Band Sisters American Women Iraq
* Winner of the 2007 American Authors Association Golden Quill Award * Winner of the 2007 Military Writers Society of America Founders Award In Iraq, the front lines are everyplace . . . and everyplace in Iraq, no matter what their occupation descriptions say, women in the U.S. military are fighting–more than 155,000 of them. A critical and mercantile success in hardcover, Band of Sisters presents a dozen groundbreaking and often heart-wrenching stories of American women in combat in Iraq, such as the U.S.s initial female pilot to be shot down and survive, the militarys primary black female pilot in combat, a young turret gunner defending convoys, and a nurse engaged in a struggle to save lives, including her own.
From BooklistHolmstedt started studying the experience of women marines when she lived near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Her exploration became a master’s thesis in originative writing and the most up-to-date discussion of women in the current war. Unblushingly in favor of women in combat, she doesn’t whitewash their experiences or hyperbolize their achievements. Their male colleagues aren’t universally accepting, but a great deal of of them confess that the women are performing effectively; since 20 percent of the troops presently in Iraq are women, they must. Following the tradition of American soldiers before them, they say that they are “just doing the job.” That is, they are flying F-18s into enemy ground fire, driving Hummers and trucks that may be ambushed at any moment, and playing worthful roles in intelligence operations and in the nation building that is one of the more positive distinct elements of a seemingly interminable and discouraging and hindering conflict. Nearly 500 female soldiers have been killed or wounded in Iraq. Invaluable as well as readable. Green, Roland
Review”An exceedingly well-written book., Highly recommended!” RNSA Summer 2008
About the AuthorKirsten Holmstedt has appeared on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CNN, C-SPANs BookTV, and galore local television and radio stations nationwide. An award-winning writer with twenty years of experience, she lives in North Carolina.
Band Sisters American Women Iraq Picture
Band Sisters American Women Iraq Picture
Band Sisters American Women Iraq Image
Band Sisters American Women Iraq Photo
Most helpful client reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
 Band of Sisters…women at war
By Joseph Fabel
“If you fail to try, you have already failed”. Wow, powerful stuff. Yet, this attitude infused the humans portrayed in this “book in regards to women at war”. A number of them chose military positions fraught with the need to prove oneself to male counterparts. The women remained women throughout. It was not necessary to mentally change gender. Each accepted that she had to win a victory over stereotyping by the “boys’ locker room mentality.” Rewardingly, each prove up to the task given her. Each earned the honor bestowed upon her as a military person devoted to her country. They is worthy of our praise and gratitude.
16 of 16 persons found the following review helpful.
Everyone ought to buy a copy of this book and READ it!
By E.M.D.
As the wife of a former Marine, I am conscious of the sacrifices that all military personnel make on a each and everyday basis. However, after reading this book I may veritably say that I am blown away at the commitment, dedication and determination that these women posses. The author presents each story in a clean, precise way making it easy to feel an aroused connection to each woman profiled. Each person story is thoughtfully organized, and staged in a way that makes the reader feel like these are our neighbors, friends and relatives. I am veritably thankful that the author took the time to seek out these women and tell their stories so that we as civilians may realize what it’s like to walk a mile in their combat boots. I highly commend this book and recognise you will not be disappointed after reading it!
12 of 12 humans found the following review helpful.
To whom much is given, much is required.
By Neil E. Bevis
Never before has the pharase ‘to whom much is given, much is required’, been more appropriately described as it has been in this book. The female warriors chosen, no doubt from among a heap of who could evenly have been selected, have shown that as leaders they had vision, were capable to commune that vision, and could carry out it under exceedingly difficult and many times in the most dangerous and desperate situations. This book shows in graphic literary detail the amount of energy and courage of all military personnel, exceptionally female, who distinctly believe that when put together in a combat circumstance they owe each other greatest or most complete or best possible loyalty. The courage of a De Caprio, the compassionateness of a Salinas, the leadership of a Mayo and all of the others makes this book a long overdue acknowledgement of the modern military female warrior. The author has brought together the true amount of energy of women who more than men suffer and win a victory over discomforts by simple adaption (such as the lack of privations and hygiene) as well as having to demonstrate their courage, and they did this without whinging, bitching or whining. These are genuinely remarkable military personnel and this book demonstrates this. But most significantly the author has done it in a sound, descriptive, explanatory way. Neither she or the persons interviewed use their service as a sopabox. It is plainly as it is. A veritably worthy book.
See all 34 client reviews…
|