Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Marissa L. Pelke Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Afghan War, 2001-
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 210th Forward Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division
- Location of Service: Fort Drum, New York; Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/47478
As a logistics officer in Afghanistan, Captain Marissa Pelke had to deal with the challenges of counterinsurgency operations and nation-building from the ground up. She was part of a team that established an American military presence in Kabul, setting up post offices and military compounds, as well as negotiating contracts with local Afghan vendors for everything from computers to furniture to paper goods. Her interview reveals the unique experiences that came from working so closely with the local population.
Marissa L. Pelke Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayGoing through ROTC training; spending the summer at West Point on an exchange program; being trained to be a leader; remembering her first mentor; did not perceive that she was treated any differently because she was a woman; arrival in Afghanistan; working as part of a six-person team that would go ahead to establish a compound; interaction with local Afghani civilians; using a young nine-year-old boy as an emissary to establish goodwill with local vendors. 00:02:35.4 - 00:16:09.9
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PlayDaily grind of life overseas; dealing with lack of sleep; time passing quickly; importance of keeping in touch with family; reacclimating to life at home after returning from overseas. 00:23:22.8 - 00:25:13.1
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PlayHearing the call to prayer every morning; living and interacting with Afghani civilians. 00:26:26.1 - 00:28:05.7
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PlayBecoming very close to her fellow soldiers; opinions about her superior officers. 00:29:20.3 - 00:31:30.8
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PlayMaking good friends in the service; attitudes about American involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq; coming back from overseas a little more thankful for everything. 00:33:26.1 - 00:39:15.0
About this Item
Title
- Marissa L. Pelke Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- Cox, Dane
- Pelke, Marissa L.
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Pelke, Marissa L.
- - Afghan War, 2001- -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Afghan War, 2001-
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 210th Forward Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division
- Location of Service: Fort Drum, New York; Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 2001-2005
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-12-19)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2007-01-08)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/47478
Cite as
- Marissa L. Pelke Collection (AFC/2001/001/47478), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Battles & Campaigns
Service Unit
Highest Rank
Service Entrance
Discharge Status
Gender
Home State
Interviewee
Interviewer
Organization/Affiliation
Featured in
- Women of Five Wars: Persian Gulf, Iraq & Afghanistan  | Women of Five Wars  | Diverse Experiences in Service  | Serving: Our Voices  | Veterans History Project Collection  | Digital Collections
- 21st Century Conflicts: Afghanistan and Iraq  | Wars in Iraq (2003 to 2011) and Afghanistan (2001 to 2021)  | Serving: Our Voices  | Veterans History Project Collection  | Digital Collections