Linda Bray was born in Sanford, North Carolina. She was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Army through the Army ROTC program at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, on May 15, 1983, and went on active duty beginning June 1, 1983. After completing the Military Police Officer Basic Course and Nuclear Physical Security training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Lt Bray served with the 556th Military Police Company in West Germany from November 1983 to November 1987. She then attended the Military Police Officer Advanced Course and Provost Marshal training at Fort McClellan before serving as a training officer and then as a personnel officer at Fort Benning, Georgia. Capt Bray next served as Commanding Officer of the 988th Military Police Company at Fort Benning from 1988 to August 1990, during which time she deployed with the Company to Panama for Operation Just Cause from December 1989 to April 1990. After having surgery for a non-combat injury and recuperation, she was medically retired from the Army on April 16, 1991.