« Passport Identification | Main | Veterans, Troop Supporters Oppose “Winter Soldier II” »
March 11, 2008
Spc.Monica Lin Brown~ Medic Awarded Silver Star
Spc. Monica Lin Brown from Lake Jackson Texas of 82 Air borne stands guard at a forwarded operating base in Khost, Afghanistan.
Medic Stationed in Afghanistan Becomes 2nd Woman to Be Awarded Silver Star
CAMP SALERNO, Afghanistan
A 19-year-old medic from Texas will become the first woman in Afghanistan and only the second female soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor.
Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown saved the lives of fellow soldiers after a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees in the eastern Paktia province in April 2007, the military said.
After the explosion, which wounded five soldiers in her unit, Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, the military said.
"I did not really think about anything except for getting the guys to a safer location and getting them taken care of and getting them out of there," Brown told The Associated Press on Saturday at a U.S. base in the eastern province of Khost.
Brown, of Lake Jackson, Texas, is scheduled to receive the Silver Star later this month. She was part of a four-vehicle convoy patrolling near Jani Kheil in the eastern province of Paktia on April 25, 2007, when a bomb struck one of the Humvees.
"We stopped the convoy. I opened up my door and grabbed my aid bag," Brown said.
She started running toward the burning vehicle as insurgents opened fire. All five wounded soldiers had scrambled out.
"I assessed the patients to see how bad they were. We tried to move them to a safer location because we were still receiving incoming fire," Brown said.
Pentagon policy prohibits women from serving in front-line combat roles — in the infantry, armor or artillery, for example. But the nature of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, with no real front lines, has seen women soldiers take part in close-quarters combat more than previous conflicts.
Four Army nurses in World War II were the first women to receive the Silver Star, though three nurses serving in World War I were awarded the medal posthumously last year, according to the Army's Web site.
Brown, of the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, said ammunition going off inside the burning Humvee was sending shrapnel in all directions. She said they were sitting in a dangerous spot.
"So we dragged them for 100 or 200 meters, got them away from the Humvee a little bit," she said. "I was in a kind of a robot-mode, did not think about much but getting the guys taken care of."
For Brown, who knew all five wounded soldiers, it became a race to get them all to a safer location. Eventually, they moved the wounded some 500 yards away and treated them on site before putting them on a helicopter for evacuation.
"I did not really have time to be scared," Brown said. "Running back to the vehicle, I was nervous (since) I did not know how badly the guys were injured. That was scary."
The military said Brown's "bravery, unselfish actions and medical aid rendered under fire saved the lives of her comrades and represents the finest traditions of heroism in combat."
Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, of Nashville, Tenn., received the Silver Star in 2005 for gallantry during an insurgent ambush on a convoy in Iraq. Two men from her unit, the 617th Military Police Company of Richmond, Ky., also received the Silver Star for their roles in the same action.
Wild Thing's comment.........
Do not mess with women from Texas! Tah dah!
God bless and protect this brave warrior Sgt. Monica Lin Brown, and all our awesome troops!
And I hope her friends and family learn that it is their job, not hers, to bring that award out and make sure it's displayed. Show it proudly in their home. Too many people take their Silver Star and hide it away ~ their excuse is "Just doing what I was supposed to do". I hope her loved ones show their pride in her when she gets home.
What a great story!
..... Thank you Tom for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 01:48 AM
Comments
Another girl for girls to look up to.
She's only a year older than my own oldest daughter.
She did her job and she did it very well.
That's what you're supposed to do.
Posted by: Lynn at March 11, 2008 05:04 AM
Fantastic!!! I'm very proud of you, Monica. "Republic of Texas Marines" salutes you.
"Pentagon policy prohibits women from serving in front-line combat roles...has seen women soldiers take part in close-quarters combat more than previous conflicts."
Bull Jive...(is that a word?) Women are quite often better or just as good as men. History will prove that ... especially the female Isralis who swept through enemy positions during the "six day war". 2005: up to 83% of positions in the Israeli army were open to women, and today, they serve in combat positions in the artillery, frontier guards and on Navy ships. Combat duty is voluntary for women.
Also, I would sure NEVER go up against my wife in a war. Can you say...Guantamino CIA torture?
Posted by: SSgt Steve, Friend of OEF/OIF Veterans at March 11, 2008 09:21 AM
Spc Brown is Army Strong. She and Sgt Hester have done what too many cowardly American men don't have the stones to do, serve their country in a time of war. I would sure like to drink a brew and talk shop with either of these two women. It would be fun to talk "military" with these gals.
Posted by: TomR at March 11, 2008 11:31 AM
This is what the left doesn't understand. What these soldiers do for their country. I don't care if they are female or male, it is their dedication to duty and their fellow soldiers.
But it seems like the Medics and Corpsmen are all alike, their guys come first.
Posted by: Mark at March 11, 2008 11:43 AM
Amen SSgt Steve!!! And I agree with you completely.... I would not want to face my wife in combat either!!! LOL
Spc Brown is truely deserving of this award and should be extremely proud of her actions. She has proven to the world what true Americanism is all about....Caring for your fellow man.
My son-in-law is also a medic in the Army and is scheduled to return to Iraq this Fall. Having spent 16 years as an Advanced EMT, I can appreciate what he and other medics have to go through. When I first met this young man, I had my doubts as to whether he was good enough for my daughter. Now that I have gotten to know him, I would take one for him!!!!! He is truely awesome and in case you haven't gathered, I am extremely proud of him and to call him my son!!!!!!!
Posted by: John at March 11, 2008 01:15 PM
Not totally comfortable with women serving in combat. However I'm all for freedom and equal rights for all. So well done! Back in the old old days the Germanic tribes fought the Romans and the women were right there with the men. Freya is both as sexy as Wild Thing and is cheif Valkarie and has her own army in Asgard. So there is plenty of historical and mythological precedent for women warriors. Civilizatiaons that go soft get overrun by barbarians.
Posted by: Odin at March 11, 2008 02:22 PM
Wow, thanks Tom and WT, what a story. This just proves that the ladies have the same grit as all combat medics. Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown was saving downed warrior's lives at great risk and peril to her own. I'm extremely proud of her and so happy that she wasn't injured. Red, white, brown or black, male or female, we all bleed red. Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown and Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester are a cut above the average. God Bless them both.
Posted by: Jack at March 11, 2008 02:50 PM
Lynn, we sure are a blessed country and I pray we keep our country safe and guarded in the future.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 06:57 PM
SSgt Steve, LOL love your comment.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 07:00 PM
Tom I would love that so much if you could do that. And I bet they would love it too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 07:01 PM
Mark your right, the left has no clue, I have talked to many on the left and it is so frustrating. They don't even try to get it, it is like it is something in their dna that is missing.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 07:03 PM
John thank you so much for sharing about your son-in-law. Please thank him for me, and all of us for serving our country.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 07:05 PM
Odin, that is interesting. And thank you too.
I love to read historical and mythological books.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 07:08 PM
Jack I agree, " Red, white, brown or black, male or female, we all bleed red". Very true!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 11, 2008 07:09 PM
