Hey Women Warriors,

Welcome to March: Courage, Recognition & the Legacy of Women Who Served

March reminds us that progress rarely happens quietly.

It’s Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the women who challenged policies, broke barriers, and proved that leadership and service have never belonged to one gender. Some pushed forward through perseverance. Others changed the system simply by refusing to accept its limits.

This month also brings International Women’s Day and Vietnam Veterans Day—moments that recognize both the global impact of women and the long-overdue acknowledgment of those who served, often without the recognition they deserved.

As you move through this issue, remember: recognition matters—even when it comes late.
You’re still part of this story.
And you’re not alone in carrying it.

Let’s go!

​​ Carma

- Voices of Women Who Served – Wisdom from military trailblazers
- Vietnam Veterans Day – Why recognition still matters decades later
- K-9 Veterans Day – The warriors who never spoke a word
- March Observances & Veteran Resources
- WWC Book Debrief – The emotional legacy behind The Things They Carried
- VA Claims Corner – Why it’s never too late to file a disability claim

Women’s History Month is about more than milestones—it’s about the voices that shaped the mission.
​

For years, the military had a policy that made absolutely no sense to the women serving under it.
- You could deploy.

- You could lead troops.

- You could handle classified missions.
But one life event could end your entire military career...overnight.

What year did the U.S. military finally stop automatically discharging women simply for becoming pregnant?
👉 Scroll to the end of this issue to find out—and meet the Air Force officer who helped change military policy.
​

Long before policies changed or barriers officially fell, women in uniform were already leading troops, flying combat missions, and proving their strength under pressure. Their stories span generations and branches, but their lessons are remarkably consistent: lead with integrity, trust your team, and never quit the mission.

Ann E. Dunwoody — U.S. Army
“If you compromise your integrity and principles on minor issues, it gets easier to make bad choices on the big issues.”

​- The first woman in U.S. military history to achieve ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four-star rank, Dunwoody commanded U.S. Army Materiel Command supporting operations worldwide.

Tammy Duckworth — U.S. Army
“There is nothing more patriotic than standing up for what you believe in.”

- A 🚁 Black Hawk pilot wounded in Iraq in 2004, Duckworth lost both legs in combat and continued serving as a veterans advocate and U.S. Senator.

Leigh Ann Hester — U.S. Army
“There’s no difference in gender here—we’re all doing the same job.”

- Hester became the first woman since World War II to receive the 🩶 Silver Star for valor in direct combat after leading troops during a 2005 ambush in Iraq.

Vernice Armour — U.S. Marine Corps
“If I don’t do it, who will?”

- Known as “FlyGirl,” Armour became the first African American female combat 🛩️ pilot in the Marine Corps and flew combat missions in Iraq.

Michelle J. Howard — U.S. Navy
“It’s not about having one good idea—it’s about creating many ideas and choosing the best.”

- Howard became the first woman to reach ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🚢 four-star rank in the Navy and later served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Lori Robinson — U.S. Air Force
“Every person around you brings something essential to the mission.”

- Robinson became the first woman to lead a U.S. combatant command as Commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 .

Lisa Jaster — U.S. Army Reserve
“There’s no quitting. Quitting was never an option.”

- Jaster became one of the first three women to graduate from 🪖🏫 Army Ranger School and the first female Army Reserve officer to complete the course.

Why These Quotes Matter
Women have served in every era and every branch of the U.S. military.
Their stories reveal a consistent pattern:
- Integrity under pressure
- Courage in combat and leadership
- Service that continues long after the uniform comes off
- Different uniforms.
Different missions.

- Same commitment to serve.
​

Women who serve often carry powerful stories—some spoken, many kept quietly within.

Her Stories of Service: A Prompted Journal for Women Veterans was created to help women reflect on their military experiences, honor their journeys, and capture the memories that shaped who they are today. Through thoughtful prompts and guided reflection, this journal creates space to explore moments of service, resilience, leadership, and personal growth.

​Whether you want to document your own story, preserve memories for family, or simply reflect on the path you’ve walked, this journal is a meaningful way to ensure that your story is remembered.

Have you saved your spot for the free virtual screening of The Hello Girls documentary?

This powerful film tells the story of the U.S. Army Signal Corps women who served as telephone operators on the front lines of World War I, connecting more than 26 million calls between battalions in France. Despite wearing uniforms and taking Army oaths, they returned home to be told they were never soldiers.

Join the virtual screening on March 11 to learn their story and honor their service.
Save your spot:
https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org/events/the-hello-girls/
​

When Service Was Met With Silence

Every year on March 29, the nation observes Vietnam Veterans Day—a long-overdue moment of recognition for those who served during one of the most complex wars in American history.

Thousands of women served during the Vietnam era as nurses, intelligence analysts, communications specialists, and logisticians. They treated the wounded under fire, processed mission-critical intelligence, and supported operations that kept the military running. Yet many returned to a country that struggled to recognize their service.

Recognition That Still Matters

In 2016, the Department of Defense (now War) opened a permanent Vietnam War Commemoration exhibit inside the Pentagon as part of the national 50th-anniversary remembrance of the war (2012–2025). Located in a third-floor corridor, the exhibit features life-size combat scenes and Huey helicopter models that reflect the experiences of those who served, standing as a lasting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and resilience of Vietnam veterans and their families.

Vietnam Veterans Day reminds us that gratitude should never come decades late—but when it does, it still matters.

