Reflections from the Front: The Experiences of Women Veterans

Virginia Willard is a retired nurse who served in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968. During her deployment, Willard worked as an operating room nurse and rose in the ranks, becoming one of the leads. She was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for her service in Vietnam.

Reflections from the Front:  The Experiences of Women Veterans is a podcast that grew out of the interviews Parker Beverly, VSFS intern, conducted with women Veterans in the Fall of 2021 and Spring of 2022.  Each episode focuses on the military career of a different woman with some serving overseas in Vietnam or the Pacific during World War II while others served on the home front.  Despite having varying experiences, the women all showed incredible resolve in the face of adversity.  The podcast aims to shed light on the stories of women Veterans who paved the way for future generations of women in the military.

Former Army Second Lieutenant Regina Benson served in the Army Nurse Corps during WWII. In 2020, she was awarded the Angel of Honor Award for her bravery and dedication. Her service in the Pacific Theater serves as a shining example of women undertaking military roles.

In this edition, we will be speaking with Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer. She first joined the military at 19 years old, serving as a nurse in Germany, Vietnam, and the US. Colonel Cammermeyer has an expansive military career and served as an advocate for LGBT rights of service members.