The following story was submitted by DAV, an organization that aims to empower veterans by fighting for their interests on Capitol Hill, educating the public about the sacrifices and needs of veterans as they transition back to civilian life, and ensuring that they can access all benefits available to them. You can read more about them here.

It’s been more than 75 years since women were allowed to officially serve in the armed forces. But restrictions on how they could serve persisted for decades. Until 1967, women could only make up 2% of the total forces. If they became pregnant or adopted a child, they could be discharged. The policy restricting them from combat wasn’t reversed until 2013, and not all military specialties were open to women until 2016.

The far-reaching impact of those restrictions or the number of people it took to break through the barriers will never be fully known. But this Women’s History Month, DAV honors and celebrates just a few women in DAV’s ranks for their extraordinary and history-making service.

CARRIE ROEGER

Today, Carrie Roeger is proud to share how she made history as a Marine. But that wasn’t always the case.

In 1991, Roeger was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when most of her unit deployed in support of the Persian Gulf War.

“The whole reason I was not deployed is because none of the women in my unit were deployed,” Roeger said. “As a young Marine, that was very difficult.”

But with one opportunity denied her, another presented itself. As one of the few in her unit stationed stateside, and in recognition of her exemplary service, Roeger’s captain asked if she’d like to go to jump school. Naturally, she said yes. 

After jump school, Roeger was assigned to an airborne unit, allowing her to continue jump training. With 13 total jumps, she proudly wore the gold Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia.

“It was kind of like acceptance into a private club,” she said. “It was definitely a proud moment.”

At the time, it didn’t seem all that significant that she was the first female Marine to earn the gold jump wings. Then, a few months later, Roeger’s wings were taken away on the basis that the Marine order specified that “male” Marines could be assigned to an airborne unit. Adding salt to the wound, she learned about the stipulation when she was accused of stolen valor by a staff noncommissioned officer who actively pushed to have her wings taken away.

“It was devastating,” Roeger said.

Fortunately, the Marine regulation barring her from the recognition was in the process of being updated to be gender neutral. Roeger’s captain successfully accelerated changes, allowing Roeger to reclaim the wings she had earned.

The journey was painful, but, Roeger said, “We had ultimately changed the course of opportunity for women Marines coming in the future.”

Roeger once struggled to talk about her history-making accomplishment, before people were more accepting of women’s expanding roles in the military. Now, as the co-owner of a restaurant dedicated to celebrating veterans and their stories, Roeger shares her own story proudly, recognizing it as an important stepping stone for women in uniform.

“I see these women today, and I’m so proud that they continue to push the limits and to break the ceilings,” Roeger said, “and to rewrite the orders.”

MELISSA STOCKWELL

While recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, someone informed Melissa Stockwell that she had become the first known woman to lose a limb in active combat.

“And I looked around, and I, I had no idea,” Stockwell said. “It just didn’t matter.

“You’re all there in the same uniform. We had all gone through these traumatic instances. Gender didn’t matter.”

The former Army transportation officer had lost her left leg above the knee after her vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb during a routine convoy three weeks into her deployment to Iraq in April 2004. It was a time before women could officially serve in combat.

“But here I am, lost my leg to a roadside bomb,” Stockwell said. “And it happened to plenty of women and men.”

At 24 years old, Stockwell had to figure out what life without one leg would look like. While at Walter Reed, she learned about Paralympian athletes and watched videos of people with limb loss skiing down mountainsides.

She asked herself, “What can I still do?” And the answer brimmed with possibilities.

“Let’s see what my life can be like; one leg or two doesn’t matter,” she told herself at the time. “I can still get out there and dream big.”

That she did.

Last year, at 44 years old, the mother of two competed in her fourth Paralympics. With her children and a community of friends and family cheering her on, she completed an iconic triathlon course in Paris, which included a swim in the Seine River. She previously competed in Beijing, where she was the first Iraq War veteran to qualify for a Paralympic game; Rio de Janeiro, where she earned the bronze medal; and Tokyo.

“I put on that Team USA uniform before I race, and I never take that for granted,” Stockwell said. “I feel honored to share the course or that elite stage with other veterans who have served and who have been wounded.”

Stockwell is also the co-owner of a prosthesis business, a nonprofit co-founder, a speaker and the author of “The Power of Choice: My Journey From Wounded Warrior to World Champion.”

“I believe that sports gave me my life back,” she said.

ANDREA GAYLE-BENNETT

A postcard launched retired Brig. Gen. Andrea Gayle-Bennett’s 35-year military career.

The new mom was looking for part-time work to keep her skills as a physician assistant sharp. So, when the Massachusetts Army National Guard hit up her mailbox, the rest became history.

“I didn’t find the military,” the mother of four said. “The military found me.”

Gayle-Bennett, a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, was the first in her family to serve. She had next to no reference point for what military service meant but saw it as an opportunity.

When she realized she could make a real impact, opportunity morphed into purpose.

Gayle-Bennett remembers being the only woman administering the annual physicals required by the Guard. Women would be pleasantly surprised to see a female practitioner, particularly for women’s health.

“And they were able to talk about things that they didn’t feel they could talk about with men,” she said.

“I felt like I was doing my part to serve this country.”

As a woman in uniform, Gayle-Bennett knew firsthand how challenging and isolating it could be. When she deployed to Iraq in 2009 as a lieutenant colonel, she didn’t have many other women around, let alone those of her rank.

“It is actually a direct result of historic, systematic, intentional and maybe some unintentional exclusion of women and people of color in the senior ranks,” she said.

Before then, Gayle-Bennett was at risk of receiving a mandatory discharge after staying at the rank of captain for longer “than anyone should.” That’s something she attributed to a lack of mentorship for women. Luckily, someone eventually took her under their wing and she avoided discharge.

Despite the challenges, Gayle-Bennett became the first Black female colonel in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the first Black American to serve as the Guard’s state surgeon. In 2020, she was promoted to brigadier general.

An active DAV member, Gayle-Bennett is also a past state commander, current state adjutant and the newest member of the national Interim Women Veterans Committee.

“The work that I’m doing now is important to me,” she said, “because I believe that every veteran deserves dignity and recognition.”

This story was shared by DAV, an organization working to empower veterans and ensure they lead a high-quality life with respect and dignity. Read more about them here!