Additional Resources Relating to Sarae Ramos-Tillman's Interview
Books from NYPL’s catalog:
Undaunted: The Real Story of America’s Servicewomen in Today’s Military by Tanya Biank.
Operation Iraqi Freedom: The Inside Story. Published in 2003 from NBC News.
US Marine in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003 by Richard S. Lowry, published 2006. This book gives more insight into the life of a Marine during Iraqi Freedom. There are also sections on MOPP and other lingo Sarae uses during her interview.
I’m Still Standing: From Captive US Soldier to Free Citizen -- My Journey Home by Shoshana Johnson, published 2010. Also available in audiobook form.
Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army by Kayla Williams, published 2005. Decided to enlist, Palestinian boyfriend, 9/11 on Arabic TV, deployed to Iraq.
The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq by Helen Benedict, published 2009. The inspiration for the documentary, The Invisible War (see Blair’s page for link). Five stories of women who served in Iraq 2003-2006.
Hesitation Kills: A Female Marine Officer’s Combat Experience in Iraq by Jane Blair, 2011. The combat experience, one of the first females to write about her combat experience. ebook also available.
Additional Resource Page:
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United States Marine Corps Reserve Sixth Communications Battalion the battalion Sarae was a part of.
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An article from the New York Times: “Airman Is Ousted As Rebellion Against Anthrax Vaccine Grows” by Steven Lee Meyers, March 11,1999. This explains some of the issues soldiers saw with the mandatory vaccination Sarae talks about and is similar to the officers Sarea mentions are dishonrably discharged for refusing the anthrax vaccine.
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An article from the New York Times: “Fears of Anthrax and Smallpox” published October 7, 2001. This opinion piece gets at the reasons why the military became strict about having every soldier vaccinated against anthrax and smallpox.
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DOD’s Mandatory Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program for Military Personnel (report): This can be found at the Science, Industry, and Business Library. This report is from April 29,1999.
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Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccination Immunization Program (report): This is from a hearing on July 13, 2000, available at the Science, Industry, and Business Library.
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The Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program -- What Have We Learned? (report): A report from October 3 & 11, 2000 on the immunization program. This report is available online.
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Desert Sand Gives Troops “Kuwaiti Crud” (article): This is a first-person account of what Kuwaiti Crud. In the interview, Ramos-Tillman describes this sickness and how it affected about 70% of the camp about 2 weeks into their time at Camp Commando.
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“Saddam’s First Shot” by Mark Mazzetti, published March 20, 2003. This article does a nice job of explaining the explosion Sarea experienced as well as connecting in some of the lingo she uses throughout her interview. The article is excellent in painting a picture of Camp Commando and the reactions as they realized this was not a drill.
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“After the War: Court Case; Hearing to Begin for Sergeant Changed in Attack on Soldiers” published June 16, 2003. This article is from the NY Times and gives a summary of the soldier who threw a grenade into an officer tent. This incident happened at a camp not far from Camp Commando and Sarea talks about how this story was very unsettling to the people around her because the brotherhood/sisterhood had been broken.
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The ambush Sarae talks about in the 29th minute (1st part) was part of the Battle of Nasiriyah, March 23-29, 2003. The three women Sarae mentions are Jessica Lynch, Shoshana Johnson, and Lori Piestewa. Lynch. Their supply convoy took a wrong turn and was attacked; the survivors were held hostage. Video footage was shown, this article from CBS explains more. Piestrewa was killed and was the first female casualty of the war. Lynch was rescued on April 1st and Johnson was later rescued on April 13, 2003.
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