Lady Vet, Author at Lady Vet

Air Force Veteran Katy Doggett in a contemplative gaze.

Proof of Service, Please: One Woman’s Journey From Proud Airman to Invisible Veteran

She stepped out of her car and was immediately accosted by a man in the parking lot. He pointed out that her husband was not there. She responded politely that she was aware. He kept talking, adamant that she was in the wrong. “Well you can’t park there. This is for Veterans only.”

She told the man she was a Veteran. He insisted she was not. But she didn’t back down. “I said, I was in the Air Force, I did my time. I have a DD-214. He said, ‘No you don’t. They don’t look like you in the Air Force.’”

Proof of Service, Please: One Woman’s Journey From Proud Airman to Invisible Veteran Read More »

Angels of Bataan: Army Nurses in Santo Tomas Prison Camp, 1943

Angels of Bataan: The Military Women who Survived Three Years in a World War II Prison Camp

5 Comments

Being stationed in the Philippines was a tropical dream in the early 1940’s. American military personnel found themselves with easy work days that left plenty of time to play in paradise. But in December of 1941—just 10 hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor—the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippine Islands.

Angels of Bataan: The Military Women who Survived Three Years in a World War II Prison Camp Read More »

A woman in a black dress in front of cherry blossom trees

Constant Harassment and Lack of Support: One Airman’s Reality of Being a Woman in the Air Force

1 Comment

“That Chapstick must be really good.” Regularly surrounded by men who outranked her, it was the kind of comment Carmen Felder

Constant Harassment and Lack of Support: One Airman’s Reality of Being a Woman in the Air Force Read More »

Jessica Hodge's Mission: Helping Women Veterans

This Desert Storm Marine Shines Brightest When She’s Helping Women Veterans

Jessica Hodge is a Desert Storm Veteran who’s calling in life is helping women Veterans. She is open and candid about

This Desert Storm Marine Shines Brightest When She’s Helping Women Veterans Read More »

Women in Combat: Christine Conley in Afghanistan

Women in Combat: How One Veteran Turned Struggle into Strength

After Conley separated from the Navy, she felt the intense gaze of others who didn’t understand what their curiosity cost her. It was like being under a microscope. At this point she was still having surgeries. People would see her in a wheelchair and ask a cascade of questions that left her feeling very uncomfortable. Eventually she stopped talking about being a Veteran, and if people made assumptions, she let them go. “I wouldn’t do anything to correct them because it was just easier. And people don’t always need to know everything. I definitely downplayed and was almost secretive about what I did. Because [I got] everything from disbelief to that awful question: did you kill anybody?”

Women in Combat: How One Veteran Turned Struggle into Strength Read More »

Portrait of AJ Jones: One Army Veteran's Approach to Life

One Army Veteran’s Approach to Life: Focused, Positive and Always Moving Forward

2 Comments

ONE ARMY VETERAN’S APPROACH TO LIFE Army Veteran AJ Jones packed a lot into her 10 years in the military, and

One Army Veteran’s Approach to Life: Focused, Positive and Always Moving Forward Read More »

Meet Mary Hamrick, the Korean War Era Veteran Who Helped Pave the Way for Others

2 Comments

We recently had the honor of speaking with Mary Chisholm Hamrick; a Korean War Era Veteran who served during a groundbreaking period of changes for women in the military. Now 87, she is easygoing in conversation and carries a warm demeanor with a natural smile. And she speaks about her military service with a look of fond nostalgia and a sprinkle of humor.

Meet Mary Hamrick, the Korean War Era Veteran Who Helped Pave the Way for Others Read More »

Five Women Veterans in Nature - Lady Vet

What Does a Veteran Look Like?

3 Comments

We think it’s worth asking the question, What does a Veteran look like? When you picture a veteran, what is the

What Does a Veteran Look Like? Read More »

Why Women Have a Veteran’s Day

4 Comments

Did you know that in a growing number of states, women have a Veteran’s day of their own? While some people

Why Women Have a Veteran’s Day Read More »

The Persistent Problem of Sexual Assault in the Military

4 Comments

In FY18, of the 5,805 unrestricted reports of SA, only 307 resulted in a trial by court-marshal, with 108 convictions for a non-consensual sex offense. That amounts to a conviction rate of less than 2% in unrestricted reports, and only 0.5% of all estimated sexual assaults in the military for that year. One-half of a percent.

The Persistent Problem of Sexual Assault in the Military Read More »

female soldier stands on top of armored vehicle

When You Think of a Veteran, What Do You See?

10 Comments

While the military has long been dominated by men, it has never been a thing solely of their own making. Women

When You Think of a Veteran, What Do You See? Read More »

Welcome to Lady Vet

Lady Vet is a community for women who served and the people who love and support them. So let’s have a conversation. Let’s grow the collective voice and visibility of the women Veterans. And most importantly, if women are to be an ever greater presence in the military and beyond, let’s make that reality more welcoming.

Welcome to Lady Vet Read More »