Woman Gains Silver Star -- And Removal From Combat

Washington Post ^ | May 1, 2008 | Ann Scott Tyson

[neverdem]

Case Shows Contradictions of Army Rules

KHOST, Afghanistan -- Pfc. Monica Brown cracked open the door of her Humvee outside a remote village in eastern Afghanistan to the pop of bullets shot by Taliban fighters. But instead of taking cover, the 18-year-old medic grabbed her bag and ran through gunfire toward fellow soldiers in a crippled and burning vehicle.

Vice President Cheney pinned Brown, of Lake Jackson, Tex., with a Silver Star in March for repeatedly risking her life on April 25, 2007, to shield and treat her wounded comrades, displaying bravery and grit. She is the second woman since World War II to receive the nation's third-highest combat medal.

Within a few days of her heroic acts, however, the Army pulled Brown out of the remote camp in Paktika province where she was serving with a cavalry unit -- because, her platoon commander said, Army restrictions on women in combat barred her from such missions.

"We weren't supposed to take her out" on missions "but we had to because there was no other medic," said Lt. Martin Robbins, a platoon leader with Charlie Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, whose men Brown saved. "By regulations you're not supposed to," he said, but Brown "was one of the guys, mixing it up, clearing rooms, doing everything that anybody else was doing."

In Afghanistan as well as Iraq, female soldiers are often tasked to work in all-male combat units -- not only for their skills but also for the culturally sensitive role of providing medical treatment for local women, as well as searching them and otherwise interacting with them. Such war-zone pragmatism is at odds with Army rules intended to bar women from units that engage in direct combat or collocate with combat forces...

[neverdem]

Army Medic Awarded Silver Star

Video with marginal audio volume for a great American Soldier!

[Oorang]

Pfc. Monica Brown, a great American hero. Thanks for posting the article Neverdem.

[mozarky2]

Hats off to Pfc. Brown-a real hero.

[proudmilitarymrs]

My hats off and my hands out. Way to go soldier!!

[proudmilitarymrs]

My hats off and my hands out. Way to go soldier!!

mrs

[livius]

Impressive - and she’s only 18! Truly heroic. What a contrast to the slackers I see slouching around here.

[cpdiii]

“AMERICAN WOMAN” and Texan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[doc1019]

Yep, Corpsman and Medics, heroes all.

[varina davis]

Now there is a real American patriot. God Bless her.

[Huntress]

Despite the itinerant life, Brown excelled academically. She graduated from high school a year and a half early -- a day after turning 17. She planned to enroll in college, but that changed when her brother Justin, who was a year older and like a twin, was drawn to the Army.

I see even more great things ahead for this courageous and smart young lady.

[heartwood]

I don’t know what she wants, but if she wants West Point and medical school, let her have it. A very admirable young woman.

[miliantnutcase]

I wonder if you can put “Awarded Silver Star” on your resume?

[BlueNgold]

I am actually surprised that the VP didn’t offer her a meritorious promotion...

[21stCenturyFreeThinker]

I see even more great things ahead for this courageous and smart young lady.

I do too but apparently they won't be in combat.

"We weren't supposed to take her out" on missions "but we had to because there was no other medic," said Lt. Martin Robbins, a platoon leader with Charlie Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, whose men Brown saved. "By regulations you're not supposed to," he said, but Brown "was one of the guys, mixing it up, clearing rooms, doing everything that anybody else was doing."

Sounds like the Washington regulations are out of sync with the reality in the field.

[Huntress]

I don’t know what she wants, but if she wants West Point and medical school, let her have it.

That's about what I had in mind.

[endthematrix]

"We weren't supposed to take her out" on missions "but we had to because there was no other medic"

Damn glad ya did! God bless our fine men and women on the front lines!

Face of Defense: Woman Soldier Receives Silver Star(DoD - more pics)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Quite a story for a very brave young woman....

[csvset]

Congratulations, Pfc. Monica "Doc" Brown.

If she ever meets Hillary, they can talk about being under enemy fire. /s

[wastedyears]

I wonder if she’s single...

[neverdem]

I don’t know what she wants, but if she wants West Point and medical school, let her have it.

Why not West Point at least for now? She got a Silver Star, Combat Medic Badge and ,apparently, a Basic Parachutist Badge. IIRC, the 73rd Cav is assigned or attached to the 82nd Airborne. If she needs a waiver for anything, she deserves it.