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Silver Star for female soldier
A female National Guard soldier recently was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor, for her role in a firefight with insurgents. Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of Nashville, Tennessee, is the first woman to receive the award since World War II.
Hester received the Silver Star in a ceremony at Camp Liberty, Iraq, along with two other soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard's 617th Military Police Company.
Three more soldiers received the Bronze Star. Hester's unit thwarted an insurgent ambush against a coalition convoy on March 20. After a 45-minute firefight, 27 insurgents were dead, six wounded, and one captured. Three soldiers from the 617th were wounded. (Full story)
In Falluja, female Marines normally assigned to support units are providing security and searching women and children. According a story on the Marine Corps Web site, six female Marines attached to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-8, are stationed at entry control points throughout the southern sector of the city.
At those checkpoints, Iraqi women and children pass through a search area hidden from male Marines and civilians, where the female Marines, known as the Female Search Force, search them. Iraqi men go to a separate area where male Marines search them.
The female Marines also help search vehicles that pass through the checkpoints.
Capt. Sean K. Butler, a 36-year-old commander of the battalion's Weapons Company, said the female Marines have an important role in the battalion's operations.
"It's out of respect for Iraqi culture," he said. "In this society, men and women don't associate as freely as we do in the states."
--I congradulate EVERYONE that serves or has served their country. The United States should be like Isreal and REQUIRE service of males for 4 years and women for a minimum of 2 years right after they get out of high school no matter who you are. IMHO
A female National Guard soldier recently was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor, for her role in a firefight with insurgents. Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of Nashville, Tennessee, is the first woman to receive the award since World War II.
Hester received the Silver Star in a ceremony at Camp Liberty, Iraq, along with two other soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard's 617th Military Police Company.
Three more soldiers received the Bronze Star. Hester's unit thwarted an insurgent ambush against a coalition convoy on March 20. After a 45-minute firefight, 27 insurgents were dead, six wounded, and one captured. Three soldiers from the 617th were wounded. (Full story)
In Falluja, female Marines normally assigned to support units are providing security and searching women and children. According a story on the Marine Corps Web site, six female Marines attached to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-8, are stationed at entry control points throughout the southern sector of the city.
At those checkpoints, Iraqi women and children pass through a search area hidden from male Marines and civilians, where the female Marines, known as the Female Search Force, search them. Iraqi men go to a separate area where male Marines search them.
The female Marines also help search vehicles that pass through the checkpoints.
Capt. Sean K. Butler, a 36-year-old commander of the battalion's Weapons Company, said the female Marines have an important role in the battalion's operations.
"It's out of respect for Iraqi culture," he said. "In this society, men and women don't associate as freely as we do in the states."
--I congradulate EVERYONE that serves or has served their country. The United States should be like Isreal and REQUIRE service of males for 4 years and women for a minimum of 2 years right after they get out of high school no matter who you are. IMHO
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