"At the time I enlisted, the emphasis still was more on trying to make women look pretty in uniform than it was in training them to be soldiers." (Video interview, 3:53)

Brenda A. Vosbein

War: Cold War Era, 1945-1991; Persian Gulf War Era, 1990-2003 Branch: Army Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Place of Birth: New Orleans, LA

When Brenda Vosbein joined the Army in 1970, she was a WAC with the Women’s Army Corps. She overcame her disappointment that women could not serve in combat and became a nurse. In her 29 year career, Brenda experienced--and quickly adapted to--the massive sea change in the military as women’s roles expanded. However, when the military’s "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy regarding gay military service became a legal issue, Brenda volunteered to be one of the plaintiffs. As the only lesbian plaintiff, and the only plaintiff still on active duty, her pseudonym of "Jane Able" was chosen for the title of the suit Able vs. The United States of America.