Pvt. Lavena L. Johnson, of Florissant, Mo., died near Balad, Iraq. She was assigned to the 129th Corps Support Battalion.

1st Lt. Laura M. Walker, 24, of Texas was killed August 18, 2005, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated beneath her HMMWV during ground assault convoy operations. Lt Walker was assigned to the Army's 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 555th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Provisional), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 21, of Riviera Beach, Fla., died Sept. 28, 2005, near Camp Bucca, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Airman Jacobson was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. Visit a tribute to her at Elizabeth Jacobson

1st Lt. Debra A. Banaszak, 35, of Bloomington, Ill., died at Camp Victory, Kuwait, on Oct. 28, from noncombat related injuries. Lt. Banaszak was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1035th Maintenance Company, Jefferson Barracks, Mo.

Sgt. Regina C. Reali , 25, of Freso, Calif. died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 23, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV. Sgt. Reali assigned to the Army Reserve's 351st Civil Affairs Command, Mountain View, Calif.

Sgt. Myla L. Maravillosa , 24, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, died in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Dec. 24, of injuries sustained in Al Hawijah, Iraq, when her HMMWV was attacked by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades. Sgt. Maravillosa was assigned to the Army Reserve's 203rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

First Lt. Jaime L. Campbell was among the 12 Americans who died in Iraq when the UH-60 Black Hawk wend down near Tal Afar. Lt Campbell, 25, and an accompished pilot, was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment in Anchorage, Alaska.

Air Force Senior Airman Alecia S. Good, 23, Broadview Heights Ohio, was one of two airmen to die when two helicopters crashed into the Gulf of Aden, Africa. Airman Good was assigned to the 92nd Comm. Sq., Fairchild AFB, Wash. All of the service members killed were deployed to Djibouti as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Sgt. Julia V. Atkins , 22, of Bossier City, La., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations. Sgt. Atkins was assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Pfc. Tina M. Priest, 20, of Austin, Texas, died in Taji, Iraq on March 1, from non-combat related injury. Pfc. Priest was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divison, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson,21, of St. Louis, Mo. was killed in Tikrit, Iraq, on Mar. 16, when a mortar round detonated. Sgt Pinson was assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment, 501st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pfc. Amy A. Duerksen, 19, of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 11, from a non-combat related injury. Pfc. Duerksen was assigned to the 4th Combat Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Lance Cpl. Juana NavarroArellano, 24, of Ceres, Calif., died April 8 from wounds received while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar, Iraq. She was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime S. Jaenke, 29, of Bay City, Wis., died June 5 as a result of enemy action when her HMMWV was struck by an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar province, Iraq. She was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25, Fort McCoy, Wis.	Pennsylvania National Guard member, Spc. Kirsten Fike, died a day after collapsing in 104-degree heat near Yuma, Ariz., at a border patrol surveillance outpost in the desert. Spc. Kirsten Fike, 36, was in the initial stage of a two-week deployment for Operation Jump Start, She had also served for five years in the Air Force, where she had been a family support technician.
Lt. Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, died in a diving accident during a science mission in the Arctic Ocean.	Army Sgt. Wakkuna A. Jackson, 21, of Jacksonville, Florida, was killed in Kunar, Afghanistan, Aug. 19 when an IED detonated near her convoy vehicle. Sgt. Jackson was assigned to the 710th Combat Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.	Sgt. Jennifer M. Hartman, 21, of New Ringgold, Pa.died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 14 of injuries suffered when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated in the vicinity of a West Baghdad Substation. Hartman was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Pfc. Hannah Leah McKinney, 20, of Redlands, Calif., died on Sept. 4 in Taji, Iraq, from injuries suffered when she was struck by a vehicle. Pfc. McKinney was assigned to the 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion, Fort Lewis, Wash.

