Female Texas Teen To Receive Silver Star

The 19-year-old Medic Shielded Fellow Soldiers From Fire With Her Body In Afghanistan

(AP)  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.

[guadalcanal3]

Thank you Spc. Brown!...Women have natural courage..They are the mothers.

[bb19631]

Good for Spc. Brown she deserves it!! Women can handle the pressure. Good Luck and Carry on Soldier!!

[usbrit-2009]

I heard on the news this morning, that the IRS is looking into Obama''''s church. Seems the preacher has been using his pulpit for political reasons. They may lose their tax-exempt status.

Posted by Klingon69

More Repug hypocrisy. Like every evangelical church in the country hasn''t been preaching the Repug line for years.

Re the young lady subject of this article; she deserves every plaudit she gets and should be welcomed home a heroine when she gets back. This war sucks but no-one should have anything but respect for those "over there" doing their duty.

[my2centss]

If this story is true, she deserves this medal. I just hope its not another made up story like that Jessica Lynch one.

[klingon69]

ranger,,,,, By the way They Do Not Go to the Same Church & Never has ----- Obama has belonged to the same Christian church for decades ------ Trinity Christian ---------- Farakhan is Muslem
Posted by j-whitman at 01:31 AM : Mar 10, 2008
I heard on the news this morning, that the IRS is looking into Obama''s church. Seems the preacher has been using his pulpit for political reasons. They may lose their tax-exempt status.

[louklou51]

The medal was richly deserved, Specialist Brown is a brave and gallant young lady and this will be something she will keep with her the rest of her life, just another example of one of America''s best serving all of us, congratulations and God Bless you, and carry on!

[watcher269-2009]

I read somewhere the Bush NEVER attended a Christian school - only Private Rich boy schools that don''t teach Religion.

[ranger1948]

I read in one of obama''s statements where he said he had attended Muslim schools

[ranger1948]

jwhitman went to bed but i am still here.

[twogunsono1g]

The Ranger/ Whitman shows not over is it? I allways get here too late.

[j-whitman]

ranger,,,,, No he never attended a Muslem school either, that was more poison garbage.... Good night.

[ranger1948]

jwhitman
Obama also attended Muslim schools for a few years. I to quit having birthdays, my youngest son was born on my birthday so i quit at 38. Hope we can talk again soon, enjoy the dialect. Have a good nite.

[samthetvcat]

Oh wow, thank you both for your family''s service! Wow - very brave family members!

[j-whitman]

ranger,,,, Time has flown by, I''ll say goodnight & catch you later, good talking to you.

[j-whitman]

ranger,,, Something else we have in common,,,, I refuse to grow old, I take care of my 89 year old Pop & see what he''s gone through ---- I quit having B-days years ago

[j-whitman]

ranger,,, Think about it, in Hawaii Obama went to Kamehameha Schools,,, If anything Hawaians are predigdiced against blacks

[ranger1948]

Maybe i am being too harsh, afterall i mellowed in my old age, but i refuse to get old. I am going to die young, at least of heart.

[j-whitman]

ranger,,,, He''s half white, he doesn''t hate whites ----- If there is any racism in politics it''s from the overly religious right wing... Now there you''ll find racism alive & well as it was 40 years ago. Just watch some of these postings here.

[ranger1948]

As a white to get near Farakhan i would probably have to shoot my way in.

[ranger1948]

They are not supposed to be allowed where there is combat however like Vietnam there are no front lines in Iraq. My daughter is drawing combat pay and tax free status like we all did in Vietnam. Even the support troops got the combat pay and tax free status.