For the first time since World War Two, a female soldier has been awarded the Army’s third highest award for valor. Even more notably, the award was made for heroism displayed while actively participating in a combat action.
traveled south of Baghdad, launching their assault from trenches alongside the road using rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Hester and her unit moved through enemy fire to the trenches, attacking them with grenades before entering and clearing them.
She killed at least three insurgents with her M4 rifle, according to her award citation. In the entire battle, 26 or 27 insurgents were killed and several more were captured, according to various accounts. Several Americans were also wounded in the firefight.
“Her actions saved the lives of numerous convoy members. Sgt. Hester’s bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism,” her award citation reads.
“I’m honored to even be considered, much less awarded, the medal,” Hester told the American Forces Press Service, a military-run information service. “It really doesn’t have anything to do with being a female. It’s about the duties I performed that day as a soldier.”
Meanwhile back home we have some idiot Congressmen who think women should be removed from the front lines because… well, just because. Sgt. Hester’s courage under fire should put to rest any lingering notions that women are not able to perform every bit as well as men in combat. It is a shame that certain people here at home are not able or willing to honor the contribution women like Sgt. Hester make to our armed forces.
