Band of Brothers: American Women at War in Iraq

by Kirsten Holmstedt

* 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 everywhere . . . and everywhere in Iraq, no matter what their job descriptions say, women in the U.S. military are fighting--more than 155,000 of them. A critical and commercial 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 first female pilot to be shot down and survive, the militarys first black female pilot in combat, a young turret gunner defending convoys, and a nurse struggling to save lives, including her own.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War, Biography, History, Ebooks, Womens

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Kirsten Holmstedt grew up in Mystic, Connecticut. She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2006 with a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Nonfiction Writing.

Ms. Holmstedt was finishing her first year of graduate school in the spring of 2003 when the war in Iraq started. Living in Jacksonville, North Carolina, near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Ms. Holmstedt was in an ideal location to initiate her research of women serving in combat for the first time. Over the next several years, she traveled throughout the United States and spent hundreds of hours interviewing female soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors.

Reviews

[Speedtribes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about 2/3 of this book and skimmed the rest. I was initially hoping for a more female version of Generation Kill, but ended up going cross-eyed at something that came across like a clueless civilian trying very hard to get things right, and hitting all the wrong notes. Because of the writing style, the technical explanations felt dumbed-down. The writer had done just enough research to make it seem vaguely as if she knew was she was talking about, but then she'd go and talk about different branches of the military while using the wrong names for their equipment. She'd use military slang on one page, such as the term 'lit up' and explain what it means in terms of slang. And then a few pages down, use the term again, but in an entirely non-military way which just confused matters. I'm certain the women's experiences were real, but the writing style presented their stories so badly I had a hard time parsing or believing much of anything - It was like having someone's aunt tell the tale of someone's nephew's cousin, through the grapevine; half blown up and half missing vital information to make it a coherent and believable story.

Far too much passive voice. I also disapprove of the attempt to capitalize on the name 'Band of Brothers'. If the women were all in a platoon, or even were all part of the same rotating organization like the Rochambelles - perhaps the title would have fit, but I don't believe the fact they happened to be women scattered across all different parts of entirely different sections of the military would be enough to make them sisters.

I felt like I was reading someone's highschool term paper, or one of my mom's emails. I'm surprised the book got published at all. (Or at least had an editor hack away at it some more.) The soldiers should have written the stories themselves, and come across a lot better as a result. The forward by Maj. Duckworth was the best written part of the book.

[Betsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book first and formost becuase I am a female Marine that served in Kuwait and was there for the start of the war on Iraq, March 20, 2003 and i wanted to hear other women's stories. Secondly my Officer-In-Charge (OIC) has her story in this book. It is a wonderful collection of stories. It is a great way for ordinary people to understand the reason women join the military, what they do while they are in and how they deal with the conflict we are put into.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of twelve women who served in the Iraq War. The majority of them served more than one tour by choice. The majority were wives and mothers. From fighter pilots, nurses, and women driving 80,000 pound large trucks carrying tanks and other trucks there responsibilities varied. Some of them saw their comrades killed, and several of them returned were seriously injured. What didn’t vary was their bravery and dedication to the United States of America. Brave, strong, selfless, dedicated are a few adjectives I would use to describe them. I noticed several reviews that made comments about the writing, it’s not beautiful writing, but neither is it a beautiful story. I thought the author did a wonderful job introducing us to these women, providing background information, and making me feel as if I knew them. You can’t read any book about this awful war without gaining respect for our military. In this case they were all female. May God bless our servicemen and women!

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am an Army Veteran. I served in the 80s during the Cold War as a Russian Linguist. Female veterans of that time and those that served before us received almost no recognition. I have been happy that this has changed over the last decade or so and very much wanted to read and share their stories. Imagine my heartbreak when On the second page of Tammie Duckworth's Forward, she spends half the page insulting the generation of women who served before her.

She says that some of the women that served before her served honorably but she doesn't spend any time on elaborating but goes into how many made her life as a solder more difficult. Really? What does she imagine it was like for us during the decade after the Army was first integrated? She says she was often the only woman in her unit. What them does she imagine it was like for the women that served before her? Maj. Duckworth is a woman I admire. I have appreciated her foray into the political arena and wished her well. To have her throw an entire generation of women who paved the way for her under the bus is beyond heartbreaking and disgusting to me. And worst of all, it was so unnecessary. Her story is remarkable without insulting anyone else, particularly the women who paved the way for her.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holmstedt features the stories of 12 different women who were deployed to Iraq during the early years of the war. They are pilots, nurses, truck and humvee drivers, public relations journalists, mechanics, filling every job available to them. Although they are not allowed in combat many of these women found themselves fighting alongside their fellow soldiers in many extremely dangerous and life-threateing situations. Some were gravely injured and others lovingly cared for those who were in need of help. All bravely followed orders and paved the way for female soldiers who would follow in their footsteps. Being the mother of a young woman in the Air Force I found this book very difficult to read at times. It was hard not to see my own daughter in such frightening circumstances and some of these women's stories brought me to tears. Please let there come a day when none of our sons and daughters have to face deploying to a war zone.

