Former POW Shoshana Johnson Shares Her Experience at BHCC
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Shoshana Johnson, the first black female prisoner of war in U.S. military history, believes that females should be allowed into combat roles in the U.S. military, saying women already confront the challenges of war.
Speaking at Bunker Hill Community College on November 7, Johnson, an Army cook, described her experience when she and members of the 507th Maintenance Company were attacked and captured in the city of Nasiriyah on March 23, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Johnson suffered severe leg wounds in the attack. Her unit was rescued after 22 days by U.S. Marines.
“Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, women are already in active combat,” said Johnson, who has received a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal as well as a U.S. Army Service Ribbon, Army Commendation Ribbon and National Defense Ribbon. “I was shot and captured – as a cook. So what are you protecting me from by keeping me from gunnery and artillery training? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Johnson visited BHCC as part of the College’s recognition of Veterans Day. She toured the BHCC Veterans Center, spoke with veterans and students and gave a campus-wide address on her experiences in captivity and during her recovery.
She urged fellow veterans to seek support for post-traumatic shock and other issues. “You don’t have to carry the load by yourself; you have support from your fellow veterans,” she said. “We shared the burden in combat; we can share the burden now.”
Johnson’s visit to BHCC was co-sponsored by the BHCC Veterans Center and the BHCC Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).