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Inspiration July 5, 2017
A relentless woman on a mission to make a difference around the world.
Kate Norley is definitely one of the bravest of them all.
She is the epitome of a woman who listens to her intuition and stands against all odds.
More importantly, this is a person who has an endearing heart and wants to make a difference in other people’s lives.
When 9/11 struck, it was a moment of self-realization for Kate. It was a calling for her to get out there and help fight for our country. If that doesn’t speak to you, than I don’t know what else could.
Three important facts to know about Kate Norley:
As daunting as it may sound to most women enlisting in the Army in a place like Iraq, where women don’t have many rights, it was actually a really easy decision for Norley.
She believed in making a difference in Iraq, working as a mental health specialist (also referred to as 91 X) with the Fort Hood, Texas-based 1st Cavalry Division’s 15th Forward Support Battalion. There the army medic was also an aid for women and children.
This girl was not afraid of getting her hands dirty, even though she had grown up in a very affluent family. It’s because she was raised with values of giving back to communities in need and to those less fortunate than her.
In an interview with Stars and Stripes, Lt. Col. Ray McCarver Jr., Kate’s battalion commander, says, “She was one of the support soldiers always lobbying to go outside the wire to work with the Iraqis living on the edges of Camp Blackjack.”
“Here, within the limits of [military occupational specialties], we don’t see gender,” he said. “All I want her to do is keep helping soldiers traumatized in battle.”
That speaks volumes to Kate’s bravery, that despite being outnumbered by men in the Army, she felt right at home and didn’t see herself as any different. It was clear that she was there to work.
To this day, Kate advocates for Veterans’ rights, which is how she met her now-husband, John Oliver.
Kate met John Oliver when she was covering the 2008 Republican National Convention while working on the veterans campaign in St. Paul, Minnesota. She ran into Senior British Correspondent, John Oliver for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
Oliver had strict visa restrictions and was caught trespassing in an area he shouldn’t have been, and was fleeing from security. That’s when he stumbled upon his brave lady, Kate and other veterans who helped keep him and his camera crew hidden from security.
Oliver ran the risk of getting deported and possible incarceration.
Kate and Oliver kept contact and one email led to another, and after dating for a few years Oliver popped the question and the got married. In 2015 the couple welcomed their first baby.
Kate’s dream is to advocate for women all around the world on a much larger scale for women’s empowerment and women’s rights in underserved areas.
There is a different perspective when you encounter women in other countries and learn about the differences they have because of their gender. With that being said, in an article from Stars and Stripes, Kate shares her dream of flying American women to third world countries to show them what it’s like to be a woman with rights and power.
Kate wants to inspire women to fight for their rights and have a voice of their own.
It is evident that Kate Norley is not a person who hides behind her shadow. In fact she rises to the occasion and goes after what her heart desires.
She has proven to the world that she is brave and courageous in every way, and her will to help those in need is relentless.
Good on you, Kate. You are definitely a #womenthatdoes.
