Rifles

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, Raven-42, & the Silver Star (Page 2)

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester is the first female Soldier who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom to receive the Silver Star.


I think about it every day—the actions and the play-by-play of how it happened. The pictures that are stuck in my mind about what I saw that day.  My fellow soldiers lying there bleeding, and me trying to give them aid and get them to the hospital— medevac’ed out on a helicopter.


Although 2005 was firmly situated in an era that seemed at times heavily characterized by shallow self-absorption and narcissism, Sgt. Hester the shoe-store-manager-turned-decorated-war-hero still thought of herself as being a member of a team. Her devotion to duty and devotion to comrades might make you recall the closing line of the 1954 feature film The Bridges at Toko-Ri. In that line, Rear-Admiral George Tarrant (played by Fredric March) has just been informed of the loss of Lt. Harry Brubaker (played by William Holden) and he asks, "Where do we get such men?" The example of Leigh Ann Hester might inspire a modernized version of that quote: “where do we get such women?”



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5 Responses to Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, Raven-42, & the Silver Star (Page 2)

John R Willis wrote:
July 21, 2013

It's people like you that make me proud to be a Veteran. I never served in combat, during my time in service, it just wasn't required. Thank you for your very Honorable Service. You make us all , Men and Women , very proud !

Will wrote:
July 12, 2013

Airborne Sgt. Hester, thanks.

Mitch wrote:
July 12, 2013

Wow! What a story of tremendous heroisim! And the irony of these Arab insurgents being taken down by a female is especially satisfying!

Rich wrote:
July 10, 2013

Hoo-ah! training kicks in, ordinary people do extraordinary things...welcome to combat. Congratulations Sgt. Hester. thank you for your service.

gary wrote:
July 07, 2013

Excellant story of Valor and teamwork makes me proud to be an American and supporter of our military. Wayto go Leigh Ann.