Page 25 - San Diego Woman Military Coverage 2019

Tracey Bell

Protecting and Serving our Nation
by Judith A. Habert

All was going well for Tracey who was studying
criminal justice, until a surprise notice from the
Navy in her senior year. Tracey and the rest of
her unit were given the frightening news that
their squadron was being activated for full time
service. This was the first time in the history of
the reserves that they would actually be used
for active duty. Most of the members of her
squadron were petrified with this news and it got
worse when they found out that not only were
they activated, but they would be deployed.
Tracey explains, “November came and we were
told we would be activated December 12, and
we were off to Iraq January 16th. People were
crying. It was emotional. Who wants to go to
war? Many didn’t feel they had signed up for
this.”
This news was especially difficult for Tracey’s
Mom. Earlier Tracey’s older sister had tragically
There are memories from Tracey’s time in Iraq that she will died from Lupus leaving Tracey as an only child.
never forget, the scud missile attacks that occurred twenty miles In past times, the military would never deploy an only child due
34 from Camp, but felt as if they were only a few yards away; the to the belief that you never put a parent’s only child at risk of
lack of latrines; the MRE meals that all tasted alike. All of these death. With this war, all bets were off. Tracey spent the next two
factors added to the experi- weeks in Fort Dix receiving training, vaccinations and orienta-
ences of a woman serving tions explaining the customs and behavior for U.S. Military in
our country in the U.S. Navy. Wartime nations. The rules and expectations were particularly
When Tracey Bell arrived in stringent for the women being deployed to Middle Eastern coun-
Iraq she was still partially in tries. The religion and customs require that women in this part
shock, and unaware of how of the world remain covered from head to toe even though the
her life took this particular weather dictates just the opposite. Before she knew it, Tracey
turn. Growing up in a family landed in a desert thousands of miles from home in 120 degree
where the military lifestyle heat with sand storms that were like nothing she could have
was not unusual she had imagined. Tracey was stationed at a field hospital where they
plans of joining the service, treated soldiers and civilians alike. “The Iraq people were very
but had instead opted for col- nice and well educated. It was obvious that they didn’t like what
lege. After a year of atten- was going on in their country. No one wants to fight,” notes
dance her Mom reported the Tracey.
sad news that even with her Tracey’s job while in Iraq was as a reserve police officer and she
two jobs she could no longer was on duty at night from 12 am – 12 pm. For this reason many
afford to pay for her college of the scud attacks happened on her watch. She has not forgot-
education. In order for Tracey to continue in school she would ten the air raid sounds indicating an attack. Once received, they
have to drop out for two years to obtain independent status and were directed to grab their gas masks and take cover. “The at-
then she could reapply. During this period she decided that tacks were scary. You put on your gas mask, take a deep inha-
perhaps going into the naval reserve might be the way to go. So lation of breath, and then all you can hear is your own breathing.
she joined up and was able to return to school. The way the re- Shortly you hear a big boom and there is nothing you can do.
serves works is that a reservist agree to an 8 year commitment You think this is it and you can’t help but think about your family.
to the Navy. Which includes 6 years committed service and 2 I thought about my Mom.” Watching Tracey’s eyes as she recalls
years on standby. While in school they dedicate 1 weekend out the story of her time in Iraq, you can see the fear in her eyes
of every month and 2 weeks of active training each year. While and you feel as if you are there with her in that war zone.
reservists do this, all of their tuition is paid.
March/April 2010