[Nay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings on this book. First off the title really bothers me, it's trying to play off Band of Brothers. I don't feel this is a title that is just interchangeable. The men who served and were the original Band of Brothers earned that title through blood, sweat and tears. There is a legacy with that particular unit that goes with it that continues today. The author should have thought a bit harder. I don't really feel that aside from being women who served in Iraq that enough ties them together to be branded "Band of Sisters". I am also bothered by some of the stories, while some really caught my attention others bothered me with "facts", I suppose they are facts, from my understanding the author sat with all the women and heard their stories, then turned around and published them in this book. Some of the stories I feel were a bit farfetched and also showed lack of professionalism and sadly some of the heroic acts cost some injuries and even their life. I hope it was bad writing versus actuality of facts and exploitation of lack of common sense. Perhaps I'm a bit harsh in my review as I've been a Soldier who has been deployed.

Another fact that many might not ever catch but something that greatly bothered me. If you are going to write a book involving different branches of the military, learn that terms are not all interchangeable. The Army does not wear cammies. The lack of effort in making sure correct terminology was being used really makes me wonder who preread her book to make sure things were right. I'm big on the "getting it right" concept when it comes to our Armed Forces. While I admire that she felt compelled to contribute in some way after 9/11, it's important to get the facts right along with that contribution.

I wouldn't recommend this book to many without a disclaimer that if simple things like correct terminology isn't being used, how much of the stories are true? Just my thoughts.

[Amanda Sheridan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book it touched my heart and really had a spotlight on the reality of some women in the military.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compilation of combat narratives from women in all branches of the armed services was inspiring and encouraging as the modern world flirts with the repression of women’s rights. Each story focused specifically on the narrators’ war experiences but their personal struggles and accomplishments were often mentioned, adding depth and strength to their journeys. Never pandering and never diminishing the reliance on teamwork and the competence of their fellow soldiers, these remarkable women bravely fought and set the bar high for future female soldiers. Highly recommended.

[Erik Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the author profiled women of various ranks, profession, and service. It gives a wide base from which to view the experience of women serving in Iraq. None of the stories are really in-depth, but that isn't the point. We aren't supposed to focus on one, or a small group. Each of these women has a story to tell.

I also enjoyed being able to read this book well after the fact to know what happened to some. Tammy Duckworth (who is not profiled, but who wrote the introduction) is listed as the head of the Illinois VA - which she was at the time. Of course now, she is Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Amy McGrath is shown as a Marine Captain early in her career as a WSO in a F/A-18. Although the book does say she later had eye surgery and became a F/A-18 pilot, the author could not know she would retire as a LTCOL and recently (as I write this) lost election to the US House from Kentucky.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about the women that are serving in combat positions in the middle east, learning how important their rolls are, and seeing how hard they have to work to be excepted as soldiers and not women was an eye opener to me. I have a great deal of respect for ALL that serve and at first was unfavorable of women serving in front line positions. This book has helped me see what sacrifice, dedication and courage women in the armed services really have.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories worth telling, but this book wasn't edited. Many mistakes and the narrative skips around with no flow. Confusing and hard to follow at times.

[Greg Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Successfully Proving their Value

My only knock on the book was that the first couple of stories seemed underdeveloped. Highly recommend "Home Before Morning" by Lynda Van Deevanter, an Army nurse in Vietnam for further reading.

I thought this was the best summation of the book: "Women aren’t struggling for sameness. They are struggling for equality. There will never be sameness, nor should there be."

I found it interesting that women serving in Iraq had to prove they belonged in combat roles much like Blacks in the Civil War. In Capt. Luis Emilio's personal account of the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Infantry-A Brave Black Regiment-he echoed the authors following comments:

"How she and other women in the U.S. military performed in jets and helicopters, on aircraft carriers, in convoys and in surgical wards, and when they came face-to-face with enemy prisoners of war, would validate or refute one of the most radical, controversial, and public experiments in the annals of U.S. military history. The eyes of the enemy were on her as she took off. So were the eyes of her countrymen. Would she be successful? ...

