Mary Herrera

Sergeant Mary Herrera, Army National Guard (Ret.)

Mary Herrera enlisted as a Private in the Arizona Army National Guard’s Detachment 855 Military Police Company, Yuma, Arizona on June 2, 2000. She completed her training as a Military Police Specialist in October 2002. On March 22, 2003, at 22 years old, she was deployed for service in Iraq. Herrera served as a Military Police Specialist and was consequently wounded in action on November 8, 2003. After an enemy ambush during a detainee transportation mission, Herrera was hit in the right arm by two AK-47 rounds, which broke her arm in the bicep area and blew her ulna and radius out of her forearm. She was evacuated to Fallujah, then to Germany and finally the United States to begin her road to recovery. She has undergone numerous surgeries, skin grafts, and physical therapy. Because of her example, positive attitude, personal courage, and sacrifice, the State of Arizona passed a bill affectionately known as the “Mary Herrera Bill”. Mary is now a National Spokeswoman for CSAH. Herrera currently lives in Yuma, AZ and is attending college to get her Bachelor’s Degree in social psychology and also plans to get her Master’s in social work.