Review in Military History Magazine--Nov. 2007

Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq
Kirsten Holmstedt
Reviewed by Sharon Tosi Moore for Military History Magazine


Kirsten Holmstedt has pulled off two astonishing feats: Not only does she tell engaging stories of service in Iraq without any hint of a political agenda, but she has chosen stories in which the heroes just happen to be women. As she relates the experiences of soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines and how they react in combat situations, the fact that they are women is largely forgotten.

Books about women in combat generally come with a clear bias, either pro or con, and focus on extreme examples, rarely reflecting the actual experiences of servicewomen. Serv-ing in combat zones alongside their male counterparts is simply what the women in this book do, and they see nothing unusual or groundbreaking about it.

You won’t find tales of command mal-feasance and sexual harassment. Nor do the women downplay the difficulty of penetrating the inner circle and earning the trust and respect of their peers, leaders and subordinates; they just see it as something every new unit member encounters. Except perhaps when trying to use the latrine in the field, these women do not expect special treatment.

Tales range from a young corporal on patrol with Marine recon in Haditha to an Air Force squadron commander flying C-130s. Represented is a broad swath of American society, with diverse reasons for serving but a common devotion to comrades and country. As one nurse summed up: “Millions of Americans do the right thing. I’m just one person in that million.” Sharing America’s freedom and opportunities means sharing the risks involved in defending them.

The mothers feel an extra burden of societal guilt, but none tried to get out of their service. A sergeant with three young boys explained: “I went because I had to.

I was a soldier before I was a mom. ”Rather than presenting infallible paragons of virtue, the author faithfully records the women’s frustrations, weaknesses and fears. One admits she was barely able to function as a commander on her first Mother’s Day away from her children.

Another comes to grips with having survived an IED attack, while her companion (another woman) was killed. A third is devastated when her toddler son doesn’t recognize her when she returns home. These incidents are presented without judgment or rancor and with the acknowledgment that fighting men throughout history have dealt with these same issues.

A helicopter pilot’s reflections on having been shot down will resonate with anyone who has served in combat: “You always wonder whether you will be able to handle it if something bad happens. Well, I got a chance to find out. I feel very lucky to know that about myself.”

Should women be allowed to serve in all combat units? This book does not argue one way or another. These are simply good war stories that needed to be told. Our media-saturated culture carelessly throws the word “hero” around while true bravery in our midst goes unnoticed. This book brings the spotlight back where it belongs.