Resilient Voices: A Panel Discussion

Join us for an inspiring panel discussion as part of our Resilient Voices series. Hear from Marcia Martin, Marjorie Biliker Graves, and Lieutenant Colonel Heather R. Crooks as they share their experiences, reflections on resilience, and perspectives on the novel’s portrayal of women in service. A brief biography of each panel member is listed below.  

Marcia Martin served with the Red Cross’ Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO), known as the “Donut Dollies,” during the Vietnam War. Stationed initially at Camp John F. McDermott in Nha Trang, she worked in a servicemen’s recreation center, organizing daily activities. Later, she was transferred to Chu Lai, where she and her team created games modeled after popular game shows and brought them to troops in the field. Due to safety concerns, they primarily traveled by helicopter or occasionally by fixed-wing aircraft. The games, crafted by hand, were well-received by the servicemen, providing much-needed entertainment and morale boosts. 

Marjorie Biliker Graves joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1967 during her final year of nursing school and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. She served as a head orthopedic nurse at multiple Army hospitals, including the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh, where she cared for wounded soldiers and witnessed the devastating effects of war. Her dedication earned her the honor of serving on medical teams for the Bob Hope Christmas Tour in 1971 and the Sammy Davis Jr. USO Show in 1972. After returning to the U.S., she resigned her commission to marry her husband, Bob, also a Vietnam veteran, and they have since built a life together in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Decades after burying the trauma of her service, Marj confronted her memories and became a passionate advocate for veterans suffering from PTSD. She has been featured in books, documentaries, and numerous publications, and has received awards including the DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal. A member of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame and Louisville's first female Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade, Marj continues to champion the healing of unseen wounds and serves as an inspiration to many. 

Lt. Col. Heather R. Crooks is a former Air Force officer whose last assignment was as Director of Operations for the Air Force Seek Eagle Office at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In this role, she led a team of over 200 personnel, including Air Force members, government civilians, and contractors, to test weapons and weapon systems for the U.S. and allied militaries. Commissioned through Air Force ROTC at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000, she served as both a Flight Test Engineer and a Western Europe Foreign Area Officer. 

A non-rated aircrew member, Lt. Col. Crooks has flown over 30 different military aircraft and speaks German. She is also a combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, having served in Kabul, Afghanistan. After retiring in 2020, she settled in Corydon, where she lives with her three children: Trace, Jimmy, and Ava.