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Virginia Wright-Peterson

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Homecoming

I’ve traveled a fair amount, but never before was there a live band playing at my homecoming. It took four days to return from Iraq. We waited twelve hours in a cold, damp hoop house for a plane out of COB Speicher. A severe thunderstorm, …

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April 2, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Headed Home

Shortly after five every morning when it is still dark, I hear automatic weapons rattle across the base from a firing range somewhere. I am amazed at how accustomed I’ve become to hearing that tat-tat-tat as I sit in bed reading, waiting to feel drowsy …

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March 9, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Maybe There is a Limit

As of today, my team members and I have worked 114 days consecutively with the exception of one team member who was SIQ (Sick in Quarters) a few days on doctor’s orders due to a respiratory infection. Otherwise, we have each come into the office …

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February 24, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Sleepless in Iraq

I haven’t slept soundly since I arrived at COB Speicher. No one I have talked to has either. A steady stream of Apache, Blackhawk, and Chinook helicopters make their landing descent over our CHUs. The roar of the engines comes so close the CHU shakes. …

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February 9, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

A Ship in the Night

Passing emergency messages becomes so routine one can forget the significance of what is being relayed. One message this week woke me from my robotic ways. Even the format of our messages is uniform: “Serviceman’s father (name and phone number) requests notification and presence due …

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February 4, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Anticipation of Spring

Like when you are a kid at summer camp, mail is pretty exciting here. This week I received a box from friends at the college where I teach in my real life. They sent two pounds of my favorite coffee and, to my surprise and …

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January 26, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Battle Fatigue

We have hit the halfway mark of our deployment and all is well, although I must admit we are getting a little tired. After working sixty-seven consecutive days we are a bit weary. Computer problems continue to plague us. The computer program that we use …

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January 13, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Color of My Landscape

I think all of the camouflage is starting to get to me. I had a dream the other night I found a bright, canary yellow blouse in my closet here and had an overwhelming desire to wear it. Definitely not a possibility in the midst …

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January 7, 2008February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

Post-Holiday Refections

I admit that I am relieved the holidays are over, not for the usual reasons of being exhausted from shopping and celebrating, but rather relieved I survived missing my family, my friends, and our usual traditions. The sergeants, specialists, and captains I pass messages to …

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January 1, 2008February 28, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

“If the Army Didn’t Issue it to You, You Don’t Need It”

I am faring reasonably well with my three duffle bags of equipment issued to me in Ft. Benning. I use the uniforms, t-shirts, and boots daily. A dark green camouflage poncho liner serves as my bedspread. We were told to bring our own PT (Physical …

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December 24, 2007February 17, 2013 By Virginia Wright-Peterson

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Meet the Author

Virginia M. Wright-Peterson’s first book, Women of Mayo Clinic: The Founding Generation, was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2017 and a Chinese translation was released in 2018. Her second book, A Woman’s War, Too: Women at Work During WWII (April 2020) reveals vivid stories of contribution and sacrifice, including women serving in every branch of the military and working in vital roles in factories, shipyards, mines, homes, and communities. Many women relocated during the war years, and they were present at every important battle of the war overseas. Virginia Wright-Peterson has searched for stories that challenge our understanding of ourselves and our world. She has been especially committed to collecting, preserving, and sharing women’s stories often missing in published histories, including the daily news. In her search for a broader perspective, she deployed to a military base in Iraq with the American Red Cross and taught as a Fulbright Scholar at University of Algiers. Virginia Wright-Peterson has a Ph.D. in English and currently serves in administration at University of Minnesota Rochester.

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