Ashley's War

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon's "Ashley's War" documents a groundbreaking chapter in American military history by chronicling the experiences of female soldiers who served alongside Special Operations forces in Afghanistan. The book centers on the Cultural Support Teams, an all-female program created to address a critical operational gap in the war effort. These teams were designed to enable Special Operations forces to engage with Afghan women during night raids and village searches, a task that male soldiers could not perform due to strict cultural and religious restrictions governing interactions between unrelated men and women in Afghan society.

The narrative focuses primarily on First Lieutenant Ashley White, a highly accomplished young officer whose death in combat in 2011 brought national attention to this previously classified program. Lemmon traces Ashley's journey from her childhood in Ohio through her selection for this pioneering assignment, drawing on extensive interviews with family members, teammates, and military personnel who worked alongside these women. The author spent years researching this book, conducting hundreds of interviews and reviewing military documents to piece together the story of these teams.

The book reveals that despite official policies barring women from ground combat roles at the time, the military's operational needs in Afghanistan demanded a practical solution. The Cultural Support Teams represented an innovative approach that allowed the military to access half the Afghan population while technically maintaining existing restrictions. These women underwent rigorous selection processes and training that prepared them for the physical and mental demands of deploying with Army Rangers and other elite units on high-risk missions.

Lemmon provides detailed accounts of the selection process that these women endured, which included demanding physical fitness tests, psychological evaluations, and specialized training. The candidates came from various military occupational specialties and had to prove themselves capable of keeping pace with some of the most elite fighting forces in the American military. The author emphasizes that these women were not simply attached to Special Operations teams as an afterthought but became integral members of mission planning and execution.

The narrative structure alternates between Ashley White's personal story and the broader context of the Cultural Support Team program. Lemmon explores the backgrounds of several other team members, illustrating the diversity of experiences and motivations that led these women to volunteer for such dangerous assignments. The book examines the relationships these women formed with each other and with the male soldiers they served alongside, many of whom were initially skeptical but came to respect their capabilities and dedication.

One of the book's strengths lies in its balanced presentation of the challenges these women faced. Lemmon does not shy away from discussing the physical demands of carrying heavy gear on extended missions, the emotional toll of combat operations, or the complicated dynamics of being among the first women to serve in these roles. The author also addresses the resistance and skepticism that existed within some quarters of the military establishment regarding the integration of women into Special Operations missions.

The book provides insight into the broader debate about women in combat that was ongoing during this period. While the Cultural Support Teams were not officially designated as combat positions, the reality of their deployments meant that these women faced the same dangers as their male counterparts. They participated in hundreds of missions, often under fire, and proved themselves capable of performing under the most demanding circumstances.

Lemmon's reporting extends beyond the battlefield to examine the impact on families and the legacy of those who served. The author explores how Ashley White's death affected her family, her teammates, and the broader military community. The book also considers the policy changes that followed, including the eventual decision to open all combat positions to women, a shift that the Cultural Support Teams helped make possible through their demonstrated competence.

The writing remains accessible throughout, making complex military operations and organizational structures understandable to readers without military backgrounds. Lemmon's journalistic approach grounds the narrative in verifiable details while maintaining the human element that makes the story compelling. The book serves as both a historical record of an important military innovation and a tribute to the women who volunteered for these dangerous assignments, knowing their contributions might never be publicly recognized during the program's classified phase.