Shoshana Johnson Shoshana Nyree Johnson ( born January 18 , 1973 ) is a Panamanian - born former United States soldier , and was the first black or Hispanic female prisoner of war in the military history of the United States . Johnson was a Specialist of the U . S . Army 507th Maintenance Company , 5 / 52 ADA BN , 11th ADA Brigade . During a gun fight that led to her capture she suffered bullet wounds to both of her ankles . She was freed in a rescue mission conducted by United States Marine Corps units on April 13 , 2003 . She was held prisoner in Iraq for 22 days along with five other members of her unit including : Life and career . Johnson , a second - generation U . S . Army veteran , is a native of Panama , and moved to the United States with her family when she was a child . She is the eldest child of retired Army Sergeant First Class Claude Johnson and wife Eunice . In 1991 , Johnson was in the JROTC program at Andress High School , although she did not plan a career in the military . She joined the U . S . Army in September 1998 after dropping out of University of Texas at El Paso ( UTEP ) . In February 2003 , while serving her second military assignment at Fort Bliss , Texas , Johnson received orders to deploy to Iraq as a Quartermaster Corps Food Service Specialist ( MOS 92G ) with the 507th Maintenance Company , 5 / 52 ADA BN , 11th ADA Brigade . Shoshana enlisted with the duty of preparing meals . She says that she had no intention of going into combat . Her company ' s duty was to supply mechanics to repair the Patriot missile trucks housed at the post . On March 23 , 2003 , one month after her arrival to serve as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom , Johnson was in a convoy that was ambushed and taken captive in the city of Nasiriyah . Iraqi troops ambushed her supply convoy when it took a wrong turn . There had been bitter fighting around Nasiriyah , a vital crossing point of the River Euphrates . Johnson was among a dozen soldiers in the convoy who were captured . She received a bullet wound to her ankle , causing injuries to both legs . Iraqi authorities broadcast video of Johnson , shortly after her capture . CNN described this video as when “ Americans were first introduced to Johnson ” . In 2009 , when the Taliban took Bowe Bergdahl prisoner , and broadcast images of him Ed Hornick , reporting for " CNN " , described Johnson ' s video as another example videos of captives being used as a propaganda tool . On April 13 , 2003 , after subsequent house raids conducted by United States Marines of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion , 1st Marine Division in the city of Samarra , Johnson was rescued along with six other prisoners of war . They were welcomed as heroes in the United States on April 16 with a cheering crowd of over 3 , 000 people . The U . S . Army recognized them for courage , valor , and service with several awards . On December 12 , 2003 , Johnson left the U . S . Army on a Temporary Disability Honorable Discharge . Johnson was awarded the Bronze Star , Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal for her service in Iraq and has received numerous awards and recognition for her courage , valor , and service to the United States . On New Year ' s Eve 2003 , Johnson was asked to join New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg in activating the Times Square New Year ball drop to ring in 2004 . She has presented talks throughout the nation about her experience as a prisoner of war , and has been recognized with standing ovations from small groups to over 65 , 000 people at select events hosted by public and private organizations . Controversy . Critics have accused the military and media of racism in that they focused attention on Jessica Lynch , a white woman , rather than Johnson , a black woman . CNN reported that " Lynch got a million - dollar book deal and more in disability payments from the military than Johnson . Some said it was a long standing and well documented issue of race in the military . Shoshana Johnson says reports that she and Lynch were at odds aren ' t true . " Book deal . Johnson signed a book deal with Dafina Books to write her story with Paul T . Brown , titled " One Wrong Turn " , which was to tell her side of the story and more about her fallen comrades . In 2007 Dafina Books and Johnson parted ways . Johnson signed a deal with Simon & Schuster in 2008 . " I ' m Still Standing : From Captive U . S . Soldier to Free Citizen — My Journey Home " was released on February 2 , 2010 . See also . Battle of Nasiriyah