By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – A member of the Alabama National Guard has finally received her bachelor's degree as well as a degree of recognition for her service to the United States. Sargeant Mary Smother got a special round of applause at her graduation from Samford University Saturday. Smothers was called to duty in Iraq last year and had to wait a year to get her bachelor's degree in history. But she says her tour in Iraq gave her a living history lesson and made the degree worth the wait. She spent a year in Baghdad as part of the 214th Military Police Company of Alexander City. Smothers worked in police stations and as a trainer in an academy for new Iraqi officers. During Saturday's graduation ceremony, Samford President Thomas Corts singled out Smothers for special recognition.