She Went to War: The Rhonda Cornum Story

By Rhonda Cornum, Peter Copeland, Peter Copeland

Book Overview

Deep inside Iraqi territory, a U.S. Army helicopter on a combat search-and-rescue mission was shot down with eight Americans aboard. Five of them were killed instantly; the three survivors were captured by Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard. One of the survivors was Maj. Rhonda Cornum - Army officer, helicopter pilot, physician, and mother of a 14-year-old girl. She Went to War is her story - a remarkable tale of courage, determination, and pride.

This special commemorative edition, published for the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm, includes a new afterword by the author.

When the call came in 1990 for the Persian Gulf, Rhonda Cornum eagerly traded her white physician's coat for a soldier's flak jacket and flew to the desert. There "Doc" Cornum was attached to the crack 101st Airborne Division. She was treated as an equal, participating fully in both training and combat operations. Major Cornum was requested for the combat search-and-rescue mission when an Air Force F-16 went down behind enemy lines. This was the mission when she was shot down and captured.

Imprisoned in a cold, damp cell with two broken arms, a smashed knee, and a bullet wound, and at the mercy of the brutal Iraqi guards, Cornum tried to keep up her spirits. As the senior officer among the prisoners, she knew they had to depend on each other to stay alive and resist psychological pressure and threats of torture.

As fast-paced and dramatic as a good adventure novel, She Went to War is an exciting war story. More than that, it is an inspirational personal story about one woman who became a hero in a world where women had previously never been allowed. Cornum's story is unique and eye-opening, challenging the myths about women in the military, and on the modern battlefield.

Cornum's experience, and her testimony before Congress, helped encourage the military to ease restrictions on women in combat and opened the door to much wider participation and leadership roles for women.

As one of the Army's top medical officers after the war, Cornum used her own experience to develop new ways to train soldiers for the emotional and psychological stresses of combat.

Rhonda Cornum, one of a small number of women to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, retired as a brigadier general and lives on a farm in Kentucky, with her husband, a retired Air Force officer.

Co-author Peter Copeland is a journalist and the author of the award-winning memoir, Finding the News, from LSU Press.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1951805240
• ISBN13: 9781951805241
• Release Date: December 2020
• Publisher: Waterside Productions
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 7.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

a remarkable woman, a wonderful book

This book is a riveting account of Major Rhonda Cornum's capture and days as a P.O.W. in 1991. Most of the chapters alternate between Rhonda's life before deployment to Saudi Arabia, and her time in the Middle East and in captivity. It is a moving portrait of a woman who as well as being a loving mother and wife, had dedicated her life to medicine and serving her country as a flight surgeon, and it also gives civilians a glimpse into the day to day life of the military. Major Cornum's eight days at the hands of her captors are a testament to the power of the human spirit. I love the chapter where alone in her cell, her body broken and bruised, she kept her spirits up by singing, from the rock songs of the '60s to her favorite, "The Wind Beneath My Wings". At 5'5, and slender as a reed, Rhonda is a tower of strength. I first became familiar with her from a TV documentary on P.O.W.s, and what impressed me the most was her balance of sensitivity and personal empowerment, and honesty with herself as well as others, which can be the ultimate bravery; after seeing this film, I had to read her book.One of the elements of survival is humor, and Rhonda relates some funny episodes, and the book also has a lot to say about the rapidly changing role of women in the military. It is "as told to" Peter Copeland, and he has done a great job; it is well written, and very hard to put down. There are many black and white photographs, which though they look like "copies" and are a little fuzzy, help one understand the story, and add a lot to the book. The print quality is good, with a very readable font size.Rhonda is now Colonel Cornum, and presently commands the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. She is an example to us all, and I think this book should be read by every young person, as it will inspire them to aim high and succeed in every area of life. To quote from the book: "The only constant in my life has been the burning desire to do the best, to seek new challenges and to conquer them" (pg. 89).

Very Moving

Truly an excellent and moving description. I served with now COL Rhonda Cornum and I can vouch for her exceptional leadership and that she IS a real life American Hero flesh and blood. I read this book in 2 sittings. After reading it the next time I saw her made me want to give her a hug. Instead I made due with a crisp good morning salute. To Army leadership: This IS a MUST read.

An excellent book.

I was really moved by She Went To War. Well-written and well-presented, it makes me proud that there are soldiers like her in our Army. She comes off as a hero, but a human hero.

Exceptionally well-written and about exceptional individual

As a military officer, I pay close attention to leadership issues and attitudes. Rhonda Cornum impressed me. She is a true military leader, not merely a medical person in uniform. I was also impressed by Peter Copeland's well-written, smooth-flowing narrative.

From hippie to POW.

I enjoyed the way it told of different periods of her life before and after her wartime experiences.