This will make for some contrast with the 19 year old, college freshman, mall rats. She's crazy, crazy good.

Teenager Earns Silver Star

The story below deserves everyone's attention. It deserves more attention than any puppy killer. I do not think we should withhold criticism of our Commander in Chief, nor should we withhold criticism of outrageous immoral acts committed in the service of our nation, but I also think it is just as important to shout loudly those actions that exemplify the very best of what we can be.



Not mentioned in that quote was the fact that not only were insurgents directing fire at her, but that shrapnel from exploding munitions was coming out of the humvees that had been hit. That she shielded the wounded with her own body before dragging them to safety. Her actions are exemplary regardless of her age or gender. Her silver star will complement her brass balls.
Click here for story link

Spc. Brown you have my thanks and congratulations.


VHawk


P.S. I'm still looking for the names of the other soldiers involved. She had the assistance of at least one other soldier to drag out the 5 wounded personnel.

Better a Silver Star than a Red Badge of Courage.

I read and heard about this story Vhawk and was amazed. This chick is an amazing lady, selfless reactions in the line of fire.

So, she gets a medal for doing what everyone in her platoon should have been doing - going the aid of your fallen comrades?

Is what she did above and beyond the call of duty for your fellow service person fighting along side you?

I'm happy for her, and not meaning this as anything against her medal - but that just got me thinking:

The wording of the citation reads that everyone in and around this incident put their heads between the legs, jumped for cover and was a big PUSSY, yet she heroically helped her fallen soldiers.

*Every* time an IED goes off, there is usually small arms, RPG, and mortar fire aimed zeroed in on the target area. Does every person that lends during a hand during an IED incident a get a silver star???

I just finished reading a book about a soldier from the 101st Airborne in WWII in Bastogne who was credited with 7 tanks to his name in a single day of combat. He got a silver star for that. 7 tanks. Now, THAT is worthy of a Silver Star. Not the DSC nor the MOH. Just a silver star....



Exactly. If they didn't receive a silver star too (all of them), it's a feel good medal.

Three other soldiers received silver stars for the same incident. She's just the first female since WWII.

Cool!

Not a feel good medal.

She'll have to have the words "Brass Balls Brown" put on her uniforms now!

I've read that medals are being handed out like candy in this war to the ire of vets of previous wars.

Now how about a medal for the person or persons that bring all those troops home safe That would be a feel great medal.....

Parker,

Yes, I think she and others did something above and beyond. Sure, we might like to think that is what everyone does in that kind of situation. But it doesn't work that way. People are human. Looking out for number one is an archtypal instinct. And if they always put themselves at additional risk, they too may be wounded or killed, thereby reducing the number of able bodied soldiers available for offense or defense.

It's intriguing. Strategicially, the REMFs* would probably never advocate that field personnel do such brave or bold actions for the reason I mentioned above. However, field personnel do this all the time because they don't fight for generals, presidents, or even America. They take care of each other. That's the only loyalty that counts in a battle.

Anyway, I'm glad she's getting the recogntion along with other members of the group for their bravery.

Sg

* REMFs (rear echelon mutha' fvckrs)

If you have ever been in an emergency situation and looked at how different people react it would amaze you.

I believe it's instinctive, Jerry. Can't teach it and can't explain it, but you know it when you see it. When the chips are down is when you find out who's who. Hero's show up. Brown was one. Good post, Vince....almost made it with just a "thanks"

10-4 Jerry.

Wow.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3511901.ece

... merely a flesh wound' nothing to worry about

i'll bite yer leg off, I will...

Incredible

Yeah... with the fully-automatic grenade launcher with SIX 32-round magazines he had, I could dust off 150 people pretty fast too.

That's 192 grenades flying out in all directions.

It wasn't like he had a bolt-action Enfield and a bayonet.

It's too bad that there is no way to put the people who are so quick to try to diminish the actions of these brave soldiers into a similar situation to see how they react. I would be willing to bet everything I have that MOST of them would hunker down behind something and hope for someone else to take care of it. I spent my time as a grunt in an infantry platoon in Nam. You never know how you will react until that time comes. I would much rather be in a firefight with the other guys using automatic weapons than to be in the crap that is going on over in Iraq with the IED's. The most scared I ever was, was in a rocket attack at a resupply camp we stopped at for the night. All you could do was hunker down and wait as they came screaming down.Give me the jungle any time. The bravest people I ever saw were the helicopter pilots who came in to lift out the wounded or bring resupply while the bullets were still flying everywhere. Even at night it is impossible to hide a chopper with a landing light on that has to sit there while you load/unload. If any of you were one of these, you are my hero and always will be. I was lifted off myself.

The only thing a Well Motivated Marine needs is an e-tool!

Guns and knives are for wussies.