If you served during the Vietnam era, this message is simple:
"Welcome home.
Your service mattered then, and it still matters today."

They never wore rank.
They never spoke a command.
But on countless missions, they were the difference between danger and safety.

Every year on March 13, K-9 Veterans Day honors military working dogs who served alongside their handlers in combat zones and high-risk operations. These dogs detected explosives, tracked threats, guarded perimeters, and protected troops operating under extreme pressure.

For many handlers, a K-9 wasn’t just support.
It was a partner.Handlers and dogs operate as a team built on trust and instinct. When service ends, that bond often remains long after the mission is over. Some handlers adopt their dogs. Others say goodbye when their partner is reassigned, retired, or lost in service.

K-9 Veterans Day reminds us that service isn’t limited to humans—and that loyalty can be measured in actions, not words.

This March 13, we honor the four-legged warriors who served without hesitation—and the handlers who trusted them with their lives.
​

March is:
March — Women’s History Month

Mar 5 — U.S. Navy Seabee Birthday

Mar 8 — International Women’s Day - A very long event, but I presented (check it out at the 4:40 mark)

Mar 9 — Daylight Saving Time Begins

Mar 13 — K-9 Veterans Day

Mar 17 — St. Patrick’s Day

Mar 19 — First Day of Spring

Mar 25 — Medal of Honor Day

Mar 29 — Vietnam Veterans Day
​

MARCH RESOURCES:

Vietnam-Era & Aging Veteran Support
VA Agent Orange Registry: 
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/
Vietnam Veterans of America: 
https://vva.org
VA Vet Centers: 
https://www.vetcenter.va.gov

K-9 Handler & Military Dog Support
The Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc.: https://www.mwdtsa.org/about-mwdtsa-military-k9s/
Mission K9 Rescue: 
https://missionk9rescue.org
United States War Dogs Association: 
https://www.uswardogs.org

Reserve & Guard Employment Protections
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve: 
https://www.esgr.mil

Mental Health & Moral Injury Support
National Center for PTSD: 
https://www.ptsd.va.gov
Cohen Veterans Network: 
https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org
WoVeN (Women Veterans Network): 
https://www.wovenwomenvets.org
Give an Hour: 
https://giveanhour.org
​

March can stir grief, anger, pride, and restlessness—sometimes all at once. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means remembrance is working.

Support is not weakness.
Recognition is not too late.
Your story still matters.
​

This powerful collection of stories explores the emotional and psychological weight soldiers carry during and after the Vietnam War. Rather than focusing on tactics or battles, the book reveals how memory, loyalty, fear, and loss shape the veteran experience long after the war ends.
​
Why it matters for women warriors:
Many veterans carry invisible weight long after leaving the military. O’Brien’s stories remind us that what you carried in service doesn’t disappear simply because others can’t see it.

Many Vietnam-era veterans never filed for VA benefits because they believed too much time had passed. They were told their symptoms were “just aging,” “stress,” or unrelated to service. But that belief is wrong.

Understanding Presumptive Conditions

A presumptive condition is an illness the VA assumes is connected to military service if certain service criteria are met.

For Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, this can include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Ischemic heart disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Certain cancers
- Peripheral neuropathy

Many of these illnesses appear years or decades after service, which is why presumptive policies exist.

The most important thing to remember...There is no deadline for filing a VA disability claim.

Veterans can still file for the first time, reopen denied claims, request increased ratings, or add secondary conditions. Recognition sometimes comes late—but it still matters. And when it comes to benefits, your service still counts.
​

Q: What year did the U.S. military finally stop automatically discharging women simply for becoming pregnant?

A: 👉🏻 The answer to this month’s trivia question is 1976, when court rulings and policy changes ended mandatory discharge for pregnancy and parenthood in the U.S. military.

For many years, women in uniform faced a rule that forced them out of service if they became pregnant or became a parent. The policy dated back to 1951, when President Harry Truman signed an executive order allowing the military to discharge women who were pregnant, gave birth, adopted a child, or even became a stepmother.

In practice, this meant that many women had to leave the service immediately if they started or joined a family. Thousands of talented servicewomen lost their careers this way. By the early 1970s, several courageous women began challenging the rule in court, arguing that it treated women differently from men and punished them simply for becoming parents.

One of the most well-known challenges came from Air Force Captain Susan Struck, a nurse who became pregnant in 1970 while stationed in Vietnam. She wanted to carry her pregnancy to term and continue serving, but the Air Force ordered her to separate. With support from the American Civil Liberties Union, her case moved toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

Attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued that the policy was unconstitutional because it singled out women for punishment based on pregnancy and parenthood, while male service members were not discharged for becoming fathers. As similar legal challenges gained attention, the Department of Defense began revising its policies. By 1976, a federal appellate court ruled that mandatory discharge for pregnancy violated constitutional protections, effectively ending the rule and replacing it with policies that allow pregnant service members to remain in uniform.

Capt Struck's courage helped reshape opportunities for women in uniform.
​

As you move through the rest of this month, carry this with you:
​- March reminds us that service is always evolving.
- Sometimes it shows up in the courage to speak up.
- Sometimes it shows up in the quiet progress of doors opening for those who come after us.
- And sometimes it shows up in the simple act of remembering the women who challenged the rules so others could serve more freely.

And every step you take forward—learning, growing, helping another veteran find their footing—continues the legacy of those who served before you.

​Your story still matters. Your service still counts.

Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for the strength you bring with you.

We’ll see you next month, Warrior. 💙