We wake up and go on our daily lives each day. We enjoy our liberty thanks to all the soldiers who fought for us and this country.
There are so many unsung heroes in every war, but did you know that there are female American soldiers who risk their lives for this country?
This is a story of the sacrifice and bravery of a young woman.
Women at war
In 2010, The U.S. Army Special Operations Command started the Cultural Support Team or CST. This special program consists of all-female army soldiers that were assigned to build relationships with and support Afghan citizens.
Their role was crucial for their team.
Due to Afghanistan’s religious beliefs and traditions, male soldiers were prohibited to touch or even interrogate Afghani women and children.
Only the CST can approach women and children as the male soldiers look for ammunition, firearms, and Taliban soldiers.
Ashley White-Stumpf
Ashley White was born on September 3, 1987, and a proud graduate of Marlington High School and Kent State University.
After her graduation, Ashley became a member of the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer. She also completed the Medical Services Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and even the U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, GA.
She was very fit, kind, and had a warm personality. She was the perfect candidate for her role as the Evacuation Platoon Leader for Co. C, 230th Bde. Support Bn., NC National Guard.
Her tasks included secret missions carried out at night that were dangerous.
Even her parents didn’t know what her role was.
A soldier’s sacrifice
In one of those secret missions, Ashley White’s team was tasked to enter a village for inspection. No one knew that the location was booby-trapped.
One of the men in Ashley’s team stepped on one of the triggers on the improvised explosive device that caused a chain of explosions.
Ashley White-Stumpf was killed that night.
Several of her teammates were also wounded. She was the first member of CST-2 to be killed while in combat. Ashley was only 24 years old at the time.
A tribute to Ashley
Ashley’s parents saw her again in her flag-draped casket as she finally went home to Delaware.
Everyone was heartbroken by Ashley’s death. She was a very kind woman, nurturing, a loving wife to Cpt. Jason Stumpf and of course, a sweet daughter to her parents.
Best-selling author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon decided to give tribute to Ashley by writing a book titled “Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield.”
Ashley’s sacrifice is also being featured at the new National Museum of the United States Army in Virginia along with other American heroes.
Am honor that’s well-deserved.
Not only that, but her story will also be on the big screen.
The movie is said to be directed by Lesli Linka Glatter from a screenplay by Molly Smith Metzler.
Reese Witherspoon, along with Bruna Papandrea and Natalie Krinsky, will be the producers of the said film.
We really haven’t heard much about women in combat, and their sacrifices, but it’s about time that we do.
Ashley White-Stumpf’s sacrifice will forever be remembered not just by her family and comrades but also by all of us.
Watch Kent State University’s tribute to Ashley below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: The veteran’s site, Kent EDU, Military Times,
Kent State University Communications & Marketing, ashleywhitestumpf