2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez, 23, of Texas, died on Sept.12 of injuries sustained in Al Kifl, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during combat operations. Perez was assigned to the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. 1st Class Merideth L. Howard, 52, of Alameda, Calif. , was killed in Kabul when a car bomb detonated near her HMMWV. Sgt Howard was assigned to the Army Reserve's 405th Civil Affairs Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. A resident of Waukesha, Wis., Sgt Howard entered the Army in Oakland, Calif., May 21, 1988, as a medical equipment repairer.

1st Lt. Ashley L. (Henderson) Huff, 23, of Belle Mead, N.J., died of injuries suffered in Mosul, Iraq, on Sept.19, when a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near her mounted patrol during combat operations. Lt. Huff was assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Army Sgt. Denise A. Lannaman, 46, of Bayside, N.Y., died at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Oct. 1 from a non-combat incident. Sgt. Lannaman was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1569th Transportation Company, Newburgh, N.Y. and was on her second tour in the Middle East. Many thanks to Sgt. Cristina Frisby for the above photo.

Maj. Megan M. McClung, 34, of Coupeville, Wash., died Dec. 6 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. McClung was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Senior Airman Elizabeth A. Loncki, 23, of New Castle, Del. was killed Jan. 7 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in the Baghdad area supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, the first woman to obtain her rank in the Iowa Army National Guard, was killed when an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed, killing all 12 people on board.Sgt. Major Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, was a full-time member of the Iowa National Guard and was based at Camp Dodge.

Cpl. Jennifer M. Parcell, 20, of Bel Air, Md., died Feb. 7 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Cpl. Parcell was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Naval Academy graduate Marine Captain Jennifer Harris, 27, was killed while piloting her CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter north of Baghdad. The helicopter was reportedly shot down by enemy fire.

Ashly Lynn Moyer,21, was killed in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 3 when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle. Moyer was serving with the 630th MP Company, 759th MP Battalion and 89th MP Brigade.

Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen, 19, of Davenport, Iowa, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle.She was assigned to the 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.	Spc. Karen N.Clifton, 22, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., died June 21 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when her vehicle was hit with a rocket propelled grenade. She was assigned to the 554th Military Police Company, 95th Military Police Battalion, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Sgt. Trista L. Moretti, 27, of South Plainfield, N.J., died June 25 in Nasir Lafitah, Iraq, when her unit was attacked by insurgents using indirect fire.She was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.	Spc. Michelle R. Ring, 24, of Martin, Tenn., died July 5 of wounds sustained from enemy mortar fire in Baghdad, Iraq.She was assigned to the 92d Military Police Battalion, Fort Benning, Ga.

Capt. Maria I. Ortiz, 40, of Pennsauken, N.J. died July 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. She was assigned to the Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) -- Capts. Rob and Beth Makros, T-38 instructor pilots with the 25th Flying Training Squadron here, were recently selected for assignment to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., as B-2 Spirit bomber pilots. Both are thrilled with their new B-2 assignments. "It's awesome. The B-2 is a great opportunity for both of us," said Rob, who was an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot.

Col. Adele Hodges (right) accepting the base colors and all its responsibilities to mark the beginning of a new era as Camp Lejeune's first female commander. Col. Hodges said she is honored to be the first female commander and pledges to be only a Marine leading Marines.

First Lt. Alexia Forbes and Senior Airman Jackie Miller train with fellow combat weatherman at the 18th Air Support Operations Group at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Lt. Forbes and Senior Airman Miller are not just the only two women in their squadron; they are also the only two active female parachutists in the Air Force. USAF photo -Dave Davenport

REAL SURVIVORS
- Sgt Casaundra Grant - PFC Michelle Loftus - Spec. Danielle Green - SSgt Juanita Wilson - Captain Dawn Halfaker - Spec. LaToya Lucas - 1st Lt. Melissa Stockwell - Maj. Tammy Duckworth - - Read their stories.

Renowned Artist features Military Women - read about Nancy Rhodes

American Stamp Collectibles honors Military Women. - Framed Collectible

When Col. Rhonda Cornum (now General) assumed command in Germany - Col Rhonda Cornum

Successful women beyond the military:
A former Lt. - now a popular musician - read about Valerie.
A retired Col. - now a published author - and she wants your ideas - read about Jo Rusin.

