Woman Gunner Helps Protect Security Detachment

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Evelyn Williams, a Temple Hills, Md., native and the only female member of the brigade commander and command sergeant major's Personal Security Detachment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, enjoys being the lead gunner and being able to prove that she is capable of doing any job the Army may throw at her. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Courtney Marulli, 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.28.2007

Courtesy Story

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

By Spc. Courtney Marulli
2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Pfc. Evelyn Williams of Temple Hills, Md., is the only woman in the Personal Security Detachment for the command group of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Her role isn't one of support, but rather one of combat as the 7.62 mm machine gun operator. This role isn't something that surprised Williams. She would have been a gunner if she had stayed with her military police company.

As she sits in the turret of the lead vehicle, she must keep a sharp eye for snipers, grenade attacks, suicide bombers, and improvised explosive devices.

"Basically, I feel if something happened, I would be responsible because I am the eyes for all the vehicles," Williams said.

If her eye catches anything that seems suspicious, she calls it down to her noncommissioned officers. With the abundance of litter and debris lining the sides of the roads and alley-ways, Williams said it can be difficult to distinguish a serious threat from regular garbage.

She is grateful for the support she has received from her team.

Fellow Soldiers took her in as one of their own, Williams said. She hasn't had any problems being the only woman, and was accepted immediately.

"I enjoy being the only female," she said. "If I hear 'only female,' I feel special."

Although Williams is manning a deadly weapon, going out of the wire also appeals to her softer side.

Seeing Iraqi youth while on patrol is her favorite part of leaving the wire, which she does on a regular basis. She also enjoys seeing the Iraqi people do their part to help, such as clearing paths or helping direct people to the sides so the vehicles can go through.

Joining the Army was something Williams always wanted to do and choosing her job was natural. She had wanted to be a police officer in the civilian world.

She was taking college courses in criminal justice and passed the test to become a police officer. However, she was required to wait six months while background checks were conducted, and that was just too long to wait; so she joined the Army.

Her desire to be in law enforcement stems from her desire to help children, stop domestic abuse, and combat drugs. She is also passionate about stopping people from drinking and driving.

Williams, who has been in the Army for 13 months, enjoys her work but she looks forward to returning to her husband and two children.

"I have kids," she said. "They need me."

• Date Taken: 02.28.2007
• Date Posted: 02.28.2007 12:31
• Story ID: 9284
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