At a military base that had been exclusively male until recently, the arrival of a young woman sparked a wave of skepticism and contempt. The soldiers whispered insults: “the weaker sex,” “what kind of soldier could she be,” and “she won’t last long here.” Their doubt soon turned into open ridicule. Sometimes, they excluded her from the toughest drills; other times, they joked she was only there to “pour tea.”
Every day was a challenge. The mocking continued relentlessly. “Get a uniform one size smaller — maybe you’ll be faster,” they jeered. When she trained alongside them, sarcastic comments followed: “Careful you don’t fall, or you might break another nail.”
Then one day, in the locker room, as she changed, her comrades noticed deep scars across her back. Laughter erupted immediately.
“Look at that,” one sneered. “Must have been a bad date.”
“Or maybe she met a cheese grater,” another added.
The girl quietly sank to the floor, tears welling in her eyes. But the laughter didn’t stop—until the door opened and the general entered. He saw her head bowed, surrounded by cruel laughter.
“Do you even realize who you’re laughing at?” the general’s voice boomed.
“Standing before you is one of the finest scouts in our country,” he declared firmly. “She was serving long before many of you were out of kindergarten. Those scars came from a combat mission where her unit was ambushed. They survived because she carried wounded comrades to safety. She was badly injured, but she never gave up.”
The room fell silent. Smiles faded, replaced by shame.
“Instead of honoring her sacrifice, you mocked her scars,” the general said coldly. “Shame on men like you.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” one soldier asked quietly.
The girl lifted her head, wiped away her tears, and replied softly, “I was just doing my job. There’s nothing to boast about.”
Heads bowed in respect. One soldier stepped forward, offering his hand. Others followed.
“Forgive us… and thank you for your service,” the youngest said.
From that day, no one ever called her “the weaker sex” again. To them, she became not just a fellow soldier, but a symbol of true strength and courage.
