Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq
Encyclopedia
Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq is a 2007 book by Kirsten Holmstedt about the Iraq War and women in the military with a foreword by Tammy Duckworth
. Band of Sisters presents twelve amazing and often heart-wrenching stories of American women on the frontlines
including America's first female pilot to be shot down and survive, the U.S. military's first black female combat pilot, a 21-year-old turret
gunner defending a convoy
, two military policewomen in a firefight
, a nurse
struggling to save lives, including her own, and more.
Tammy Duckworth
Ladda Tammy Duckworth was formerly Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and formerly the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran and former U.S...
. Band of Sisters presents twelve amazing and often heart-wrenching stories of American women on the frontlines
Front line
A front line is the farthest-most forward position of an armed force's personnel and equipment - generally in respect of maritime or land forces. Forward Line of Own Troops , or Forward Edge of Battle Area are technical terms used by all branches of the armed services...
including America's first female pilot to be shot down and survive, the U.S. military's first black female combat pilot, a 21-year-old turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
gunner defending a convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
, two military policewomen in a firefight
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
, a nurse
Army Nurse Corps (United States)
The United States Army Nurse Corps was formally established by the U.S. Congress in 1901. It is one of the six medical Special Branches of officers which – along with medical enlisted soldiers – comprise the Army Medical Department ....
struggling to save lives, including her own, and more.
Awards and recognition
- Winner of the 2007 American Authors Association Golden Quill Award
- Winner of the 2007 Military Writer's Society of AmericaMilitary Writer's Society of AmericaThe Military Writers Society of America, also known as the MWSA, is not-for-profit association of several hundred authors, poets, and artists, most of whom are U.S. military veterans or family members of veterans...
Founders Award
See also
- Vernice ArmourVernice ArmourVernice Armour is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps who was the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps and America's first African American female combat pilot in the United States military...
, featured in Band of Sisters, was the first African-American female naval aviatorNaval AviatorA United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in the Marine CorpsMarine corpsA marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
and America's first African American female combat pilot in the United States military - Tammy DuckworthTammy DuckworthLadda Tammy Duckworth was formerly Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and formerly the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran and former U.S...
, wrote foreword for Band of Sisters and is former U.S. Army helicopter pilot whose severe combatCombatCombat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
wounds cost her both of her legs and damaged her right arm, former director of the Illinois Department of Veterans AffairsIllinois Department of Veterans Affairs-Mission:The mission of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is to assist veterans and their dependents and survivors in obtaining the benefits they are entitled to under the laws of the United States, and the State of Illinois or any other governmental agency, through its forty-three...
, and current Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsThe United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
External links
- Band of Sisters Official Website
- Barnes & Noble Customer Reviews
- Amazon Customer Reviews
- Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq, limited preview on Google Books