Veteran served in Iraq, Kuwait

An offer of seven camels for your hand in marriage might sound a little strange.

But Kuwait is a strange place, as witnessed by American Legion Post 157 Commander Cindy Jane.

Jane was elected commander of the local post a couple of years ago and that keeps her in the role of giving back to her community - a role she likes.

She spent two years in the air force before getting out to raise a family, and then later 20 years in the naval reserve, with stints in Iraq and Kuwait.

It was in Kuwait, amidst the burning oil fields and sand storms, that Jane received the camel offer.

The natives in Kuwait were amazed that a single woman would be part of the naval force that was there to help protect the country during the Iraqi invasion and gutting of their country.

Maybe out of admiration of her bravery, or at least for some reason, a native in the country advised Jane' officer that he would give seven camels for her hand in marriage.

Strange but true.

Jane was deployed from 2005 to 2006 to Kuwait where she served on a small patrol boat protecting ships being off-loaded in the harbor.

"You could see the bad guys watching us," Jane said. "They never fired on our boat, but they were watching and testing our reaction time."

"In Kuwait, it wouldn't be normal for a woman to play a role like I did. And even our forces weren't fully prepared to house women service personnel," Jane noted.

She remembers the toxic air from burning oil fields and the frequent sand storms.

"The sand was like powdered sugar, really fine," she recalled.

A couple of years previously she had been called up to go to Iraq. No camel offers there, though. Just a few days to get ready, and then deployment. Jane was a chief bosun's mate.

She is a California transplant who came to this area after being sent for treatment in a PTSD center in Spokane.

"I really like the area and it gives me an opportunity to give back to my community," Jane explained.

Saturday, she was busy working the American Legion "free coat" giveaway at the Legion center in Electric City.

The legion had gathered over 125 coats during its summer yard sale program and repaired and cleaned the coats for Saturday's giveaway. Coats were going fast and furious, and they were free.

It hasn't always been easy for woman to serve in the military. Attitudes and accommodations are not always favorable.

"I remember, when I was called up, that the military didn't have facilities planned for women. About 200 of us were housed in a large hangar with the men," Jane said.

There are 60,000 women veterans in the state of Washington, all with different stories to tell.

She speaks highly of how she is treated by her fellow veterans here, largely made up of men.

[This story has been corrected. Jane was originally written as James.]