Story by: Price Janecek, Communications Intern
As we wrap up Women Veterans Month, the Veterans Land Board (VLB) proudly honors the achievements of our Women Veterans. These patriotic individuals bravely put their nation before themselves in the face of adversity, fighting to aid in war efforts while becoming trailblazers for generations of women. Over 200,000 women actively serve in the U.S. military, and their valuable contributions are imperative to our nation’s success. Today, we share the stories of women Veterans, past and present.
This month, our Voice of Veterans (VOV) Oral History program highlighted the stories of various servicewomen, starting with Captain Havana Schmidt. She was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2010 and graduated in 2014 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. During her time at West Point, Schmidt became the first leader of the Cadets Against Sexual Harassment and Assault program, writing the curriculum and facilitating the organization with her peers. Following graduation, Schmidt was ranked number one in the Adjutant General Service Branch and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. She was an Adjutant General Officer and the only female officer in her 500-person unit. She then served five years in an assistant secretary-general staff position with the Army Pacific Command. Post-Army, Schmidt attended Baylor Law School and says that without her experience in the Army, “I wouldn’t be who I am today, and law school would seem like the hardest thing I’ve ever done if I didn’t have these experiences.”
Next, we highlighted the service of Sergeant Paula Bushon, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. She served during the Vietnam War and assisted with handling and disposing of ammunition at Fort Sill. She became the first woman in the Army to complete EOD school, and her career continued to progress. After finishing school, she became a member of the United States Secret Service, traveling nationwide with President Carter and other presidential candidates. Her accomplishments pioneered progress for women in the Army, and since leaving the service in 1976, she has been involved with the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans organization.
