Linda L. Bray
{{Short description|Former US Army officer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Linda L. Bray
| image = Capt. Linda L. Bray.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Bray in 1990
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}
| birth_place = Sanford, North Carolina
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = U.S. Army Captain
| years_active = 1982–1991
| known_for = First woman to lead troops into combat
| notable_works =
}}
Linda L. Bray (born 1960){{Cite book|title=It's My Country Too: Women's Military Stories from the American Revolution to Afghanistan|last1=Bell|first1=Jerri|last2=Crow|first2=Tracy|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=2017|isbn=9781612348315|location=Lincoln|pages=242}} is a former U.S. Army officer known for being the first woman in the United States military to lead troops into combat. She served in the Panama Invasion and during the Cold War. Bray's career started in 1982 and ended with her retirement in 1991.
Early life
Bray was born in Sanford, North Carolina, and raised in Butner. She graduated from South Granville High School in Creedmoor, North Carolina. She attended Western Carolina University, in 1981, but didn't join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) until 1983. Bray graduated with a degree in criminal justice in 1982, but returned in 1983 to earn a military science degree and fulfill her ROTC requirement. She qualified for a direct commission.{{Cite web|url=http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/cdm/ref/collection/WVHP/id/4332|title=Oral history interview with Linda L. Bray, 2008 :: Women Veterans Historical Project|website=libcdm1.uncg.edu|access-date=2019-11-07}}
Career
= Training =
Bray enrolled in Western Carolina University's ROTC program on May 15, 1983. In June 1983, she was commissioned a second lieutenant.
From November 1983 to 1987, Bray served with the 556th Military Police Company in Siegelsbach, West Germany. After that, she began training to be a training officer and then eventually became a personnel officer.
Bray was an active military member during the Cold War from 1983 to 1991.
= Panama invasion =
Linda Bray was the first female combat officer to lead U.S. troops in battle, in 1989.{{Cite journal|date=June 1991|title=Combat Controversy Destroyed Her Career Says Linda Bray|journal=Minerva's Bulletin Board|volume= IV, Iss. 2|pages=4|id={{ProQuest|231075004}}}}
From December 1989 to April 1990 Bray was deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause as commander of the 988th Military Police Company.{{Cite news|title=Woman Led U.S. Troops into Battle: Captain's Platoon Took PDF Target|last=Ring|first=Wilson|date=3 January 1990|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A01}} President Bush ordered the Panama Invasion following the murder of a U.S. Marine at a road block by soldiers of the Panama Defense Force (PDF), and the kidnapping and torture of two other US citizens during the same incident. The reason for the invasion was to overthrow Panama's military dictator at the time, Manuel Noriega.{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama|title=The U.S. invades Panama|date=February 9, 2010|website=HISTORY}}
Bray and her platoon's objective was to neutralize an attack-dog kennel on the periphery of Panama City. They were armed with machine guns and grenade launchers. The kennel turned out to be heavily defended by the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF).{{Cite news|title=For First Time, a Woman Leads G.I.'s in Combat|last=Gordon|first=Michael R.|date=4 January 1990|work=The New York Times|page=A13}} Her team used a bullhorn to tell them to surrender and also fired warning shots. When their warnings went unheeded, they opened fire. The PDF returned it. The battle lasted three hours before the kennel was secured. Her team killed three and captured one prisoner. Several of the attack dogs were also killed during the battle.
At the time, women were barred from serving in combat roles. The team she led included both men and women.
It was an important military operation. A woman led it, and she did an outstanding job. —Marlin Fitzwater, White House spokespersonShe was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/linda_bray_first_woman_to_lead.html|title=Linda Bray, first woman to lead in combat, 'thrilled' with change (photos)|last=Associated|first=The|date=2013-01-25|website=gulflive.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-12}}
== Fallout ==
The news about Bray was on the cover of many newspapers during the Panama Invasion. She claimed to have been surprised to see attention focused on her gender, rather than showcasing the accomplishments of the troops. This caused issues in her career and led to debates over women's rights in the military.{{Cite book|url=https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Ruffin_uncg_0154M_10211.pdf|title=Woman, Warrior: The Story of Linda Bray and an Analysis of Female War Veterans in the American Media|last=Ruffin|first=Ingrid|year=2009|location=Greensboro, NC}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.womensmemorial.org/history/detail/?s=first-woman-to-lead-us-troops-in-battle|title=Detail|website=www.womensmemorial.org|access-date=2019-11-12}}
As a result of the experiences of women in Operation Just Cause, Rep. Patricia Schroeder drafted legislation (H.R. 3868) that would allow women to serve in combat on a test basis.{{Cite news|title=Combat Role To Be Sought For Women: Panama Experience Prompts Schroeder|last=Moore|first=Molly|date=4 January 1990|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/3868|title=H.R.3868 - 101st Congress (1989-1990): To direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out a four-year test program to examine the implications of the removal of limitations on the assignment of female members of the Army to combat and combat-support positions.|last=Schroeder|first=Patricia|date=1990-01-26|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=2019-11-12}} It did not pass. This fueled the Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule issued by the Department of Defense in 1994. It excluded women from engaging in combat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govexec.com/pdfs/031910d1.pdf|title=Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule|last=Aspin|first=Les|date=13 January 1994|website=Government Executive|access-date=12 November 2019}} It was not until January 24, 2013, that this rule was rescinded by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/95489/department_of_defense_opens_ground_combat_roles_to_female_servicemembers|title=Department of Defense opens ground combat roles to female servicemembers|website=www.army.mil|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}} Bray said she was "thrilled" and "excited" when the ban was lifted. "I think it's absolutely wonderful that our nation's military is taking steps to help women break the glass ceiling."
Retirement
Bray retired from the Army on April 16, 1991, due to a noncombat injury. She injured herself during training, at about the time she needed surgery for her hips. She claimed it was her fault because she carried too much weight during a training exercise.{{Cite web|url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1237|title=Veteran Tributes|website=www.veterantributes.org|access-date=2018-10-23}}
Personal life
She married John Raymond "Randy" Bray III on January 4, 1985. The two had met while stationed in Germany in 1983. Bray is currently a recruiter in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindabray/|title=Linda Bray|website=LinkedIn|access-date=7 November 2019}}Woman, Warrior: The Story of Linda Bray and an Analysis Of ..., libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Ruffin_uncg_0154M_10211.pdf. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.