She saved my brother’s life.
Bos was a Nebraska Army National Guard specialist and a truck driver with the 1075th Transportation Company when she was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor device for exceptional heroism and gallantry during an insurgent enemy ambush that occurred near Salmon Pak, Iraq, on March 20, 2005.
While under attack she extracted a wounded Soldier trapped inside a damaged vehicle, moved the Soldier to safety and returned to her vehicle while under direct and indirect enemy fire and led the convoy out of the kill zone.
Bos was the first female in the Nebraska Army National Guard to be awarded the Bronze Star.
On March 20th, 2005 I received a phone call no sister ever wants to receive. It was my brother, shaken, tired and worried about his injured friend, telling me about what he’d just experienced.
You can listen to his unit tell their story here (warning, it is intense):
“It Got Scary:” Nebraska National Guard Soldiers Reflect On Ambush In Iraq, 10 Years Later
“One of the most beautiful days I can remember weather wise, the entire deployment I was over there,” is how Jay Schrad remembered the morning of March 20, 2005.
Schrad and 13 other soldiers from the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 1075th Transportation Company were rolling out of a base in Kuwait, taking a 33-vehicle supply convoy into Iraq. They were young, most in their early 20s. Most were from the Columbus area. They’d been doing this for several months at this point, halfway through the deployment. This convoy included pairs of Nebraska soldiers in green semi-trucks, civilians driving white semis and three Humvee gun trucks providing security.
They had been attacked on previous missions with roadside bombs and small arms fire, which was no surprise, because regardless of tactics, mile long convoys attract attention in a war zone. “We made our presence known,” A.J. Bloebaum said. “They knew when we were coming.”
But they’d always sped away from the trouble. read more
Heroes every damn one of them.
It’s been fifteen years this month and I still cannot type this without my pulse racing and my eyes tearing. My brother had already survived an IED that took his door off the truck. I am forever grateful for everyone in this unit. I’ve had dinner with many of them. I’ve heard about their struggles getting VA help. I know you still cannot startle my brother when he’s asleep (poor Bixby).
Those were long, sleepless months when he was deployed, I’d leave my computer on so I could see when he checked back in after every trip. Forever grateful for Yahoo’s messenger system that let us video chat almost daily. Forever grateful he came home.
I still ache that we will not have a woman president, feeling as if my gender has once again been sidelined. So I wanted to share about this amazing soldier and remind us all to keep fighting for our place at the table. And thank you, Jen, for making sure my brother and his unit made it out alive.
WaterGirl
TaMara, I cried as I read your post. So glad your brother is safe and your family intact.
Jennifer Beck Bos – a name to learn and remember, like Christine Blaisey Ford.
JPL
Chills and tears! Thank you for posting this because it’s a reminder that there are heroes among us. We’ll have a female president, but we’ll just have to wait.
Bostondreams
Wow. That is one badass elementary school teacher (in her civilian disguise!).
Mary G
I remember when Jennifer would have been at home because nurses were the only women allowed to serve. She is another crack in the glass ceiling which is thicker and harder than we ever imagined. Someday someone will break through it, but it’s hard to wait.
Betty Cracker
Amazing story! Thanks for being awesome and courageous, Ms. Bos!
the antibob
Respect!!!
Yutsano
I have a friend getting deployed next month. I have a friend who just got back last year from a nine month really difficult deployment. Every time they go out of touch I’m right there with you TaMara. And I almost want to go to law school just to be the lawyer who gets VA benefits for everyone who deserves them.
Baud
Thanks for sharing.
Jay Noble
Nebraskans catch a lot of grief for some of the stupid political shit that happens here, but damn they show up when they are called. One of my nephews was in the 1074th and was set to deploy at that same time when he was killed in a car wreck. Another nephew still serves at NE National Guard command in Lincoln. I believe he’s served 2 deployments. A kid who I’ll always remember as the affable Safeway stock boy was killed by an ied in 2007.
trollhattan
Wow. That’s all I’ve got so to repeat: Wow.
Good work, everyone.
TaMara (HFG)
@Jay Noble: My niece is in the Guard in Lincoln. Hmmm…6 degrees of separation. Sorry to hear about your nephew.
The other thing about Nebraska, is they take their veterans seriously and treat them like the heroes they are.
Humdog
Did she just get the Bronze Star? Wonder why it takes 15 years. How great is it that school kids get a female military hero as role model!
eclare
Inspiring story, thanks.
Jay
taskandpurpose.com/news/deported-veterans-access-benefits-tijuana
TaMara (HFG)
@Humdog: No, she received it that same year, I believe, or the next.
stinger
Thank you, SP4 Beck! You are an example to us all, civilian and military.
J R in WV
Now I’m thinking she should have gotten a Silver Star, really.
Heroism walks tall, Ms Bos!! Thanks for your service, from an old vet!
TaMara, thanks for playing here on Balloon Juice with the rest of us jackals!
Ruckus
@Mary G:
Eight female docs and nurses died in Vietnam. They might not have been allowed to fight but they did serve and those 8 died. Now that women are allowed to fight many more women have been injured, some rather seriously, (Tammy Duckworth) I don’t know how many have died. That there is little acknowledgment of this and it is is massively fucked up.
karensky
Well, that was the most intense and uplifting thing I have read all day. Thank you, TaMara. We will not be sidelined.
Brachiator
A great story. Thank you.
Bonnie
One more thing for National Women’s Month: Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in jail!!!