Pageant News Bureau - Jill Stevens

People who favor wars -- or at least some wars -- now say they're doing it to support the troops. Some people who oppose wars -- or at least some wars -- now say they still feel some need to support U.S. troops. The next time you see a hawk and a dove arguing, ask if they support the troops. Both will stop and give you an earful and then go back to arguing.

The PNB staff is just a divided as the rest of America, but sometimes we can get even our most antiwar wing to go easy on troops who compete in pageants. That's above and beyond the call of duty.

Jill Stevens is one of those. She was second runner-up to Miss Utah in 2006 and went on to be a National Sweetheart contestant. She is also a veteran of the war in Afghanistan.

Ms. Stevens is a combat medic in the Utah National Guard, and in 2003 her unit was activated for that war zone. She stayed until 2005. "The climate was a lot like Utah," she says, and some of the scenery was similar. But the rockets that sometimes slammed into the Army base were not the kind of thing she was used to at home.

She loved the experience. For her, it was about helping. Fortunately, combat injuries in Afghanistan (unlike Iraq) were few. But she got to the chance to treat a lot of accident victims, and not just GIs, but also local civilians, including children. "I love interacting with people," Ms. Stevens said.

Just now, some older male reader is harrumphing and saying, "A woman in a combat zone? Hah! Too weak. That would never have happened when I was a grunt." You're behind the times, old guy, as much as we appreciate your service. Jill Stevens is as fit as most men who have worn the uniform. She's a marathon runner. She works out. She's got a hard body.

In fact, the last time we ran into her, at the Miss America Pageant, she suggested that she might be too fit. "I've got to be careful I don't look too much like a guy," she said.

Jill, you'll never have to worry about that.

Support Jill Stevens!