Shoshana Johnson

Shoshana Johnson (Army) enlisted as a Food Service Specialist in 1998 before deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. While there, her convoy — which had fallen behind and gone off course — was ambushed. Shoshana was shot in the ankles and taken captive in the city of Nasiriyah, where she was held prisoner for 22 days, along with five other members of her unit. She was freed in a rescue mission conducted by Marines on April 13, 2003. Shoshana is the first Black female prisoner of war in US military history, and she returned with honor. Shoshana’s book about her experiences as a POW, I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen--My Journey Home, was published in 2011. Born in Pedro Miguel, Panama, Shoshana emigrated with her parents when she was five. She now lives in El Paso, Texas.