Do you know what is significant about Shoshana Johnson? Shoshana Johnson is the first black woman prisoner of war by Iraqi forces. When U.S. forces invaded Iraq, she was captured by the Iraqis right in the beginning. Her photos were broadcasted worldwide in which she was badly injured. Later on, she was rescued by the U.S. commandos few weeks after her captivity. Her relatives had been under enormous stress during those tense moments but they did not lose hope and were optimistic about her release.
Her sister Nickey said to a news channel, “She always had an angel following her around.” She was very much disturbed when she was told that she was being sent to Iraq because she was a female and a mother of a two years old child. But she was forced to go with the invading forces to Iraq. She was captured near Nasiria when her convoy diverged from their path and headed in a wrong direction.
The Iraqi army attacked on the convoy and the skirmish continued until the guns were jammed due to sand. She and other soldiers hid beneath the truck to fight Iraqis. Johnson had two shots in her both legs and she was unable to walk. When eleven Americans were killed, a sergeant came out and surrendered. Iraqis started beating Americans but when they realized that Johnson was a woman, they treated her with respect and kindness and took her to a better place.
They not only took care of her but also provided medical treatment. They even made surgery of her ankle. Afterwards American marines who were moving towards Tikrit came to know that P.O.W’s are somewhere nearby and then they succeeded in finding and rescuing them.
Johnson has been retired from the army and she does not consider her as a “war hero”. But she always remembers the good conduct which she, as a woman, received from the Iraqi doctors who took care of her.
Shoshana Johnson
Comments