"They have to be doubly heroic because they are facing many of the same challenges as the men in combat, but they can’t draw attention to themselves."

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read and a pretty comprehensive look at war from the perspective of a female American soldier. The women whose stories are contained here come from all different branches and subsets of the military from gunners to pilots to medics, from all different walks of life, and all with varying reasons for joining the armed forces. The thing that is consistent throughout is the sense of purpose and determination of these women to do the best they can at their jobs. (I think my favorite story from the book is of Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Polly Montgomery, pilot of the C-130 Hercules "Herk" transport aircraft. She really encapsulates a good solider and commander.) While the differences between male and female soldiers do exist and are acknowledged, when the boots hit the ground gender ceases to matter. All that matters is the mission. Sometimes the timeline of events in the stories can get a little weird, but can still be followed, so I recommend anyone interested in the military or female fighters to give it a look.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq by Kirsten Holmstedt.

One premise of the book is that women are being treated as equals to men in the military. As a result, they are being accepted into the military in many different roles, including combat roles. Of course, it also means that, just as with men, some are being injured. Some are losing limbs. Some are dying. This juxtaposition of equal opportunity with equal consequences is depressing. For me, the reality of injury and death of any soldier, regardless of gender, is a tragedy. This book was a difficult read.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lifeless and dry

Holmstedt sucks the life--all the emotion, personality, and tension-- out of this book by taking over the narration instead of letting these women tell their own stories. Almost the only words of their own are in the epigrams. Adding to the difficulty in connecting, for me, is her annoying habit of jumping back and forth in the timeline for no compelling narrative purpose that I can see.

[Kaye Valdes · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very poorly written. After the first story I wanted to quit but it was a book club book so I pushed on. The women are real and they deserve to have their story told. They should have written their own it would have flowed better. It bounced and made me thing part of the story was told out of order or not fully. I would not recommend

[Sandra Galer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combat

I was in the military and was getting ready to deploy to the middle East. The military only took the medical personnel and I did not have a chance to serve over seas. This book was an eye opener on the good and bad that I missed. When you're in the military you want to serve and these women were up to the challenge. Not everyone makes it back, we must never forget.

[Zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recognise the place of women in combat and understand that being the minority sex presents challenges: I've seen that, to a degree, in the short periods of time I have spent with the military. I found this difficult to read. It's disjointed in that it skips back and forth and I don't see why that was needed.

[Jessalyn Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book! I loved reading every minute of it. I enjoyed reading about stories of women who served for many reasons. One is because I haven't seen a lot of books just on women who have served in the military branches. It was refreshing.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more a work of passion than skill. The title is somewhat misleading, as there is no”band of sisters” that the tales follow. They are disconnected samples from women serving in assorted branches of the military.

[C.J. Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book for anyone interested in the Iraq War and in the role of women who are/were soldiers in that war. The author, Kirsten Holmstedt, conducted extensive interviews and simply let the soldiers speak for themselves. However, I can say, as a former newspaper reporter, that sometimes letting the interviewee talk just isn't enough. Holmstedt missed many opportunities to follow up with further questions and find out more. I suspect the author empathized so much with the soldiers that she didn't want to push them any further to talk about distressing things like killing someone, leaving children behind, failed romances, etc. I understand the soldiers' unwillingness to go deep because they might fear being seen as weak or being an unworthy soldier. The male soldiers are having the same problem. I can't help but think that the high level of PTSD among returning Iraq War and Afghanistan War vets can partly be explained by the pressure from the military to suck it up and not talk about those painful experiences. This would have been five stars had Holmsteadt gone deeper.

[Iris Seefeldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good to read about the OTHER soldier.

Impressive reportage of what takes courage and what constitutes valor. For women to be recognised at all is whey more of their stories should be published.

[Jessica Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving book about the women on the front lines of the Iraq War. The stories of the bravery of these women will move you. It's a must read for anyone--especially those who doubt that women belong in the military or on the front lines.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The forward is the only useful part of this book.

[Aisha Manus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were interesting and I liked getting another perspective into what someone else went through in Iraq. The writing was a bit mediocre at times but I powered through. I would recommend.

[Mak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with some moving and inspirational war stories from the women who were in the heat of it!

[Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a series of short stories that are interesting. But I am not real fond of short stories books so that is the reason for 3 stars instead of 4 stars.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Wonderful History of Strong, Dedicated Women"

Awesome read, unforgettable warriors. Highly recommend.

[Erin Perryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. It was ok. Some chapters were so long and it just felt exhausting.

[HollyMay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow. Made the reader see them as humans. Overall slow and boring