By Todd Hatton/Seth Helton (web)
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-923083.mp3
Fort Campbell, Ky – If you happen to be a subscriber to the Kentucky New Era, you may have noticed a series of features titled, "Homefront and Frontlines: Women of the deployment." If you aren't, you may want to check it out. The series looks at the lives of women affected by the deployment of Fort Campbell soldiers overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some are Army wives, some are extended family, and some are soldiers themselves. Kentucky New Era and Eagle Post intern journalist Tessa Duvall is the author of these pieces, each uniquely compelling. She's a sophomore at Western Kentucky University. "I've always wanted to write about women's issues, that's my goal for my future in journalism. I was inspired by a lot of feature, in-depth stories in women's magazines over the years about issues most people don't think of," Duvall cites as the inspiration for her series. "When I got to Oak Grove, it became evident that the military was a way of life there. Listening to people talk about the war and the army, I noticed that the enemy and soldiers were always referred to as a he.' This war is not just affecting men, but women as well," she said. Choosing the subjects of the series, she said, was not as simple as finding the inspiration behind it. Duvall said that being new to journalism made connecting with the subjects of her story initially daunting. "I actually wrote a column, asking for people to contact me," Duvall said. The response was quick, and she was surprised by how open the women were about their personal stories. To speak with soldiers, Duvall contacted the Public Affairs Office at Fort Campbell, which arranged phone interviews with women in uniform. One of the aims of the series was to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with army wives, such as infidelity, she said. "All of these women, army wives and female soldiers, are very strong women. That's what I was trying to profile. Whether they are overseas fighting or at home, holding down the home front, they are all very strong women." Duvall herself was surprised by women soldiers she spoke with. "They go out for manicures and pedicures, smoothies and movies," she said. When Duvall asked what it is like to be a woman in the army, a soldier jokingly replied "I don't know what it's like to be a man in the army." To Duvall, one story in particular stands out to her. Tiffany Saylor, an army wife and mother, contacted Duvall the day her column ran. Between that initial contact and the next a week later, Saylor's husband was injured in combat. "The things that must have been going through her mind, I just could never fathom," said Duvall. Still, Saylor opened up to Duvall. The two went grocery shopping together to prepare for the return of Saylor's husband, and Duvall was invited into her home to meet her family. " "These women support the troops. Some even are the troops, and I think it is important to put it out there that men aren't the only ones," Duvall said in reflection of her series. "There are a lot of strong women, and their story needs to be told too."
See these links below, to the articles by Tessa Duvall, for The Eagle Post and Kentucky New Era.
Homefront & Frontlines: Women of the deployment