Comments on: Pvt. Monica Brown And The Silver Star

Lara Logan Interviews A Young Woman Who Was Awarded A Silver Star For Exceptional Valor

[berniepeders]

''I was going to be rude, but seeing as how you''ve already done that, I''ll be the adult.''Posted by anonbychoice at 11:15 AM

Jeezus, man! If you think saying ''Duh'' is rude, you are the biggest p-u-s-s-y I''ve ever seen. Loser.

[legacyabq]

Brave kid, theres no doubt..

But Im sure 1000''s of other medic have done the same thing.. A young female makes a good poster child for the military..

That said,
I think ALL of you soldiers who have to face combat for the politicians are a hell of a lot braver than me, and I thank you and salute you!

[walkshe]

I was an Army medic back in the mid 80''s. I remember thinking after our medical training that I''d probably learned just enough to kill someone in a combat situation. Thank goodness I never had to go into combat, I was in during peacetime. And if I remember right, as a medic, we were allowed to carry a pistol, but that''s all. Our instructors once told us the life expectancy of a medic in a combat situation, and I don''t remember exactly but it''s just seconds (not minutes). We all figured that''s because the red cross armband would be used as a bullseye. I have the utmost respect for this young lady and all of those soldiers in harms way. God bless them all.

[anonbychoice]

You must be blind..top of page 2: ''''Brown''''s instincts kicked in with bullets whizzing by and mortars exploding around her. This young woman, who was not even supposed to be in front line combat, threw her body over the wounded paratroopers to protect them.''''
Duh!


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Posted by berniepeders at 10:49 AM : Dec 01, 2008
I was going to be rude, but seeing as how you''ve already done that, I''ll be the adult. Excuse me, but usually page 1 has ALL you need to know in any story. I didn''t realize that the jounalistic BS went beyond 1 page. DUH!!
As for the "must be blind part" I guess after you read so much BS, all the pages look alike!

[berniepeders]

Ive read this same story 3 times and have YET to see where it says she used her body to cover anyone else!!
Posted by anonbychoice at 10:34 AM

You must be blind..top of page 2: ''Brown''s instincts kicked in with bullets whizzing by and mortars exploding around her. This young woman, who was not even supposed to be in front line combat, threw her body over the wounded paratroopers to protect them.''
Duh!

[texcelt]

As I read the story, the complaints of her fellow soldiers seemed to be not that she did not act in accordance with the highest standards of her position, but rather that countless others did as much every day but she was the one being singled out for this singular honor. The question is whether she is being elevated purely for her own actions, or for someone to make political capital from her unique status.

The awarding of medals has always been arbitrary; countless acts of valor go unseen or unreported. There is really no way to make it fair. This is a complaint that has been made in every US conflict where medals have been awarded. In the end, the only way to do it is to look at the incident by itself. Did her actions meet the criteria? If they did, then they did. If they did not, this will not be the first (or last) controversial medal award.

As a Cav vet, my attitude on women in combat has always been, if she can make the training and hack the duty without a single exception being made, then I have no problem with a female soldier manning the gun next to me. I do, however find it sad that the Army has a stated regulation of %u201CNo Women in Combat%u201D and then immediately finds ways to slide around their own rule, making it nothing more than window dressing.

[longtree-2009]

she did her job, like they all are doing. jobs they volunteered to do so if she warrants a silver star everyone else should be getting one. not seeing it a silver star based on this account of what she did, which was her job as a medic.

[anonbychoice]

covers you with her body until both the sgt and the kid are able to get you to safety. then she saves your life.

Ive read this same story 3 times and have YET to see where it says she used her body to cover anyone else!! I give her "her moment to shine/of glory" but I would feel differently if it was something that no one else over there hasn''t done. Or that other''s over there haven''t been under fire.
As for the "no gun" Man I really want to know what story you''re reading!! You''d make a hell of a journalist, making things up as you go along, just to get the story out.........

[infe5]

"How can you say all the other is meaningless?? There are plenty of other soldiers that do the same thing day in and day out over there, hell ANYwhere, but we aren''''t reading about them!! We''''re only reading about someone that, in their own words "grabbed the bag and got out of the jeep under fire" While I''''m not saying that what she did wasn''''t "brave" but it was her JOB, what she was trained to do!! So all the BS about her being female and 18, apparently has something to do with it!!!" - anonbychoice

I was an infantryman. The only thing I expected out of my soldiers was for them to do their job to the best of their abilities. I could care less about a piece of ribbon and a chunk of shiny metal. Spc. Brown understands this too. She did not put herself in for this award, so why fault her for that? Most soldiers don''t care about awards or political bs. They care about their buddies and the mission. If some senior NCO or officer wants to give her recognition like a silver star (deserved or not), that is meaningless. What matters is that she did her job as a medic.

