Posted on 03/09/2008 1:45:07 PM PDT by jdm
The nation's third-highest medal for valor.
Texas girl (Lake Jackson, near Houston). A nineteen year old kid (I'm allowed to say this at my age and I am not objectifying her).
Under gunfire and mortar fire, she helped move wounded comrades to safety, at times shielding them with her own body.
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.
She helped move them out of harm's way, eventually some 500 yards, and then treated their wounds and saw them off to safety.
She saved their lives.
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."
Spc. Brown serves in the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.
She did them proud.
Well done Specialist Brown. All American.
ping.
Thank you.
I always heard that women shouldn’t be in combat because they wouldn’t be able to carry their wounded comrades to safety. There may be other legitimate reasons, but it looks like she just blew a hole in this theory. Way to go, Soldier.
After reading the full account of her valor I wonder why only a Silver Star. Why not a DSC or a even a MOH?
I was thinking the same thing.
We grow them tough here.
She should make every American proud.
Most likly because she wasn’t wounded her self Most MOH where very wounded or died. While carring out the mission.
MOH is pretty special - and I don't mean to demean this solder's actions in anyway whatsoever. She should be proud of her actions and her service - she is a credit to our armed services and I absolutely applaud her honor.
The Silver Star is a pretty big deal - a friend of mine’s grandfather won one fighting on Iwo Jima. The framed citation hangs in his parent's house - it gives you chills to read it. He evidently cleared out several Japanese machine gun nests that were decimating their position. He was injured in the attack. A trooper that walks in the with a Silver Star on will be granted instant respect.
SpankenTruppen ping
Funny.
In previous years she would be decried as some never-deserving-piece-of- estrogen-filled-politically-correct awardee who is being used to legitimize women in the military and their ability to perform in stressful situations. Now she is a “hero,” deserving of the “MOH.”
Interesting how times change and attitudes change.
Thanks for the ping
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Guess the circumstances have something to do with it too ~ it's pretty hard to do what you are supposed to do ~ sometimes.
This young woman's performance was flawless ~ in the face of deadly fire.
First lesson her friends and family will need to learn is that it is their job, not hers, to bring that award out and make sure it's displayed. Too many people take their Silver Star and hide it away ~ their excuse is "Just doing what I was supposed to do". But that's not enough. Everybody needs to know that there really are people who can do that no matter how dangerous it is. We really, really do need to know.
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