RallyPoint Ladies - Do you like to read military related books?

2015-06-27T18:54:17-04:00

I'm working on my MA in Military History and I enjoy reading books about the current conflicts (Iraq and Afghanistan) that primarily involve women.I have not read very many and I'm hoping that RallyPoint Ladies can suggest some more titles for me.
My 3 recommendations are:
- Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army by Kayla Williams
- Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq by Kirsten Holmstedt
- I'm Still Standing: From Captive US Soldier to Free Citizen - My Journey by Shoshana Johnson

All 3 of these books are well written and none of them are works of fiction. I wish that more women were represented in military literature. I know that all women still on duty and veterans have a story to tell and not many of them are published. I had the opportunity to go to both theaters of war, Iraq in 2008 for a year and Afghanistan in 2013 for 18-months. There were women Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, and Coasties too. Each time I was able to meet another female I always tried to ask what job they did, and we do such a wide variety of military jobs, it's amazing. Even more jobs and positions are opening up, we're a witness to history.
If you have a military literature book involving women, in any past or current US military action, please share the title and author here.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2015 7:49 PM

2015-06-27T19:49:29-04:00

I love reading military books. I have read the first two, and like you said, they are very good. I enjoyed them. I will need to find the "I'm still standing" book.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jun 28 at 2015 3:32 AM

2015-06-28T03:32:21-04:00

'Band of Sisters' ...
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/a-band-of-sisters-on-the-special-ops-battlefield-your-thoughts

A 'Band of Sisters' on the Special Ops Battlefield. Your thoughts? | RallyPoint

Even before women were allowed in combat roles, a group of female soldiers gained crucial information for special operations units. http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/23/opinions/lemmon-band-of-sisters-special-ops/index.html

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 4:34 AM

2015-06-28T04:34:35-04:00

I hated history when I was in school but now I'm devouring military books to try to be a better Soldier/officer. I just finished "Soldier Girls" and wasn't fond of it. I'm hoping to read "All I Could Be: The Story of a Woman Warrior in Iraq" once I finish "Platoon Leader."

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 28 at 2015 11:24 AM

2015-06-28T11:24:18-04:00

I'd recommend you expand your military history to include reading some of the studies that ultimately resulted in the current generation of heroines getting the chance to put the uniform on. I was around when the studies were done related to bringing women into the Seabees and then the early days of women being there, to women being there is just part of normal. The two cultural things I saw were "Why Not?" and "Dinosaurs die hard". Today it's different as the political culture is more antagonistic "You better and I don't want to hear the problems about it". Some more current than I are concerned that lowering "standards" is an issue but I'm not qualified to weigh in. Their concern would be the "I don't care if more of you get killed, do it anyways or else". Change is always difficult because it eventually forces you to look in the mirror and decide how long you've been an Alpha Hotel about it.

You won't be able to get hold of studies that have margin comments from the Flag staffs, but I did of the Seabee study. The various codes wrote in different color pens, i.e. red for CO, green weenies for XO, etc. There was a section related to the term "Seabee" as suitable for women with the conclusion that is was essentially unisex. The margin comment was "Why don't we call them Sea Bitches?" That and other things lead me to my dinosaur conclusion. Connie pinning Ben's ears back on that one was EPIC! Nothing like an LT calling a 2 Star on the carpet.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jun 8 at 2016 9:10 PM

2016-06-08T21:10:21-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Absolutely; the complete answer is I like to read about anything. This one came today and I'll be reading it tonight.