Women recognized for playing key role in military

BOBBIE DALGLIESH OF WOMEN MILITARY VETERANS OF UNION COUNTY receives a hug from Sgt. Rick Payne of La Grande’s 3/116th National Guard Unit Wednesday. Payne had just given the keynote address at the 12th anniversary celebration of Women Military Veterans of Union County. Julie Colton of Union, a member of the veterans group, is looking on. - CHRIS BAXTER

Still, they are sometimes conspicuous by their absence — an absence addressed Wednesday at the 12th anniversary celebration of the Women Military Veterans of Union County.

Women veterans are heroines in the eyes of Americans, but they often do not step into the spotlight at events recognizing those who have served in the Armed Forces. This reflects humility but also a misunderstanding, said Julie Colton of Union. She believes women who have stepped up for their nation need to give themselves more credit, pointing out that everyone who served in the military is a veteran.

“Many women think that unless they served long enough to earn a pension that they are not veterans. Women just don’t have a real sense of worth,’’ said Colton, who served in the Air Force and is a member of Women Military Veterans of Union County.

Eight women vets attended Tuesday’s celebration, a solid turnout but a small percentage of the approximately 50 women veterans in Union and Baker counties, the counties the organization is open to.

Sgt. Rick Payne, the career counselor for La Grande’s 3/116th National Guard Unit, gave the keynote address at Tuesday afternoon’s anniversary celebration. He credits women with playing an integral role in the success of military operations. Payne stressed that women serve in all capacities in the military except direct combat, excelling in each.

Payne believes that in some ways women are better suited for the stress of military life.

“They seem to be better able to handle it, in my opinion,’’ Payne said.

WOMEN MILITARY VETERANS OF UNION COUNTY listen to Sgt. Rick Payne of La Grande’s 3/116th National Guard Unit Wednesday as he gives the keynote address at the 12th anniversary celebration of Women Military Veterans of Union County. - CHRIS BAXTER

“I believe women have a better coping mechanism than men do,’’ Payne said.

He attributes this in part to maternal instincts.

“They are more nurturing than men. They are able to draw on this strength for self nurturing,’’ Payne said.

Women are also better able to cope because they are less likely to keep things bottled up.

“They are able to express their emotions more freely,’’ said Payne, whose wife Pam is also a sergeant in La Grande’s National Guard Unit.

Men by contrast are less likely to admit to problems because of the tough-guy, macho image many seek to uphold, making it harder for them to cope with PTSD.

Regardless of gender, all vets share a sense of camaraderie, one apparent at Tuesday’s annual anniversary celebration. It was one of about four meetings the group conducts annually. They are meetings at which military parlance is easily spoken.

“Where else can women get together and talk about KP (kitchen police) and MOS (military occupation specialty)?’’ said Carol Bouchard of North Powder.

They can also discuss the trials of military life and draw knowing looks of understanding. Betty Jordan of La Grande, who served in the Women’s Army Corps in the 1960s, recalled how many assumed that because she was a woman she must be a nurse or a typist. Jordan in fact worked in communications with the Signal Corps.

Jordan recalled the time she was receiving shots for typhoid and polio at Fort McClellan in Alabama. The woman administering the shots mistakenly gave her two typhoid shots. The staff was worried Jordan might pass out and kept her walking for an extended period as a precaution. Fortunately there were no complications.

Military Women Veterans of Union County will meet again Nov. 11 for the annual Union County Veterans parade in La Grande. This will be the 12th year the women veterans have been in the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Veterans can join them at the starting site of the parade on Adams Avenue between Aaron’s and Globe Furniture between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m.

For information on participating in the parade and the Military Women Veterans of Union County, call Bobbie Dalgliesh at 541-963-5830 or Colton at 541-805-9087.