SGT Hester was the first female to win the Silver Star in Iraq. Her story is worth recalling, scroll down to her citation at the following link.

Here is an excerpt from the official citation:

The squad continued to come under heavy machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenade fire when Sergeant Hester stopped her vehicle, the middle vehicle, at a flanking position enfilading the trench line and the orchard field where over a dozen insurgents were engaging the squad and convoy. She then directed her gunner to focus fires in the trench line and the orchard field. Sergeant Hester dismounted and moved to what was thought to be the non-contact side of the vehicle. She ordered her gunner to continue to fire on the orchard field as she and her driver engaged insurgents in the orchard field with small arms. Sergeant Hester began engaging the insurgents with her M203 in order to suppress the heavy AIF fire. Sergeant Hester followed Staff Sergeant Nein to the right side berm and threw two well placed fragmentation grenades into the trench eliminating the AIF threat. Sergeant Hester and Staff Sergeant Nein went over the berm into the trench and began clearing the trench with their M4s. Sergeant Hester engaged and eliminated three AIF to her front with her M4. They then made their way to the front trench and cleared that as well. After clearing the front trench cease fire was called and she began securing the ambush site. The final result of the ambush was 27 AIF KIA (killed in action), 6 AIF WIA (wounded in action), and one AIF captured.


U.S. Army Citations for awards of the Silver Star in the Global War on Terrorism

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Old paratrooper in NC

Way to go, Sarge!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

An example to be remembered when they try to say women should not be in combat.

I have a comment but I would be on the rug AGAIN.
Way to go lady---ya done good.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

Frankly I'm a little lukewarm on women in combat--not that many aren't capable because clearly some are, but for other reasons.

But all that aside, Sgt. Hester is a true crackerjack! We are blessed to have young folks like her.

Thanks for posting that.

where can i send the roses? lee

One does not "win" a Silver Star, it's not an Olympic medal! Decorations are awarded.

InfantryWeaponsOfficer

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Make mine an N Frame

Wow! Job well done Sargeant!

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GO NAVY!

Good job, sergeant!

That said, this is not a recommendation for putting women in close combat units. A firefight is one thing; extended time in combat is something else.

ECS

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Well said.
I should just shut up, but regardless of her excellent performance, I am opposed to women in combat.
If for no other reason-
As the months of a tour of duty wear on, life becomes more and more basic. An 18-20 year old soldier that is bored to death much of the time, but ALWAYS full of testosterone, and often full of adrenaline, sometimes gets narrowly focused on things besides duty.
I want my perimeter guards guardin' the perimeter at 02:30, NOT exercising in the bunkers!
Trust me, here........

Sure, we can lay that on the male soldiers as THEIR burden to deal with.
Well, good luck changing human nature that's been the same since man began.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Her family lived across the street from us when she was a child. We would never have guessed what the future would hold.