National Military Appreciation Month: Their Mother Wore Combat Boots
Told by Betty Lou Leaver --
In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, I share the photo from the birth announcement of our third child. The announcement read, "Joining the people who joined the Army." And, yes, my kids grew up for a few years at least as Army brats.
In those days, the Vietnam era, it was not typical for mothers to serve in the military. I was among the first, and in some ways, the Army was not ready for that -- or for me. For this blog post, I will share one story, but there were many more of similar nature.
Starting with no military maternity uniforms. I got pregnant right before I applied for a direct commission (the last group of women to need direct commissions since after that women were allowed to join ROTC and become commissioned in that manner). I kept hoping that I would be called for the interview before I no longer fit into my uniform, but, as things take a while in the Army (the hurry-up-and-wait process for nearly everything), I had just donned maternity clothes from the local store, so I looked very civilian when called for my interview.
And the questions reflected that, especially from a panel of men. One captain seemed quite non-plussed by it all. All his questions focused on the "impossibilities" of combining motherhood and a military career. Finally, on the last round of questions, he asked, "I understand that your husband is a civilian and therefore you have someone to take care of your children when your military duties compete, but how will you cope if your husband does?"
My response: "Sir, based on your questions during this interview, I believe that I will cope much better if my husband dies than you will if your wife dies." The room went silent. With that being the last question, I saluted and left.
Upon return to my military unit, TOP (First Sergeant) asked how it went. I told him and then commented, "With that question, I guess I blew it."
"Don't be so sure, " he replied.
A couple of months later, I received the news that I had been selected for a direct commission by the board. Unanimously. The questions, scoring, and results were included with the letter. They had all given me top marks across the board.
Who woulda thunk? TOP did!
And that is very much how life goes for a mother in combat boots. Someday I supposed I should gather all the stories into a book. For now, they make good memories for this now-grandmother and great stories for her grandkids.
For more blog posts by and about Dr. Leaver, take a gander here: MSI Press Blog
Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter
(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)
Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, and Instagram.
Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start?
in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book?
Contact editor@msipress.com.
Want an author-signed copy of this book?
Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25)
and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.
You can!
Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.
Comments
Post a Comment