[anonbychoice]

the keyword in the explanation is valor. valor is defined as STRENGTH OF MIND IN REGARDS TO DANGER. If that doesnt fit the private''''s actions I dont know what does.
Posted by cheeseberge3 at 10:15 AM : Dec 01, 2008
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And the actions of, I''m sure, a few hundred or more other privates and enlisted men and women!

[elcherokee]

Are you aware of the fact that she was the only person there that was not carrying a gun?

[cheeseberge3]

just one other thing to add to all of the negative posters who wont allow private Brown her moment. Imagine this you a riding in a humvee loaded with grenades you then get ambushed by the cowardly Taliban and your truck is hit by mortar fire next thing you know you get thrown from the truck and you are on fire 3rd degree burns broken limbs blood everywhere and an 18 yr old girl with 4 months of medical training comes from out of nowhere and covers you with her body until both the sgt and the kid are able to get you to safety. then she saves your life. are you people nuts. this kid is a HHHEEERRROOO. jon berger

[fleetpaw-2009]

I went to High School With Spc. Brown. I think that it is awesome that she was awarded the Silver Star, because what she did is brave, and full of valor that she is right to be awarded the Silver Star. It doesn''t matter that she is a female, or that she is 18. She happened to be in the right place at the right time. God Bless you, Monica Brown, and God Bless America!!!

[anonbychoice]

Spc. Brown at least seems to understand that the only important thing was doing her job to the best of her abilities, and in that she succeeded. All this other *** about medals and the fact she is a female is meaningless.


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Posted by infe5 at 10:13 AM : Dec 01, 2008
How can you say all the other is meaningless?? There are plenty of other soldiers that do the same thing day in and day out over there, hell ANYwhere, but we aren''t reading about them!! We''re only reading about someone that, in their own words "grabbed the bag and got out of the jeep under fire" While I''m not saying that what she did wasn''t "brave" but it was her JOB, what she was trained to do!! So all the BS about her being female and 18, apparently has something to do with it!!!

[strengthx10]

Whoopdeedoo; This story was about the second "female" silver star recipient since WWII. Many medics have been awarded the silver star.

[cheeseberge3]

according to the definition supplied by the us army the silver star is the correct medal to be awarded to pfc. Brown. the keyword in the explanation is valor. valor is defined as STRENGTH OF MIND IN REGARDS TO DANGER. If that doesnt fit the private''s actions I dont know what does. Rather than grumble and complain these 2 soldiers should be grateful to private Brown for saving their lives. If the kids today would get their collective heads out of their ***** and be half the person you are what an extra wonderful country we''d be. God Bless You kid. You are a hero. btw why is the silver star gold???

[strengthx10]

OK Whoopdeedoo6, do your homework before making such a statement. There have been approximately 398 silver stars awarded in the last several years since the war on terror began and Monica Brown has not been the only medic to be appointed the silver star in this war nor any other. This was a story about the second silver star recipient since WWII. If you want this broken down in logical comprehensible mathematical terms; 1 out of the last 398 to receive the medal was a woman while 14 percent of our active duty army are women. Statistically, 1 out of 7 active duty soldiers are women. Roughly 3/100ths of 1 percent of women in the army have received the silver star in this war on terror. You statement is about male medics not receiving this medal is ridiculous. And Monica is a heroe, as much so as every other man and woman who is willing to put their lives on the line for your freedoms. They all are "just doing their jobs". Their jobs require daily heroics and sacrifices that most are not willing to make; yet many are quick to criticize.

[infe5]

Spc. Brown at least seems to understand that the only important thing was doing her job to the best of her abilities, and in that she succeeded. All this other *** about medals and the fact she is a female is meaningless.

[anonbychoice]

I''m curious about one thing though....if she would have gotten a paper cut,from ripping open a bandage pack, would we be reading about how she was awarded a purple heart for being wounded in the line of duty?

[efadamsii]

I am glad to see a story like this finally appear. women in the military have received so little recognition. Women are involved in combat no matter what the military wants to concede on the subject. But, I think you put to much emphasis on her age. 18 is not that surprising, if you go back thorugh the records and check the ages ot those who won the medal in WWI, Korea and Vietnam. Especially WWI -- by the time he was 19 Audie Murphy was the most decorated American of the war and possible our history. He had won every medal available including the Medal of Honor and 2 Silver Stars. He was representative of the age of those who fought that war.