First woman assumes command at Ft McPherson - Col Angela Manus

Air Force Doctor making a difference - Dr. Lidia Ilcus

Watch out - the Harpies are Loose! -- aka -women against military mothers - read my rant.

Deployed Mother's response to snarky press: Read her reply.

Navy Nurse Corps Celebrates Anniversary...read more.

Yes - that's me chatting on USA Today - Full Transcript
The often asked "Drafting Women" question - My Answer

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Mural includes military nurse.
Read about the the first-ever African-American female combat pilot. Lt. Vernice Armour

Newest Unique Firsts for military women: Latest Firsts - Supreme Court Fellow, Brigade Commander and more.

Of course women are Generals and Admirals! Stars on their shoulders

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Honor our women veterans through The Women's Memorial...please don't wait until they are gone to remember them.

Information 1-800-222-2294

Dedication Photos Photos of exhibits.

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Sexual Assault Hotline- and new web site - Task Force Hotline

National Women's Trauma Recovery Program
More than a decade ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs opened the National Women's Trauma Recovery Program (WTRP) as part of the National Center for PTSD at Menlo Park, CA. The WTRP, designed to treat women veterans with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is the first residential program of its kind and is open to women across the country. Many of the women who are referred to the program were sexually assaulted during their military service and suffer what is now referred to as Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Visit their web site - Women's Trauma Recovery Program

Stop the nonsense about women in combat!! Read my Rant!

VA Appoints new Director of Center for Women Veterans - Dr. Irene Trowell-Harris

VA Advisory Council on Women Veterans Members

Military women from every state have served, voluntarily. Here's a list by state.

A fun addition Military Women in Cartoons and Comics

More just for the fun of it -My Misadventures with some celebrities.

"Women Are Firefighters, Too!" And yes, they were at "Ground Zero!" Firefighters

A Real Military Renaissance Woman - Pilot, Skydiver and Record Breaker - Cheryl Stearns

First woman graduate - National Guard Sniper School

Did the military discriminate against pregnant women? The Fifth Amendment Sisters think they did.

"Women in Combat - Not My Final Answer!! Unequal Opportunity There's nothing equal about equal opportunity with exceptions!

More Firsts - B-52 Bomber Crew Chief - the first African American Admiral -the first physican Admiral and more. Accomplished Women

New Feature - "She Chose To Serve" Individual stories about special military women - submitted with pride by friends and relatives.

The story of Ginnie and Lottie Moon is a fascinating one - two sisters who cleverly and brazenly spied for the Confederates during the Civil War - and got away with it. Look here.

These sisters wear the stars - Admiral and General's stars that is. Flag Officers

List of State Women Veterans Coordinators VA Coordinators

Women Medal Recipients

"FIRSTS" for Military Women Ships Named for Women Site Visitors contributions More "Firsts" for military women.

Military Women's Uniforms - - Past and Present More uniforms Hats 'n other stuff.

Women's Recruiting Posters from WWII Posters

Military Women on Sheet Music

Women's Posters from WWI Posters

Military Women in Collectibles

Monuments to Women Warriors

Military Women Depicted in Advertising

Military Women on Television

and postcards.

Military women divers inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Divers

UN looks at Military Women as Ideal Peacekeepers

Military Women of NATO Countries

Here are a few tips on locating veterans. Finding Women Vets

Official Dates on women in the military: Datelines Poetry by military women

WAC Museum Now Army Women's Museum.

Links

PTSD Resources: PTSD Information: PTSD

Gift From Within - An International Nonprofit Organization for Survivors of Trauma and Victimization - Gift From Within

Books for Young Readers

Books About Military Women

Links about Military Women: More LINKS FAQs, SAQs, and UAQs about this site. Q and A Who is "Captain Barb"? Check Here

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© Captain Barbara A. Wilson, USAF (Ret). Content © 2010.

The opinions, arrogance, cynicism and criticism are strictly this authors and have no connection to any U.S. Government agency, nor is any remuneration received for this site.

Many thanks to Old City for graciously hosting this web site!