I joined the Army in July 1977 and received basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I was assigned to an all-female unit and was amazed at the diverse group of women of all shapes and sizes from all parts of the country and from all walks of life living together in this new environment. I was a scared 98-pound weakling and soaking wet in my uniform.

We were housed in red-brick barracks furnished with old gray metal bunk beds. Each of us received clean linen, a small pillow, and scratchy woo...