Who inspires you? Dobbins celebrates Women's History Month Published March 1, 2013 By Senior Airman Christina Bozeman 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- When you think of history, do you think of the women who defined it? Women have held and retained significant roles in history that opened doors for future women to follow in their footsteps, creating a domino effect of opportunities and possibilities. Susan B. Anthony, a prominent American civil rights leader and well known woman in history, played a major role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. Another woman who has made history is Condoleezza Rice, the first black female Secretary of State. She held that position from 2005 to 2009. When we think of history, we tend to think of famous people, but that's not always the case. Members on Dobbins Air Reserve Base offered some submissions of their own. "Several women have influenced my life," said Chaplain (Maj.) Olga Westfall, 94th Airlift Wing chaplain's office. "First would be my mother. She was born in 1930 in the former Soviet Union and had to go through the horrors of World Ward II, when Ukraine was for four years under German occupation. When I was born in the 1960s, she worked very hard to raise me, being a single mother. She was a woman of high morals, sacrifice and integrity." Navy Petty Officer First Class Bobbie Dudley, one of the many Navy Reserve tenants at Dobbins, recalls retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Wanda Archer as a leader and friend that she looks up to. "Senior Chief Archer really cared about her people," Dudley said. "She pushed them to be their best, but in an encouraging way. I still call and visit her from time to time." Hospital Apprentice Ricky Holbert, another Dobbins-based Navy Reservist, was also inspired by his mother, and said she was the only one he could think of. "I chose my mom because she taught me the value of a dollar, gave me responsibility and gave me the freedom and a chance to figure things out on my own," said Holbert. "She let me make my own decisions, good or bad." Some of the women that pioneered ahead left only a smudge and some left behind an unyielding mark. Nevertheless, all of them paved the way for people of today to move forward, woman or man, famous or not.
