(Woman)Soldier Earns Silver Star for Her Role in Defeating Ambush

Wash Post ^ | June 17, 2005; | Ann Scott Tyson

[Ramonan]

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester fought her way through an enemy ambush south of Baghdad, killing three insurgents with her M-4 rifle to save fellow soldiers' lives -- and yesterday became the first woman since World War II to win the Silver Star medal for valor in combat.

The 23-year-old retail store manager from Bowling Green, Ky., won the award for skillfully leading her team of military police soldiers in a counterattack after about 50 insurgents ambushed a supply convoy they were guarding near Salman Pak on March 20.

The 23-year-old retail store manager from Bowling Green, Ky., won the award for skillfully leading her team of military police soldiers in a counterattack after about 50 insurgents ambushed a supply convoy they were guarding near Salman Pak on March 20.

The medal, rare for any soldier, underscores the growing role in combat of U.S. female troops in Iraq's guerrilla war, where tens of thousands of American women have served, 36 have been killed and 285 wounded, according to Pentagon figures.

[Tennessee_Bob]

A Kentucky woman with an automatic weapon - and they tried to ambush her? The terrorists are doomed.

[verity]

:-)

[Meldrim]

"No PC favoritism in this awards crermony."{sic}

The Black Five AAR contains more than enough of this, to include a break out of squad members by sex and ethnic origin.