Ti’Phani Nicole

She Went, Too

A Diary of a Female Soldier

How many stories have you heard about female combat veterans? What are the experiences of women who served in overseas wars? In a rare telling, author Ti’Phani Nicole shares glimpses of why women enlist, misperceptions about deployment, and life and death on the battlefield.

Based on a true story and told through the lens of Army Private Payton Thorton, She Went, Too represents “every woman” across all military branches. It depicts a young enlistee’s lessons about life, love, fidelity, and betrayal. This raw, honest, and unflinching tale explores notions of patriotism set against the possibility of death or, at best, lifelong war-related scars.

Payton’s journey, guided by diary entries, notes the women who leave their children and loved ones behind to support a cause greater than themselves. It addresses homesickness and the loss of friends. It sheds light on the sacrificial challenges faced by women in the military who deserve the utmost respect from a grateful nation.

After surviving her deployment, Payton wrestles with PTSD and is helped by the Veterans Administration to face her future with dignity, hope, and healing.

The question is: Will Payton reenlist and serve her country once more?