Female medic earns Silver Star in Afghan war

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC/AP

A 19-year-old medic from Texas will become the first woman in Afghanistan and only the second woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor.

Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown saved the lives of fellow soldiers after a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees in the eastern Paktia province in April 2007, the military said.

After the explosion, which wounded five soldiers in her unit, Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, the military said.

"I did not really think about anything except for getting the guys to a safer location and getting them taken care of and getting them out of there," Brown said Saturday at a U.S. base in the eastern province of Khost.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23547346/

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Spc. Monica Lin Brown from Lake Jackson, Texas, stands guard at a forward operating base in Khost, Afghanistan, on Saturday.

Good for you Spc Brown. I salute you!

[calimary]

1. So do I!

I always find myself thinking back to all those yammering tight-sphincters a few decades ago who were yowling and screeching about how horrible the Equal Rights Amendment would be! Gasp!!! Women in combat!!!! Zounds! Gnash teeth! Hyperventilate! Rend garments! OH the Humanity!

Well, WE didn't get the E.R.A., and women still went into combat regardless.

:eyes:

God, I hope she stays away from the laundry facilities...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3217078

:grr:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. True honor and nobility

This woman is a true hero. Let us hope she is fully supported as a veteran when she comes home.

[Bunny]

3. I salute you, Spc. Brown.

Well done, soldier! :patriot:

[nradisic]

4. Brave young girl...

Thank you for your service and God Bless....

[Hulk]

5. I salute you....

....just watch the monkey try to suck blood out of this with the press.

"see, i told you we are winning the war over there....blah, blah, blah...."

[msedano]

6. Present...harms!

Ready... two.

What was it Nut Gingrich said about why women should not be allowed to serve combat duty, they'd start to rot in their private places?

What a breath of fresh air. I remember being ordered by a CO not to cooperate with a woman officer investigating a theft at one of the Bn's remote batteries. Because she was a woman, that's why.

Sp/4 Brown, you deserve a promotion.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. This woman makes me proud.

:patriot:

[pasto76]

8. If you have to squat to pee, you cant fight alongside me!

There was a kid in my squad. He was assigned the M249. He thought it made him tough, made him look cool. He never understood the concept of automatic weapons and for what they are good. The first time we took fire in Iraq, instead of RETURNING fire like he was supposed to, he removed the weapon from its mount and hid behind the HMMWV. What I would have given for more _soldiers_ like SPC Brown, instead of the shitbag maggots in uniform that I had.

Being a good soldier gets little bearing from gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, eye color, where you were raised, age, or what is your favorite movie genre. You are, or you are not.

Good for her. I hope SPC Brown basks in this for a bit, it truly is a tremendous honor, which she entirely deserves.

Makes me wonder why across the nation there are any college republicans left.....they should all be in the service! SPC Brown was 12 when Sept 11 happened....what are your excuses.

[pop goes the weasel]

10. what a fine citizen!

I suppose the others she refers to (she keeps saying "we") also received Silver Stars? I admire her selflessness, levelheadedness, and devotion to duty. May she and all the other fine soldiers soon return home, and may we all honor our commitment to you all, Pasto76, as you have honored your commitment to us.

[RamboLiberal]

14. Young Repubs - they'd be like the kid in your squad who

hid behind the HMMWV. They're all nasty and tough at their keyboards, attending Rove or Coulter events, disrupting Democratic events, etc. but first time they really had to face fire they'd be hiding, staining their pants. They're nothing but keyboard commandos!

[AnneD]

18. I remember getting harassed....

when I went into the USAR. I had college, and a few years on me so I got some rank too.

I really chafed some of the younger guys. We started talking about women in combat. One young guy once ask me what I would do if my fox hole had his head blown off. I calmly tok=ld him I'd be grabbing his ammo clip and gun-I could use them a hell of a lot more than he could.

Funny thing was, the young guys gave me grief-the VN Vet treated more like an equal and with respect. They howled with laughter when I told them THAT story.

Seriously...SFC Brown is double tough, and a true Texas woman :patriot:

Edited to add: SFC Brown...real Texan
GW Bush...Faux Texan

[bronxiteforever]

9. Kick & R-

:patriot:

[jwirr]

11. That is a woman to be proud of.

[jody]

12. Regardless of whether Bush's war is moral or not, Spc. Brown is a true hero. I would share a foxhole

with her anytime, anywhere.

She represents the very best this nation has to offer.

[Catch22Dem]

13. A salute from this USAF vet

A fine young woman and an asset to her country.

[pinto]

15. Kick.

Saving lives in the chaos.

[tabasco]

16. Sa-lute, Soldier!

:patriot:

[Drum]

17. Huzzah!

Recommended. :patriot: