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I served in Iraq during OIF II-III (2004-2005) in Ramadi. I volunteered for Lioness with another soldier, Miranda Mattingly, with HHC 44th Engineers but went out on missions primarily with 1/5 Marines.

Looking back at the entire experience, I would definitely do it again given the opportunity. My one disappointment in the deployment was the unsupportive attitude my unit (which was based in Baghdad) had towards the Lioness program. I truly hope that through this film, Americans will open their eyes to the contributions women have made in modern combat and know that we will continue to be a vital element of the Armed Forces.

I served in OEF VII in Afghanistan. Although it was a totally different war front than Iraq, I think Americans were starting to forget about the Afghan war considering the small number of troops we had over there. My story is different, but so much the same...

I was a Combat Medic and I did things like daily QRF, MEDCAPS, escort missions and even care under fire, amongst many other things. Every single mission I willingly did. I also had the rare opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with the local population and the females they kept hidden under burkas by providing medical care, doing searches and visiting villages and orphanages to win the 'hearts and minds'. The conditions disgusted me and I wish I could go back and help those women. I was one of two female soldiers that went out of the wire on a regular basis and I think the female Soldiers role is vital, especially in a country where a male American soldier cannot even look at a local female let alone search them for explosives. I also think it is very interesting that the fact that we are out there doing what we do alongside our male counterparts is against Army regulation. I think this needs to be reassessed and a few peoples eyes need to be opened.

I am very excited about this film and I cant wait to get it. We are the forgotten war fighters and it is time our voice is heard.

Hello and Welcome Home to all of our Lioness Soldiers who risk their life to safe our Country, my job, and each other. Simply Thank You and God Bless. I have great respect for all who served and is still serving our country. The movie put my heart in a different place, and my eyes opened wider. I am a Benefits Counselor II., I work for the Veterans first out of the Los Angeles, Office with County of Los Angeles Military and Veterans Affairs. I love my job and I am here for all Veterans who need my help with filing a claim for benefits which you truly have earned while serving our country. Please contact me and I will do my very best to assist you. With great respect, simply thank you and your family.

West Los Angeles Office
5730 Uplander Way Suite 100
Culver City, CA. 90230
310)641-0326

Sincerely;

FRANCES M. GOVENS

Hi Nina
Thanks for posting. Are you still in the Army? Will you be going back to Afghanistan?
Meg and Daria

It is important the participation of women in the military, we work hard to prove other that sex do not matter in the career, sometimes we are often seen by males soldier that the only reason we can accomplish anything in the military is because we are females, I was recently told by a Sergeant Major that females leadership does not mean a thing beacuse we see our soldiers as children and we protect them too much. I was part of the lioness team with MAJ Pendry and yes IRAQ change me, I try to be strong and keep living my life, i am currenly station in South Korea, I will never be the same person that I was before.

Hi Patricia
Thanks for writing. We heard about you from Maj. Pendry (now Guttormsen) and others. What was your MOS and which Lioness missions did you do? Who was your battle buddy?

Take care.
Meg and Daria

I was in at school when I first learned of the events of 9/11. Later I walked home from school all I could do was wonder who would do such a thing, later during the week as the whole world learned more of the events I watched with my family drinking a beer with my dad and older brother Damien, we spoke about 9/11 quite often but all I could think about is how the hell could we get back at them. I'm a young American Teenage Girl with a vengeance on my mind, all I could say was I be damned if they think they could come to my country and do this Great Nation. I admit as a young girl GI Jane was one of my favorite movies. I thought to myself going to join the military I didn't care which one just as long as I got in to do my part for my Country in this time of need. So I did I enlisted in the Army which so happens to be a recuriting station right next door to my high school,with everyone being not as optismistic about the situation as I was but the deed was done no turning back now.

I graduated high school that year waited to ship out in October of 2003, Fort Jackson, SC. I got to come home during Christmas leave and got married, returning to basic with a new name and ready to finish the last two weeks of my training, then on to Fort Lee, Va for my AIT as a 92Y (Supply). As I finished up AIT awaiting for my orders couldn''t wait to start my life with my husband, then I got not so good news, I was being shipped to Camp Howze, Korea. Excited to see Korea but I was told that I couldn't bring my spouse with me, that was one of the hardest things I had to do. As time went by it seem to be a little easier being away from home like that for the first time. Then one day I had some of my wisdom teeth pulled so I was on quarters for a few days, as I laid down to rest from the drugs they gave me a knock on the door Battalion Meeting at the top of hill in the gym. Not really knowing what was going on, but a few days before there were rumours going around about our Unit Deploying to Iraq, but our Commander informed us nothing has been brought to her attention and Units in Korea will not Deploy to Iraq, Korea was a Deployment in itself. Well, I finally fell into formation and our Battalion Commander, LTCol Mize, told us that 2nd ID will be Deploying to Iraq and Camp Howze will close down.

Sooner then expected we started training for War. I worked in the S-4 Logistics and so later my NCO would assign me the 249(saw)Gunner for our section. Durning the training my 1st SGT asked ten or so females including myself to the chow hall our CO wanted to speak to us ASAP. I was the last one to arrive to the meeting, she told us that we were asked there for a special reason as she continued to speak she told us that some of you have already voulnteered for what I'm about to explain. She spoke about what was to come in Iraq and how the Army started Operation "Team Lioness" a small group of females to go out on missions with Line Units and Infantry, even Marines, she also continued on explaining that this is new to the military and we would be the second group of females to do this, I'm not sure how much truthful it is. I accepted the mission as well as nine other females or so, we had to go through a little extra training with C Co Infantry but it was fun and exciting.

Our unit arrived in Kuwait. We waited there for what it seemed like forever and finally my Unit was ready for a three day convoy to Ramadi, Iraq. My first mission as a Team Lioness was so exciting and scary not knowing what to expect. My battle buddy PFC Goldbold and myself reported to the TOC, got our information we were to meet up with A Co 217th at 01:00 for road blocks and car searches, the mission was so post to end around lunch time but it went on till dinner time.

Being out side the in such a place of destruction knowing that probably 95% of the population wants you dead was a weird feeling but yet so exciting survival mode kicks in. My battle buddy and I went on so many missions because we were the only team that was not assigned to a unit we rotated with the other teams, but A Co 217th was most of our missions. There so many hostile encounters with the enemy as well as encounters as a 249 gunner. There are a few missions that I would like to write about but its hard at times to. But one mission I will write about tonight: we were only supposed to do a cordon and search which is a nice version of searching houses. We knock and ask if we may search the homes. Well it was a little after dinner time, the sun was starting to go down, we're standing out in the middle of the village getting ready to leave then we started to receive fire as the dirt around my feet was flying around ducking down looking around for cover where to go, couldn't tell where the shots were coming from. Finally a few of the guys ran across the street taking cover behind a little metal shed. At first it did not hit me what was going, every one was already across the street they kept screaming Cooper get your ass over here, finally I ran across but there was not much cover. We had to separate there only five of us on that side of the village, so we split three guys went one way a SGT and myself went another the reason being only two of us because I had a 249, as the SGT and I stayed low against the walls and as fast as possible trying to find the shooter we came to a house that sounded like the shots were coming from, SGT looked at me and whispered heavily Cooper remember your training and stay behind me keep low and most of all do not hesitate to shoot our lives depend on it, I responded with "HOOAH SGT" he kicked the door in and went in first I followed he walked up the stairs as I searched the bottom part of the house waiting to hear all clear I though then I saw the curtain down stairs moving like the wind was blowing, so I looked, never being scared in my life I really was expecting someone to be behind the curtain ready to blow me up or something. Still no answer from the SGT so I started up stairs my breathing was so heavy and loud trying to catch my breath and in that moment I paused and though to my self calm down and steady your breathing Cherish they can probably can hear you coming up the stairs your breathing to heavy so I did sure enough the house was all clear so we vacated the house and met up with soldiers. We ended up staying another couple of hours looking for the shooter but never found him.

The reason I tell the story is so that people know women do just as much in the military maybe not all of them but still we are at War, we put our lives on the line just as much as the males do but yet society is not ready for women in War on the front lines but we are. Every time I came back from a mission alive I Thank God for that but now that I'm home things just haven't since then it feels like, with the exception of my sons birth everything has spiraled down hill. Even then when I came home my father and I seemed to get even closer because we saw things in War and did things in War that you pray that your loved ones will never have to go through. Till this day it is still hard to cope with. I was always such a happy go lucky person everything happens for a reason, but now I catch myself being angry and hating life in general starting drinking more quite eating. But the irony in it all is I would do it again if had to some part of me feel like I have unfinshed business in Iraq as crazzy as that sounds. I just hope that one day this feeling will stop and I can go on with my life. To my fellow Team Lioness I say HOOAH and GOD BLESS!

Thanks a lot for your post Cherish. We heard about you from a newspaper article back in 2005. Great to connect with you now. When did you get back from Iraq? What's your status now? Are you still in the Army?

Take care,
Meg and Daria

Hi, I worked in the Prosthetics Department at the VA Hospital in Reno, NV. Nothing too much to report here. What I can you is that these women vets are much tougher than the men. Women seem to hold together more than these guys. They do not ask for much but for the most part they are not even aware they have VA Services.

Mary
Yes, we have heard that some women veterans are not aware of services available to them at the VA. The Center for Women Veterans at the VA is trying to get the word out, as are others working in this area.

Thanks for posting.
Meg and Daria

Saw the movie last night at a VFW post in Phx, Az. and was blown away! What amazing young women we have serving today. Kudos to the ladies!

I cannot believe the general public would want our female troops under-trained for missions they are called upon to take part in. Nor do I think it fair that they are not given their due in the records of history....things I believe will, and should, change before this war is over.

My love, prayers, and enduring respect to all the "lioness'" on film and off.....your country owes you a debt of gratitude and will, forever after.

Keep the faith, hold your heads up high! You make us proud to be women....you're amazing!

sincerely,
christina Van Male
proud 82nd Airborne mom
of paratrooper
Pfc. Seth Van Male
Mesa, Az.

Thanks Christina for your comment.
Meg and Daria

I just want to say to the brave women in our military to stick together (please), be strong, and carry on with pride.

Our original mission to Iraq in 2004 was to help the Iraqis rebuild their intrastructure. Since 2004 was a complete turn around in the Iraqi's view of Americans from 2003, we were instead given other missions. Our small group was to help give the Marines adequate protection from the insurgents on the Syrian border. We also stuck around after that was accomplished to build items that would make their lives more comfortable - showers, burnouts, etc.

However, being at a forward outpost, EVERYONE is needed for security. It isn't something that you plan on doing, it turned out to be a necessity. Every soldier is needed. And as a female in an all male environment, you want to make sure everyone knows that you are pulling your weight. I remember when our convoy first got to Husaybah, the CO of the Marines said, "Get that female back on that convoy and get her out of here!" Luckily, my LT and Chief said, "That's not a female. That's a Seabee and she is here to help save your men's lives by building bunkers. She stays." Everyone was utilized.

Adrenaline was frequent in Husaybah. I remember when we were ambushed in an alley. Just before it started, myself and another petty officer sitting next to me in the back of the humvee turned and looked at each other as if to say, "Oh F*#%! Here we go." It was all crazy. Explosions, people running, some just standing there watching!?

When walking through town on our way to a work site and pulling security along the way, the hair on the back of your neck stands up...the Iraqi men just look at you and glare. You wonder where the IED's are.

When you get to the job site and the Iraqi police chief realizes you are a female, he turns, pulls his pistol out and starts walking towards you, it's an uneasy feeling. My Chief had to jump in front of him. The Marines talked to him, but he wasn't happy about it. It gave me pleasure to drive the dump truck as close as I could to the Iraqi police still sleeping on their little mattresses on the road.

Being the only female in Husaybah, I was there for the interrogation of the female Iraqis captured who were harboring insurgents and helping to place the IEDs to kill my friends. There was an eight year old little girl in a pink dress. Big brown eyes. So sweet looking. I wanted to kill her.

Being in Iraq has raised many questions for myself. Many doubts. There were so many situations that made me go against my character, against my nature, but I did it. I needed to to survive. One of the dreams that I have frequently is myself running down a dirt road with my weapon, chasing after a haji to shoot him. The next thing I know, I'm back in the U.S. and there are all of these people standing around on the street looking at me and at my weapon. I put it down to my side. They are looking at me like I'm a freak.

Meg and Daria have made a very important film. When I saw the screening at The Tribeca Film Festival last spring, the sold out audience stood and cheered for the Lionesses and for the film makers who gave them the chance to tell their story. As a psychoanalyst I know the importance--the power of putting feelings into words. It can be life saving. One of the many benefits this film provides is the chance for these women to put their feelings into words and to pave the way for other soldiers, men and women to do the same. A necessary, life saving thing. A necessary, life saving film.

Nancy Kaufman LCSW,LP
New York City