Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Rosa M. McNeely Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Iraq War, 2003-2011; Cold War
- Branch of Service: Army
- Location of Service: Germany; Panama; Texas; England; Iraq
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/30586
Lieutenant Colonel Rosa McNeely knows that as a soldier, flexibility is the name of the game: you never know where you might go when you're in the Army. While her early training was in dental hygiene, she eventually became an ordnance officer, arranging for the transport of supplies to units in Iraq. Though she had served nearly thirty years in the Army prior to her deployment, her time in the Middle East was full of new challenges, such as learning to sleep despite the constant threat of mortar attacks.
Rosa M. McNeely Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayEnlisting in the Women's Army Corps; all-female environment during basic training with mostly female teachers; hearing about sexist remarks made toward women in the military during the 1970s; fortunate not to experience any sexism herself; did not face ethnic prejudice though she was Mexican-born. 00:08:22.9 - 00:13:19.5
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PlayFirst deployment to the Middle East in 2003 for only three months; second deployment in 2004 in Iraq for 13 months; commanded a forward support battalion; main tasks of her unit; little interaction with Iraqi locals; never served in combat, though she was part of a convoy that was shot at. 00:14:13.6 - 00:22:48.9
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PlayStress of knowing mortar attacks could come at any time; her trailer providing almost no protection from attacks; learning to live through attacks; being able to sleep even though the camp might be mortared; routinely working 20 hours a day; taking the time to go to church even though they worked Saturdays and Sundays. 00:31:52.3 - 00:34:46.9
About this Item
Title
- Rosa M. McNeely Collection
Names
- McNeely, Rosa M.
- Veterans History Project
- Polutta, Melanie Kae
- Library of Congress
Home State
- Virginia
Headings
- - McNeely, Rosa M.
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Cold War
- Branch of Service: Army
- Location of Service: Germany; Panama; Texas; England
- Dates of Service: 1973
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
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Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Army
- Location of Service: Iraq
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-09-13)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2005-09-13; 2006-03-01)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2005-09-13; 2007-11-07)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/30586
Online Format
- audio