East TN Foundation for Women Veterans

Shoshana Johnson never set out to make history. At 25, broke in El Paso and dreaming of culinary school, she enlisted in the Army as a cook—hoping to save money and follow her father’s footsteps.

She became the first Black female prisoner of war in American history.

When her daughter Janelle was born, Shoshana transferred to Fort Bliss for what should have been safe duty: cooking for the 507th Maintenance Company. But after September 11th, everything changed.

In March 2003, she kissed her two-year-old goodbye—“Mommy has to go to work”—and deployed. The 507th was supposed to stay in Kuwait. Instead, they joined a massive convoy into Iraq.

Three days later, lost in the desert, their vehicles drove straight into an ambush in Nasiriyah. Gunfire erupted. Shoshana scrambled under her truck, weapon jammed, sand choking every part of the fight. Bullets tore through both ankles. She couldn’t run. Couldn’t stand. Couldn’t fight.

Ninety minutes of chaos left eleven Americans dead, including her best friend Lori Piestewa—the first Native American woman killed in combat. Shoshana was captured.

For 22 days, she was beaten, paraded through hostile crowds, moved from house to house. Alone, she prayed. She imagined futures—love, more children, watching Janelle grow up—just to stay alive.

On April 13th, Marines stormed House 13 in Samarra. Shoshana was eating breakfast when the door exploded open. “MARINES!” She was free.

She returned to America on shattered ankles, walking off the plane through sheer determination. But another battle began. Disability ratings left her with far less support than fellow POW Jessica Lynch. Media attention faded. Shoshana was quietly forgotten.

The invisible wounds lingered—PTSD, depression, survivor’s guilt. In 2008, she admitted herself to a psychiatric ward. Years of therapy followed. Slowly, she rebuilt.

She published a memoir in 2010. She watched Janelle graduate college. She found peace in cooking, yoga, family, and faith.

Today, at 52, she lives in El Paso. Spring is still hard—the anniversary of the ambush always brings memories—but she carries them with strength.

“I am a survivor, not a hero,” she says. “The heroes paid the ultimate price. The Marines risked everything to get us out. They had families waiting too. But they took that chance anyway.”

Shot through both ankles. Beaten in captivity. Held for 22 days. Forgotten by the media. Haunted by guilt. And still standing.

Shoshana Johnson never broke her promise to come home to her daughter. And that is her legacy.

Attention Women Veterans!
Don't forget to sign up for our FREE Women Veterans Day celebration dinner! 250 years of women serving is certainly something to celebrate! While we appreciate the support of our civilian friends and families, this event is for Women Veterans only.


https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-women-veterans-day-dinner?fbclid=IwdGRleASBU4BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe3N-oY0N3tmmbmjnDkmcxN5KvJztMrqegoezwLhoM_Pf9u9qNfuvawfnSJxg_aem_oTnPWzTvkSUGW_eVLpD3Zw

2026 Women Veterans Day Dinner Join your sister veterans as we celebrate Women Veterans Day! We have a very generous sponsor in Clinch River Home Health who has offered to cover all the food costs this year, so we are pleased to provide a FREE dinner! No guests are allowed except for other Women Veterans who must register themsel...

If you are a woman who has honorably served in the US Military and you live in the greater Knoxville/Smoky Mountain area please consider joining a fun social and support group.
East TN Women Veteran’s Network
No meetings, no rank, just camaraderie and lots of fun!

Thank you 100+ Women Who Care Sevier County!

💙🧡Huge congratulations to East Tennessee Foundation for Women Veterans for winning our #24 Big Give! Thank you to everyone who came tonight and if you missed the meeting please send in your donation!

Veterans Heritage Site Foundation still has some tickets for the soccer match May 17th. If you are interested email Marilyn Childress

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GDUCp39R5/

Knox One is having Military Appreciation Night on May 16, 7 pm. We still have 16 free family member tickets and 45 free veteran and active duty and guard tickets Send Marilyn Childress an email at [email protected] so she can email you the tickets. She will start email the tickets out on May 13.

Let us fill their stadium with active duty and veterans to show our appreciation for the club to do this. I understand that their will be a swearing in ceremony on the field for new recruits.

Hope to see you. All out tickets will be sitting together.

Today we hosted our 1st anniversary of serving free veteran breakfasts at Emerald Avenue United Methodist Church. We had a record crowd of 70. We were honored to have Capt. Bill Robinson tell his story of being the longest held enlisted POW during the Vietnam War.

Thanks to our volunteers and everyone who came today. Please mark your calendar for next month's First Saturday Free Veteran Breakfasts.

Thank you Bill Robinson for sharing your story and letting us know what a true hero is.

Let's hope this brilliant idea never pops up again!!!!
https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2026/dav-statement-on-the-halting-of-va-rule/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQEZZJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeDvmejfBR6lYq0yodGmhRLYih4vyVrwg0atT9icb-7me23Z3SfAeH2fLufY0_aem_GvI30p-k9lloQmz0A3zPEw

DAV statement on the halting of VA rule DAV applauds Secretary Collins’ decision to halt the implementation of VA’s rule regarding the impact of medication on evaluation ratings for service-connected disabilities. We appreciate the Secretary listening to and acting on the concerns of those who have served and sacrificed for this natio...

Attention ladies! Come join local women veterans for a painting party! We have a discounted rate!
Invite your friends but keep in mind that this is a womens only party. Age 21+
Code for registration is PARTY

https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/knoxville-powell/event/4208292/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAP9qFNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeuV5lR-bTVSJF6w0O1mZVmo_tpKj12scwCvIvy0wuZ9veaUtsa4vTnEP8ZBA_aem_-DOKgCpIbPMRt4UwB1Q4oQ

East TN Women Veterans Paint Party Pick a painting, invite your friends, and enjoy step-by-step instruction with our experienced and enthusiastic local artists. You'll leave with a one-of-a-kind creation and be ready to come back again.

Congratulations to Navy Veteran Claire Phelps for this historic and groundbreaking accomplishment! What an inspiring story! Claire is a member of East TN Women Veteran’s Network.

https://www.wsmv.com/2026/02/13/first-black-woman-discover-periodic-element-inspires-next-generation/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAP9cFtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeymOxMymVjolxALQ562FM4lyFcw_JykVtsRpmKUBLZsDgIAIrYqcttz6LUfk_aem_xrfvLczbg9wR8RJOH3qnKg

First Black woman to discover periodic element inspires next generation Phelps, an engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, works with radioactive material daily, furthering understanding of the world around us. She is best known for helping discover a periodic element, but her story started in Nashville’s Edgehill neighborhood.

On Saturday, we hosted our second annual Sisters in Service Galentines Luncheon at Rothchild event center. The food was great and the hall was filled with laughter as we played "family fued" military branch edition.