Silver Stars and a Boat

Occasionally, something good happens and should be acknowledged. These women all did what they were trained to do, period. That they were officially acknowledged for their actions makes it even better, but does not diminish the efforts of anyone associated with them, as many of them were also awarded honors.

You may remember the death of Senior Chief Cryptologist Shannon Kent, who was killed by a jihadi suicide bomber, along with the people who accompanied her. Now SEN Schumer wants to name a ship after her. As AW1 Ed says, sometimes even a blind chipmunk can find a nut. And he sent this, so it’s all his fault. 😉

Cryptologist SC Shannon Kent, spoke seven languages, killed by a jihadi suicide bomber.  https://www.stripes.com/senator-wants-ship-named-for-navy-cryptologist-shannon-kent-1.586026

I have no issues with naming a ship for her. She was a cancer survivor and left behind a family. This is a good way to honor and remember her.

We also have two women who received the Silver Star.

One of them is SGT Leigh Ann Hester, whose convoy was ambushed by a large party of roadside shooters. The citation is at this link: https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2019/06/14/this-sergeant-became-the-first-woman-in-the-us-army-to-earn-a-silver-star-for-combat-valor/

She is the first female recipient to be cited for valor in close quarters combat.  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3573269/posts

The second recipient is Monica Lin Brown, a medic with the 82nd Airborne, during OIF/OEF.

Monica Lin Brown
Brown at FOB Salerno, Afghanistan, in March 2008
Born	24 May 1988 (age 31) Lake Jackson, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	2005[1]–Present
Rank	Sergeant[2]
Unit	782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division[3]
Battles/wars	Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan
Awards	Silver Star[4]

Her citation is here:

https://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/silverstar/oifoef/oifoef1.html

BROWN, MONICA LIN ;
PFC, U.S Army
4th Squadron, 73d Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
Date of Action: 25 April 2007
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist [then Private First Class] Monica Lin Brown, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Combat Medic with the 4th Squadron, 73d Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 25 April 2007. On that date, 2d Platoon, Charlie Troop, 4th Squadron, 73d Cavalry Regiment, was on a combat patrol moving to Jani Khel, Afghanistan, for a leader engagement with the village elders. The element consisted of five vehicles: four M1151 Uparmored HMMWV’s (UAH) and one Afghan National Army (ANA) Ford Ranger. They were in a column formation moving north along Route VIPER. In the vicinity of 42S VA263021 the trail vehicle, C23, struck a pressure plate IED on the driver’s side rear tire, which ignited the fuel tank and fuel cans mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The explosion of the fuel tank and cans engulfed the vehicle in an intense fireball. This initiated a planned ambush which commenced after the explosion. The patrol began to take small arms fire from the direction of a kholat to the east, approximately 100 meters away. The small arms fire was impacting around the lead vehicle which was 300 meters north of the IED site. The small arms fire began to concentrate on the IED site as the Platoon Medic, Private First Class Brown, moved on foot to evaluate the casualties. She was exposed to the small arms fire until the maneuver element could swing around and begin suppressing the enemy as she treated the wounded Soldiers. After making an initial assessment and treating in order of severity, she moved the casualties with the aid and direction of the Platoon Sergeant, into the wadi the engulfed vehicle was hanging over. The enemy fighters then engaged the patrol with mortar fire. Private First Class Brown threw her own body over the casualties to shield them as the mortars were impacting 75 to 100 meters away. Approximately 15 mortars impacted within close range of the casualties as Private First Class Brown continued treatment. Private First Class Brown continued treatment in the wadi approximately 15 meters from the burning vehicle, at which time the onboard 60-mm. mortar, 5.56-mm. ammunition, and 40-mm. grenade rounds on board began to explode. Again disregarding her own safety, Private First Class Brown shielded the casualties with her own body as large chunks of shrapnel and 5.56-mm. rounds began flying through the air from the burning vehicle. The patrol leader arrived on site and found it incredible she was still alive and treating the casualties amidst the extremely dangerous conditions she was operating under. Given the hazards to Private First Class Brown, the platoon sergeant used the ANA Ranger to move the wounded Soldiers and Private First Class Brown to a more protected position. As the truck began driving down the wadi, a large 60-mm. mortar explosion occurred sending shrapnel flying all around where Private First Class Brown had been treating casualties. The platoon leader was dragged by the ANA truck with the casualties as the explosions became incredibly intense and the platoon sergeant moved Private First Class Brown to a more protected position to continue treatment. Private First Class Brown continued treatment of the two wounded Soldiers at the new site as enemy small arms fire began to impact around the new position. Private First Class Brown continued treatment of the casualties as the platoon returned fire in close vicinity of her. She shielded the wounded from falling brass and enemy fire once again, ensuring the casualties were stabilized and ready for MEDEVAC. Specialist Brown’s heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon herself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
General Orders: Presented at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, by Vice President Dick Cheney, on March 21, 2008.
Home of record: Lake Jackson, Texas

I believe these women would all tell you it was all in a day’s work for them.

 

Category: Bravo Zulu