Arlington National Cemetery, established in 1864, is the resting place of over 400,000 of those who have served and include military members from all walks of life as well as US Presidents, astronauts and other notable figures. Included in that number is 23-year-old Marine Sargeant Nicole Gee.

On August 26, 2021, SGT Gee lost her life during a suicide bombing attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Gee, a 4-year veteran of the Marine Corps, was deployed to Kabul as part of the 24^th Marine Expeditionary Unit as part of Operation Allies Refuge. The operation was part of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, and their role was to assist in evacuation of Afghans attempting to flee the country. Gee was part of a Female Engagement Team, a team of female military members who served in front line combat roles when cultural differences make it impractical or impossible for traditionally male military members to communicate with locals. Women were not allowed to serve in direct combat roles, but the FETs served on the frontlines, aside the men in those roles. Women were finally allowed to serve in combat roles in 2015, but the FETs remained for cultural reasons.

Gee’s life and sacrifice will be remembered. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold medal by President Joe Biden. The USS Iwo Jima, the ship on which she was once stationed, renamed the ships gymnasium in her honor. Part of I-80 in California is named after her and a statue honoring her is in the Veterans Park in Oskaloosa, FL. There are a number of other memorials and dedications in her honor across the US.

Young women are and continue to be strong and capable leaders in today’s military. And far too often, their contributions are diminished, waved off as unimportant or they are treated as lesser because of being women. But women continue to step up and take charge in our military. They are close to half of the participants of Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC), a program available for high school students to learn leadership skills from former military members. Women make up 25% of the attendees of military academies. While still a minority, there are 2 million women veterans in the US today, making up roughly 10% of the overall veteran population.

Nicole Callender-Sedon

NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Chair

(2024-2026)