Her duty stations included Ft. Bliss, TX, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, Ft. Gordon, GA, Ft. McClellan, AL, Ft. Lewis, Washington, Berlin Germany, Frankfurt Germany, Heidelberg Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. She originally enlisted as a voice radio operator, reclassified to become a psychiatric specialist, and later reclassified as a medic. Mary’s awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award) Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal (2nd Award) Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, NCO Professional Development with 3 Devise, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). Even though she wears the Combat Medic Badge, Mary has always been proud of her EFMB.

So, she could list the accomplishments after leaving the military, but it does not feel right. Don’t get me wrong, Mary was one proud Mama when she received her degree, but the degree was only a piece of paper. What she is proud of is serving her sister and brother veterans and making a difference. It took her a year or two of working in the corporate world to realize that her service was not over. Mary could not be a “normal civilian”. She saw the suffering of our veterans in Nashville who did not have a home. She felt their gratitude when she could sit and have a cup of coffee with them. Mary realized that her sisters were not being recognized as veterans and did not see themselves as veterans. She helped establish the first transitional home dedicated to serving women veterans in Nashville. Mary eventually went to work as the Deputy Executive Director of Operation Stand Down Tennessee. At that position she was able to advocate for not only homeless women veterans but all women veterans. She was a founding member of WVA Chapter 20 in Nashville and later served as National Commander for the WVA. Mary has had the opportunity to participate in policy makers at the national level, she participated in a White House Listening Session with Dr. Jill Biden. Mary worked closely with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans in Washington DC. And none of this was on her retirement plan!

Military women and women veterans have come a long, long way! Mary can tell you that our mission is not over. She serves so that my daughter, grand-daughters, and my great-grand daughters can be anything that they can dream of being. Mary Ross is grateful to be able to serve. Her famous quote is “I love my sisters, all my sisters”.