WOMEN SOLDIERS AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Donald R. Fox
As an American, a retired Sergeant Major and an elderly Christian gentleman, I
am concerned about the increased use of women soldiers in combat roles or
placed in combat zones. In the March 12th, 2012 publication of the Army Times,
page 11, there was a comprehensive article entitled “PTSD diagnosis rates rise
among female troops” by Cid Standifer. I extracted the first few paragraphs of
this article as follows:
“Capt. Karen-Nicole Napper wasn’t in a combat unit. But as a signal
officer with four tours of duty under her belt, she was shot at and mortared
on a regular basis, flying from one forward operating base to another
aboard CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
On her last deployment to Afghanistan, a fellow soldier was hit by a mortar
two buildings away from hers and could be identified only by his dog tags,
she recalled. Midway through that deployment, she began having trouble
sleeping and developed anxiety problems.
She finally sought help, but it wasn’t easy.
“I remember feeling pretty profoundly, as a woman being in command, not
wanting to fall into the stereotype of, ‘We’ve got another sappy female
breaking under pressure,’” she said.”
Combat-related mental-health problems for women have increased. According to
the article, an annual Military Times poll was taken of 85 active-duty women and
22 % said they had been diagnosed with PTSD. “That represents a small but
notable increase from 2009, when only 15 percent of female respondents
said they had PTSD.” (Quote from Cid Standifer article.)
Friends, I esteem womanhood and I recognize the difference between man and
woman. I believe there is something very wrong when we try to make women
serve as men. Too many of us have turned our head away from our Creator and
have gone the way of worldly dictates. The Hollywood crowd will not “put on the
uniform” to fight for our freedoms. They will sit on the sideline and chant
feminism and their view of women’s rights. They want “same-sex marriage" and
other ungodly relationships that will destroy the moral fiber of our society. Would
our founders want such modern-day morals? I think not! How do we look upon
womanhood as a nation? Do we honor womanhood per what the Bible teaches?
We will put our trust in God and obey his commands.
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs
14:34 KJV)
“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are
true and righteous altogether.” (Psalm 19:9 KJV)
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 KJV)
I believe women can serve in the military. My wife, Shirley served three years
in the Women Army Corps, 1950-1953. She served during the Korean conflict in
Japan. In her early forties, she joined the Mississippi Army National Guard and
served seventeen years. Shirley was a qualified Army Medic and served in that
capacity. Later in her career she was Flight Operations Specialist. She
supervised enlisted personnel and the running of Flight Operations. She retired
as a Master Sergeant with twenty-years of service. Yes, of course, women can
serve their country in the military.
The type of military duty Shirley participated in did not put her in a combat mode.
Could there be harmful circumstances? Yes, any time you are in uniform,
especially in the type of warfare we have in the Middle East, you can be in harm's
way. Now to the point, our government did away with the Women’s Army Corps.
It was disestablished on 29 October 1978 by an act Congress. This
decision/action placed women in the Armed Forces together with men and in the
same unit. In my judgment, this was a terrible mistake. Yes, friends, we have
changed as a nation and that’s too bad.
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QUESTIONS TO PONDER
The military draft ended in 1973. Why was it necessary to end the draft?
The Women’s Army Corps, as a separate corps of the Army, was
disestablished on 29 October 1978 by an act Congress. Why was this
necessary?
Why did the Army suffer shortages of men when the draft ended?
When the Women’s Army Corps was disestablished, women in uniform
were incorporated into this volunteer force. Did this help increase
“manpower” and decrease the shortages?
Did combat injuries and deaths increase when women were incorporated
into the all-volunteer force?
When women entered the all-voluntary Army, did sexual harassment
increase?
Why didn’t our government and Armed Forces leaders make this move
(women incorporated in military units with men) during WW2?
Would our home front community allow such a change during WW2?
Finally, do American Mom’s, Dad’s and Grandparents, really want their
daughters and granddaughters to act as men and in combat-related
situations? Do we really want young mothers leaving their babies home in
the USA to perform combat type duties overseans?
NOTE: For additional information see essays titled: “WOMEN IN COMBAT”,
“WOMEN IN COMBAT, PART 2” and “PSALM 11 v.3 IF THE FOUNDATIONS
BE DESTROYED.” DISCRIMINATION OR RESPECTFULNESS