Women at War

Wednesday, September 12 2007 | Send to a friend

Women at War

In Iraq, servicewomen are fighting shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. They command squadrons, get in fire fights, fly planes at the risk of getting shot down, and witness the carnage caused by IED's. Today, Dick Gordon talks to three women who have served in the war.

Lt. Col. Polly Montgomery

Air Force Lt. Col. Polly Montgomery is both a high-ranking officer and a flyer - two things that make her unusual as a woman in the Air Force.

During her time overseas, she flew back and forth between Iraq and Kuwait. She says that even though she has led a distinguished career, she still has to work harder than men to prove herself.

1st. Sgt. Yolanda Mayo

Marine 1st Sgt. Yolanda Mayo was a public affairs chief and is now a Marine reservist. She has had two tours in Iraq - one in 2003, and the other in 2004. She also served in Desert Storm, 15 years ago. She says things have changed a lot for female Marines since then. At that time, you would have never seen a woman as close to combat as they are now.

Gunnery Sgt. Rosie Noel

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Rosie Noel did a one-year tour in Iraq. While she was there, she was injured in an explosion and had shrapnel removed from the side of her face. Rosie is a single mother of two. She says she has learned how to separate her role as a mother from her job as a Marine.

The three women are featured in a book by Kirsten Holmstedt, "Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq."

• See a picture of Rosie's injury
  
• Hear the first part of this interview
• Learn more about Kirsten's book
• Read Kirsten's blog

Music heard in this story: Stomp - Instrumental by Instrumental Icons for the album Instrumental Icons, Vol. 2