Linda L. Bray (born 1960) is a former U.S. Army officer known for being the first woman in the United States military to lead troops into combat. She served in the Panama Invasion and during the Cold War. Bray's career started in 1982 and ended with her retirement in 1991. Early life Bray was born in Sanford, North Carolina, and raised in Butner. She graduated from South Granville High School in Creedmoor, North Carolina. She attended Western Carolina University, where she joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in 1981. Bray graduated with a degree in criminal justice in 1982, but returned in 1983 to earn a military science degree and fulfill her ROTC requirement. She qualified for direct commission. Career Training Bray enrolled in Western Carolina University's ROTC program on May 15, 1983. In June 1983, she was commissioned a second lieutenant. From November 1983 – 1987 Bray served with the 556th Military Police Company in Siegelsbach West Germany. After that she began her training to be a training officer and then eventually became a personnel officer. Bray was an active military member during the Cold War from 1983 to 1991. Panama invasion Linda Bray was the first female combat officer to lead U.S. troops in battle, in 1989. From December 1989 to April 1990 Bray was deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause as commander of the 988th Military Police Company. President Bush ordered the Panama Invasion following the murder of a U.S. Marine at a road block by soldiers of the Panama Defense Force (PDF), and the kidnapping and torture of 2 other US citizens during the same incident. The reason for the invasion was to overthrow Panama's military dictator at the time, Manuel Noriega. Bray and her platoon's objective was to neutralize an attack-dog kennel on the periphery of Panama City. They were armed with machine guns and grenade launchers. The kennel turned out to be heavily defended by Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF). Her team used a bullhorn to tell them to surrender and also fired warning shots. When their warnings went unheeded, they opened fire. The PDF returned it. The battle lasted three hours before the kennel was secured. Her team killed three and captured one prisoner. Several of the attack dogs were also killed during the battle. At the time, women were barred from serving in combat roles. The team she led included both