About the Melting Back Into Society Documentary
This initiative pays tribute to and celebrates the diverse identities of women in the armed forces. Leveraging my expertise in the veterans' community and my photography skills, I collaborated with female service members, capturing their experiences from their time in service to their present achievements. Building rapport and camaraderie, I engaged with these women, conducting interviews and photographing them in their everyday environments –their homes or workplaces.
Often, preconceived notions of a veteran's appearance clouded interactions. As a Marine Corps veteran, I often encountered assumptions like "Please thank your husband for his service" upon seeing military insignia on my vehicle or attire. Correcting such misconceptions would lead to remarks like "You don't look like a Marine." Recognizing shared experiences among women in the military, I felt compelled to spotlight their narratives through documentation.
My aim with this endeavor is to challenge societal perceptions of women veterans, urge a reevaluation of stereotypes, and embrace these remarkable individuals' multifaceted identities and contributions.
Lori-lee Adams
U. S. Air Force
Rank: E-4
Specialty: Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist; Weapons Loader F-15
Years of Service 1989-1993
Read Her Story
Laura-Kate Ahaesy
U.S. Air Force / Massachusetts Air National Guard
Rank: E-3 / Airmen 1st Class
Years of Service: 2021 – Still Serving
Read Her Story
Lisa Ahaesy
U.S. Air Force / Massachusetts Air National Guard
Rank: 0-7 Brigadier General
Years of Service: 1988 – Still Serving
Read Her Story
Julia Ahaesy
U.S. Air Force / Massachusetts Air National Guard
Rank: E-3 / Airman 1st Class
Years of Service: 2022 – Still Serving
Read Her Story
Rhonda Aubin-Smith
U.S. Navy Reserves 1990-1997
Last duty site – COMNAVACT London
E-5 Petty Office Second Class – Yeoman (Y2C)
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Micaila Britto
US Marine Corps
Rank: E-4 Corporal
MOS: 7011 - Aircraft Launch and Recovery
Years of Service: 1987 - 1994
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Mandi B. Costa
U.S. Navy
Active Duty: January 1984 to August 2005
MOS/Rating: Yeoman (Flag Writer)
Retired as: Yeoman Chief Petty Officer
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Kirsten Davis
US Air Force
Rank: E-4 Senior Airmen
AFSC: Aircraft Guidance Control Systems Technician
Years of Service: 1994 - 1998
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Carol Freitas
U.S. Marine Corps
Rank: E-6 Staff Sergeant
Years of Service: 1986-1992 (Active Duty) & 1992-1997 (Reserve)
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Karen Frias
United States Navy - Seabees
MOS: Headquarters Company
Years of Service: 2001-2006
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Andrea Gayle-Bennett
Branch: U.S. Army / Massachusetts National Guard
Rank: 0-7 Brigadier General
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Erin Geddes Mahoney
US Air Force
Rank: E-6 Tech Sergeant
MOS: Medic
Years of Service: 1987 - 1991 (Active); 1993 - 1997 (MA Air Guard)
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Suzette M. Graves
US Marine Corps
Rank: E-5 Sergeant
Years of Service: April 1981 - September 1983 Reservist in Willow Grove PA; September 1983- March 1988 active duty
MOS: CH-46 Helicopter Electrician
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Michelle Hamilton
US Army
Rank: E-2 Private First Class
MOS: Physical Activity Specialist
Years of Service: 1975 - 1977
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Anna Martinez-Stanford
U.S. Air Force
Rank: E-6 / Technical Sergeant
AFSC: 3P071 / Security Forces & 1C371 / Command Post Controller
Years of Service: 6 Jan 1999 - 10 Nov 2013
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Susan McDonough
U.S. Army
Rank: E-4 Specialist
MOS: 92A Quartermaster/Supply
Years of Service: 1994 - 1998
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Andrea Morgan
US Air Force
Rank: E-5 Staff Sergeant
MOS: AFSC-46250 (Aircraft Armament Systems)
Years of Service: Active Duty 1986-1990; Reserves/National Guard 1990-1999
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Laura O’Donnell McDonough
US Navy
Rank: Petty Officer 3rd Class
Years of Service: 2012 - 2016 (Active); 2016 - 2018 (Reserves)
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Torrie Osterholm
US Air Force
Rank: E-4 Senior Airmen
AFSC: 90310 – Nutritional Medicine Medic
Years of Service: 1987 - 1991
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Ally Rodriguez
US Army Rank: E-4
MOS: 25U Signal Support Systems Specialist
Years of Service: 2001-2003 (Reserves); 2003-2007 (Active)
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Vivian Rogers
US Army/ MA National Guard
Rank: E-6 Staff Sergeant
MOS: Medic
Years of Service: 1981-1995
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Jooyi Ryan
Branch: U.S. Coast Guard / U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
Rank: O-5 Commander
Years of Service: 1996 – 2017
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Roberta Stewart
US Marine Corps
Rank: E-5 Sergeant
MOS: 6617 Communications System Technician
Years of Service: 1972 - 1977 (Active); 1980 - 1993 (Reserves)
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Michelle Stuart
Navy
Rank: E-4 Petty Officer 3rd Class
NEC: Hospital Corpsman, Dental
Years of Service: 2012-2017
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Declan Tansey
US Marine Corps
Rank: E-4 Corporal
MOS: 4341 Combat Correspondent
Years of Service: 2008 - 2012
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Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli
US Army
Rank: E-6 Staff Sergeant
MOS: Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent
Years of Service: 1979 - 2000
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Christine Tron
U.S. Army
Rank: First Sergeant/E-8
Primary MOS: 35L582SPL (Counterintelligence Agent, Instructor, Battle Staff NCO, Polish Language)
Secondary MOS: 97E5LOO (Interrogator, Czech Language)
Years of Military Service: 1977-2008, for over 30 years
Years of Volunteering at VA: 2009-2024, 15 years
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Liseth Velez
U.S. Army and Air Force
Rank: E-5 Staff Sergeant
Years of Service: 2011-2018
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Christina Wargin
US Marine Corps
Rank: E-4 Corporal
MOS: Aviation Maintenance Administration
Years of Service: 2006 - 2009
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Kristi Williams
US Army
Rank: O-3 Captain
MOS: 66C Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
90A Logistics Officer
Years of Service: 2011 - 2016 (Active); 2016 - Present (Reserves)