Each May, we recognize Military Appreciation Month, which is a unique time that draws together the efforts of corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government entities to show gratitude for service members and Veterans. Throughout the month, we observe several key holidays, communities host celebrations, corporations extend discounts, and organizations launch special efforts to say, “thank you.”
At Women Veterans Interactive Foundation, we shine a bright light on our vibrant community of Women Veterans. We salute our trailblazers, leaders, caregivers, warriors, and change-makers who have shaped military history and continue to drive progress across every sector of society.
Your Voices, Your Stories, Our History
In honor of Military Appreciation Month, we’ve curated a reading list that highlights the experiences of women in uniform across generations and conflicts. Whether you’re a Woman Veteran yourself, a supporter of women in the military, or simply someone looking to better understand the lived experiences of those who serve, this reading list offers an incredible opportunity to honor and learn from their stories.
Appreciating Women in Uniform Across the Decades
The books included below offer a range of insight into the experiences, challenges, and successes of women in the military. These stories, many of which are firsthand accounts, span decades and continents, capturing the spirit of service, the complexity of war, the depth of sisterhood, and the resilience it takes to serve, transition, and thrive.
We often read stories of war and conflict, triumph and resilience, so that the sacrifices of previous generations aren’t lost on the future. These works include memoirs, historical accounts, biographies, and compilations, bringing women’s military stories out of the shadows and into the spotlight where they belong.
25 Incredible Books About Women in the Military
- Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
- The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan
- Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue by Kathryn J. Atwood
- The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq by Helen Benedict
- Love My Rifle More than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army by Kayla Williams
- Undaunted: The Real Story of America’s Servicewomen in Today’s Military by Tanya Biank
- Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman’s Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front by Mary Jennings Hegar
- A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion by Edna W. Cummings
- Band of Sisters by Kirsten Holmstedt
- Changing the Rules of Engagement: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Leadership from Women in the Military by Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite
- Healing Wounds: A Vietnam War Combat Nurse’s 10-Year Fight to Win Women a Place of Honor in Washington, D.C. by Diane Carlson Evans
- The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan by Jenny Nordberg
- Camouflaged Sisters: Stories of Strength and Resilience in Military Transition by Lila Holley
- Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II by Lena S. Andrews
- Women In War: A Gripping Collection of the Untold True Stories of History’s Bravest Women Warriors by David A. Yuzuk
- Women Heroes of the US Army: Remarkable Soldiers from the American Revolution to Today by Ann McCallum Staats
- No Man’s Land: The Trailblazing Women Who Ran Britain’s Most Extraordinary Military Hospital During World War I by Wendy Moore
- Forgotten Warriors: The Long History of Women in Combat by Sarah Percy
- Women of the Military: A Compilation of Stories from American Women Service Members by Amanda Huffman
- Chasing the Daylight: One Woman’s Journey to Becoming a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer by Joanna Rakowski
- The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World by Shannon Huffman Polson
- Not Easy Being Me by Anita Gibbs
- Bras, Bootstraps, and the Bible: Stories of Resilience by Antoinette Allen, Ph.D.
- The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II by Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder
- Warrior Spirit Rising by Dianna Good Sky
We Salute Women Veterans
Choose to read one or more of these books during Military Appreciation Month, but remember – you don’t have to stop there. These stories of amazing Women Veterans are for every month, for every bookshelf, and for anyone who believes in honoring the extraordinary role of women in the military.
If you’re looking for inspiration, strength, or connection, you’ll find it in these pages. And tell us – which ones will you add to your bookshelf?