Leigh Ann Hester
| Leigh Ann Hester | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | January 12, 1982 Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | April 2001 - present[1] |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 617th Military Police Company [currently assigned to 269 MP Co,] |
| Awards | Silver Star |
Leigh Ann Hester (born January 12, 1982)[2] of the 617th Military Police Company, a Kentucky Army National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky, received the Silver Star for her actions on March 20, 2005 during an enemy ambush on a supply convoy near the town of Salman Pak, Iraq.[3]
Hester was the first female soldier to receive the award for exceptional valor since World War II and the first ever to be cited for valor in close quarters combat.[4]
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[edit] Ambush
Hester's squad of two women and eight men in three Humvees was shadowing a 30-truck supply convoy when approximately 50 insurgent fighters ambushed the convoy with AK-47 assault rifle, RPK machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). The squad moved to the side of the road, flanking the insurgents and cutting off their escape route. Hester maneuvered her team through the kill zone and into a flanking position, where she and her squad leader, Staff Sergeant Timothy F. Nein, assaulted a trench line with hand grenades and M203 grenade launcher rounds. Hester and Nein assaulted and cleared two trenches. During the 25-minute firefight, Hester killed at least three enemy combatants with her M4 carbine.[5]
When the battle was over, 27 insurgents were dead, six were wounded, and one captured. Sergeants Hester and Nein were both awarded the Silver Star. Nein's was later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross.
Also awarded the Silver Star in this ambush was platoon combat medic Specialist Jason Mike, who took up and simultaneously fired an M4 carbine and M249 SAW light machine gun in defense of his comrades.[5]
[edit] U.S. decorations and badges
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Silver Star |
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Army Commendation Medal |
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NCO Professional Development Ribbon |
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Army Service Ribbon |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Martin, Rachel (February 22, 2011). "Silver Star Recipient A Reluctant Hero". NPR. http://www.npr.org/2011/02/22/133847765/silver-star-recipient-a-reluctant-hero. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ Kentucky Births, 1911-1999
- ^ "50 Heroes for 50 States - U.S. Department of Defense Update". United States Department of Defense. http://www.defenselink.mil/home/dodupdate/heroes/50heroes/KY.html. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ Sgt. Sara Wood. "Female Soldier receives Silver Star in Iraq". Department of Defense. http://www.army.mil/-news/2005/06/17/1645-female-soldier-receives-silver-star-in-iraq/. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
- ^ a b Fainaru, Steve (2005-06-26). "Silver Stars Affirm One Unit's Mettle". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/25/AR2005062501263.html. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
[edit] External links
- United States Army soldiers
- American military personnel of the Iraq War
- History of women in Kentucky
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Women in the United States Army
- 1982 births
- People from Bowling Green, Kentucky
- People from Nashville, Tennessee
- Living people
- Women in the Iraq War
- Recipients of the Army Commendation Medal
