Home :Women Veterans Historical Project :Donna Barr Tabor Collection

Donna Barr Tabor Collection

Donna Barr Tabor (1958-2016), of Fort Benning, Georgia, served in the United States Army as a telephone lineman and paratrooper from 1979-1981.

Oral history interview with Donna Barr Tabor
Donna Tabor discusses her early life growing up in a military family. She recalls spending her childhood at different army bases across the United States, as well as a station in Herzogenaurach, Germany, because of her father's work with the United States Army Security Agency. Tabor discusses her time spent in basic training and U.S. Army Airborne School and her work afterwards in the headquarters company and for the company commander. Tabor describes her childhood as an "army brat" and how that influenced her decision to enlist in the U.S. army. She goes into great detail about her time spent in jump school, including the interactions that were witnessed between male and female soldiers. Tabor also discusses her assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the first time she met her husband on a drop zone in June of 1980, and her ultimate decision to leave the military because of her pregnancy. In 1997 Donna Tabor became the historian at Fort Bragg and now collects the oral histories of airborne men and women, as well as doing work with veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project. Personal topics include the homesickness Tabor felt while in basic training, the sexual harassment that she witnessed, and her opinions on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" controversy. She also discusses her role as a platoon leader, the interactions she had with gay military members, and her belief that the standards should not be lowered for females in the military.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
Donna Tabor is seen here in her job as a recruiter for the United States Army, circa 1980.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
This photograph shows Donna Tabor posing with her fiance, Edward, at Fort Benning, Georgia, about 1980. They are wearing military camouflage clothing.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
Donna Tabor is seen here with her fiance, Edward, sitting on parachute/jump gear.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
This photograph shows Donna Tabor in line with other members of the 82nd Airborne Division at Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Florida, getting ready for a jump. They are seen in camouflage with their static line-deployed parachutes.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
Donna Tabor is seen here climbing a telephone pole as part of her Advanced Individual Training.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
Donna Tabor is seen here wearing gear used for climbing telephone poles.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
This photograph shows Donna Tabor after a jump with the 82nd Airborne Division at Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, FLorida, circa 1980.
Photograph of Donna Tabor
This photograph shows Donna Tabor wearing a camouflage vest and helmet, circa 1981.
Photograph of Jumpers at Eglin Air Force Base
This photograph shows a jump with the 82nd Airborne Division at Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Florida, circa 1980.

In collections