Side By Side Ken Riege

from July 2021 Gallup Journey Magazine

Eat Healthy, Be Active Katie Sharpton, MPH

Side By Side

The Story of our brave sisters in uniform

By Ken Riege USAF Veteran

II had mentioned in last month’s story that for July I would be writing on how different military quotes and phrases have become a part of our everyday vocabulary. However, after a recent visit to Albuquerque and thrift shopping, I came across a book called

Side By Side A Photographic History of

American Women in War. With July 4th coming up, I couldn’t think of a better way to help celebrate our independence than to honor those brave women who have helped secure our freedoms in so many ways.

As I was looking through this book, a saying stood out that I wanted to share. This was a quote from a British

Officer’s report to Lord Cornwallis during the Revolutionary War. “Destroy all the men in America and we shall still have all we can do to defeat the women.”

Here is a photo of Dr. Walker, provided curtesy of the Medal of Honor

Our brave sisters in uniform have served, fought, bled, and died in every conflict our country has been involved in since the Revolutionary War.

There has been only one (I am sure that reviews of other actions should be done) female Medal of Honor Recipient, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.

Dr. Walker is believed to have been the only female surgeon deployed to the Civil War Battlefields. She overcame misogyny to become the first female surgeon in US Army history. She was a major crusader for women’s right to vote which was finally achieved 1 year after her death on 21 February 1919 with the passing of the 19th Amendment.

Another quote from this book was by Beatrice Hood Stroup, who served with the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during WW2. Her quote was as follows: “It wasn’t just my brother’s country or my husband’s country, it was my country as well and so this war wasn’t just their war, it was my war too and I needed to serve in it.”

Just recently (6 May 2021) a historic first happened at MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) in San Diego. It was the first time that an all-Female Platoon graduated from their training at MCRD which for the past century had only been training male recruits. Pvt. Jordan Peshlakai of Naschitti was among that first group of female Marines. It would be a great honor to meet her and to do a story on her in the future. I was reading a story about Pvt. Peshlakai in the February 18th, 2021, edition of the Navajo Times and her drill instructor described Pvt. Peshlakai as “Tough as Nails”.

Before I close this story, I want to include “Our Lady Warrior” Specialist”, Lori Piestewa, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom on 23 March 2003. Specialist Piestewa was the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. Military and the first woman in the U.S. Military KIA (Killed in Action) from the Iraq War. She was posthumously promoted from Private First Class to Specialist and received both the Purple Heart and POW Medal (also posthumous).

We live in the greatest country in the world, and it is all thanks to the dedication and patriotism of our female

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have given their all to help secure our country.

I would also be remiss if I did not give a special “shout out” to the female warriors in our family. First there is Ms. Christina Dodge who honorably served in the United States Marine Corps and her daughter, Jasmine Woods, who is currently serving in the United States Navy. I salute you both and offer up a great big “Thank You” for your service and dedication to our country and our community. This is the display at the Comfort Suites honoring Specialist Piestewa. In closing I want to include a picture of the book that inspired me to write this story. I look forward to reading more of it and encourage all to either go on Amazon or as in my case, visit the thrift stores. I have filled the bookcase at the Comfort Suites in Gallup several times over with these amazing finds.