There are some tried and true Army wives out there. Their bumper stickers so zealously display: “I married my hero.” “Half my heart is in Iraq.” “Army Wife: Toughest Job in the Army.” I’d see them on cars around Savannah, particularly on post. In fact, Max gave my mom a Ranger Battalion yellow ribbon magnet for her car that said, “Sua Sponte (of one’s own will),” which was the slogan for his unit: the 1/75 (1st Ranger Battalion, 75 Infantry Regiment). My mom’s car might be one of ten that I’ve ever seen driving around San Francisco with a military ribbon on affixed to its trunk…in four years.
I have met women whose entire identity unequivocally embodies being a military wife. While it would never occur to me to even think of these bumper sticker slogans as a part of my everyday life, they were not all together untrue. The “stand by your man” mentality was ardently carried out by many Army wives. Some wore their husband’s unit as a pendant around their neck. Max, actually once brought me a pendant with the Ranger crest on one side and Saint Michael, the Patron of Paratroopers (yes, indeed there is one, I looked it up) on the other.
“All the wives wear them,” he explained, handing it to me. Of course, not all of the wives wore them, but several did. I remember looking at it, thinking that I might wear it. But, I never did. In fact, I never wore necklaces period...not even on my wedding day. I kept it in my jewelry box though, with the other jewelry I rarely wore and did appreciate its sentiment. Every so often Max asked me why I never wore it. I told him that I will, one day. And who knows, maybe I will. There were also wives who had their husband’s unit tattooed on their ankle.
Now that’s commitment.
A blog for military life stories
PROVOKED BY WAR: NOTES FROM AN ARMY WIFE Overview
Provoked by War: Reflections of an Army Wife is a book of essays that expose my thoughts and experiences as the wife of an active duty infantry officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom during our five years of marriage.
From a Special Operations Unit (1st Ranger Battalion) to an Infantry Company Commander (1-17 Infantry), my husband’s job has challenged, frustrated, confused and saddened me while also given me happy, prideful and fond memories.
The essays in Provoked by War candidly detail my most profound experiences, lessons, triumphs and hardships as an Army wife during this time of war.
My husband returned from his company command and sixth combat deployment in July of 2010 with 1-17 Infantry. Their battalion suffered more combat casualties than any unit since September 11, 2001 primarily because of their stryker vehicles’ susceptibility to IEDs (articles on their combat endeavors have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post and on NPR).
Most informed people know a little something about the soldiers in Iraq and now, especially, Afghanistan from media outlets. But, when it involves your soldier, the war becomes far more than just another news segment or newspaper article; you understand life’s fragility in a way that challenges the very way you live and look at the society of which you are a part.
My vignettes show the very honest evolution of a carefree newlywed whose tone of lightheartedness grows more complex with each passing deployment. I have always maintained that nothing can really prepare you for what it means to be married into the military in a time of war. My essays are the result of my experiences learning the ropes, facing the challenges and living as a modern day Army wife in the midst of war.
From a Special Operations Unit (1st Ranger Battalion) to an Infantry Company Commander (1-17 Infantry), my husband’s job has challenged, frustrated, confused and saddened me while also given me happy, prideful and fond memories.
The essays in Provoked by War candidly detail my most profound experiences, lessons, triumphs and hardships as an Army wife during this time of war.
My husband returned from his company command and sixth combat deployment in July of 2010 with 1-17 Infantry. Their battalion suffered more combat casualties than any unit since September 11, 2001 primarily because of their stryker vehicles’ susceptibility to IEDs (articles on their combat endeavors have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post and on NPR).
Most informed people know a little something about the soldiers in Iraq and now, especially, Afghanistan from media outlets. But, when it involves your soldier, the war becomes far more than just another news segment or newspaper article; you understand life’s fragility in a way that challenges the very way you live and look at the society of which you are a part.
My vignettes show the very honest evolution of a carefree newlywed whose tone of lightheartedness grows more complex with each passing deployment. I have always maintained that nothing can really prepare you for what it means to be married into the military in a time of war. My essays are the result of my experiences learning the ropes, facing the challenges and living as a modern day Army wife in the midst of war.
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