Leigh Ann Hester

Leigh Ann Hester. Persian Gulf War. Ms. Hester is the first Army female to be awarded the Silver Star for Valor since World War II. The presentation was held at Camp Liberty, Iraq, on June 16, 2005. , Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the 617th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky, was cited for conspicuous gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States. She was a team leader for Raven 42B, 617th Military Police Company, 503d Military Police Battalion stationed at Camp Liberty, Iraq, when the convoy her team was shadowing was ambushed by anti-Iraq forces., Sergeant Hester stopped her vehicle at a flanking position against the insurgent enemy, and directed her gunner to focus fire toward the enemy location. She dismounted and moved to engage the insurgents with her M203 in order to suppress the heavy enemy fire. She and Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein, her squad leader, then cleared two trenches, at which time she killed three insurgents with her rifle. When the fight was over, 27 insurgents were dead, six were wounded, and one was captured. , Her actions saved the lives of numerous convoy members. Her bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflects distinct credit upon herself, the 503rd Military Police Battalion, the 18th Military Police Brigade, and the United States Army. "It really doesn't have anything to do with being a female. It's about the duties I performed that day as a soldier." ~~ Leigh Ann Hester