Mary Ellen Condon-Rall was born in Brooklyn, New York, where she received her primary and secondary education. She earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees respectively from Molloy College for Women and Fordham University, both in the New York area, and her Ph.D. degree from the University College of the University of London in England. Beginning in 1972, she started her career as a historian with The Historical Unit of the U.S. Army Medical Department and, in 1976, when The Historical Unit was absorbed, moved to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. In 1990 Dr. Condon-Rall was awarded a one-year