"Generally, in the military service and what I've encountered in the Army is soldiers
want competent leaders. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, what gender you are."
(Video Interview, Part 2, 39:44)
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Laura Jane Strickland Richardson |
Laura Richardson [2007] | Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, 2001-present
Army
101st Airborne Division
Korea; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia; Iraq
Colonel
MO
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With a private pilot's license at 17, followed by ROTC courses in college, Laura
Strickland was on an early track to a career in military aviation. She met her future
husband, Jim Richardson, in flight school, at a time when women were not yet allowed to
fly attack aircraft. The Richardsons have managed largely parallel careers for over 20
years, including serving in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was battalion
commander of an assault helicopter battalion, and he was battalion commander of an
attack battalion, both supporting the same infantry brigade. After initial combat
operations wrapped up, Laura Richardson found herself involved with local officials and
citizens in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul, working on reconstruction projects and
maintaining security.
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