From the
AP
A 23-year-old sergeant with the Kentucky National Guard on Thursday became the first female soldier to receive the Silver Star -- the nation's third-highest medal for valor -- since World War II.
This is wonderful news!
Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, who is from Nashville, Tenn., but serves in a Kentucky unit, received the award for gallantry during a March 20 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.
According to military accounts of the firefight, insurgents attacked the convoy as it 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.
A couple of things here:
- She is an American hero no doubt.
- I hope this can help inspire other women to join the armed forces and help with our recruiting shortfall.
- Anybody who kills Islamofascist scum, especially to save the lives of the troops, is a hero in my books!
But guess what was the first
response on this conservative forum I post at?
Doesn't mean women belong in the military...
Typical.
[Update]
Apparently, some Freepers aren't too happy with this young woman either:
Females DO NOT BELONG IN COMBAT.
I thought conservatives pride themselves in judging people by their actions (hence their opposition to AA)? Guess not when it suits their agenda.