"...I was the only one qualified to do oil analysis..."

Patricia M. Seawalt

Sgt. Seawalt 2nd Tour [detail] War: Persian Gulf War, 1991 Branch: Army Unit: 101st Airborne, 102nd Quartermasters Unit Service Location: Guardian City and King Fahd Airbase, Saudi Arabia Rank: Sergeant Place of Birth: Beardstown, IL

Her collection contains a single handwritten letter responding to a request from Congressman Shimpkus in November 2001. He wanted a description of her military experience in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. She had re-enlisted despite having completed 13 years of service with an honorable discharge. Why would this woman go back to filthy conditions, little or no food, and temperatures of 105 degrees to train doubtful cohorts in oil analysis?