Monica Lin Brown | |
---|---|
Brown at FOB Salerno, Afghanistan, in March 2008 | |
Born | May 24, 1988 |
Place of birth | Lake Jackson, Texas, United States |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 2005[1]-?? |
Rank | Sergeant[2] |
Unit | 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division[3] |
Battles/wars | Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan |
Awards | Silver Star[4] |
Monica Lin Brown (born May 24, 1988 in Lake Jackson, Texas)[4] is a United States Army medic who became the first woman in Afghanistan and only the second woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the United States' third-highest medal for valor.[5]
After a roadside bomb detonated near a convoy of Humvees in the eastern Paktia Province of Afghanistan, Brown saved the lives of fellow soldiers in April 2007 by running through insurgent gunfire using her body to shield wounded soldiers while mortar rounds fell nearby.[6] Because women are not formally allowed to participate directly in combat, Brown was pulled back to the base at Khost shortly after the incident.[7]
She was presented with the Silver Star by Vice President Dick Cheney in a ceremony on March 21, 2008.[8]
Decorations and Badges[]
Silver Star Citation[]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist [then Private First Class] Monica Lin Brown, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Combat Medic with the 4th Squadron, 73d Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 25 April 2007. On that date, 2d Platoon, Charlie Troop, 4th Squadron, 73d Cavalry Regiment, was on a combat patrol moving to Jani Khel, Afghanistan, for a leader engagement with the village elders. The element consisted of five vehicles: four M1151 Uparmored HMMWV's (UAH) and one Afghan National Army (ANA) Ford Ranger. They were in a column formation moving north along Route VIPER. In the vicinity of 42S VA263021 the trail vehicle, C23, struck a pressure plate IED on the driver's side rear tire, which ignited the fuel tank and fuel cans mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The explosion of the fuel tank and cans engulfed the vehicle in an intense fireball. This initiated a planned ambush which commenced after the explosion. The patrol began to take small arms fire from the direction of a kholat to the east, approximately 100 meters away. The small arms fire was impacting around the lead vehicle which was 300 meters north of the IED site. The small arms fire began to concentrate on the IED site as the Platoon Medic, Private First Class Brown, moved on foot to evaluate the casualties. She was exposed to the small arms fire until the maneuver element could swing around and begin suppressing the enemy as she treated the wounded Soldiers. After making an initial assessment and treating in order of severity, she moved the casualties with the aid and direction of the Platoon Sergeant, into the wadi the engulfed vehicle was hanging over. The enemy fighters then engaged the patrol with mortar fire. Private First Class Brown threw her own body over the casualties to shield them as the mortars were impacting 75 to 100 meters away. Approximately 15 mortars impacted within close range of the casualties as Private First Class Brown continued treatment. Private First Class Brown continued treatment in the wadi approximately 15 meters from the burning vehicle, at which time the onboard 60-mm. mortar, 5.56-mm. ammunition, and 40-mm. grenade rounds on board began to explode. Again disregarding her own safety, Private First Class Brown shielded the casualties with her own body as large chunks of shrapnel and 5.56-mm. rounds began flying through the air from the burning vehicle. The patrol leader arrived on site and found it incredible she was still alive and treating the casualties amidst the extremely dangerous conditions she was operating under. Given the hazards to Private First Class Brown, the platoon sergeant used the ANA Ranger to move the wounded Soldiers and Private First Class Brown to a more protected position. As the truck began driving down the wadi, a large 60-mm. mortar explosion occurred sending shrapnel flying all around where Private First Class Brown had been treating casualties. The platoon leader was dragged by the ANA truck with the casualties as the explosions became incredibly intense and the platoon sergeant moved Private First Class Brown to a more protected position to continue treatment. Private First Class Brown continued treatment of the two wounded Soldiers at the new site as enemy small arms fire began to impact around the new position. Private First Class Brown continued treatment of the casualties as the platoon returned fire in close vicinity of her. She shielded the wounded from falling brass and enemy fire once again, ensuring the casualties were stabilized and ready for MEDEVAC. Specialist Brown's heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon herself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.[9]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Jay Price (9 May 2008). "A Silver Star for her mettle". http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-05-09/news/0805081041_1_medic-five-soldiers-afghanistan. Retrieved 27 January 2013. "At 17, Monica Lin Brown joined the Army."
- ↑ "Profiles of Women Soldiers". Women in the U.S. Army. United States Army. http://www.army.mil/women/profiles.html. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ↑ Spc. Micah E. Clare (24 March 2008). "Face of Defense: Woman Soldier Receives Silver Star". United States Department of Defense. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49348. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Monica Lin Brown". Military Times Hall of Valor. Gannett Government Media Corporation. http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3717. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ↑ "Female Texas Teen To Receive Silver Star". 11 February 2009. http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-224_162-3920151.html. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ↑ Abrashi, Fisnik (March 9, 2008). "Medic Stationed in Afghanistan Becomes 2nd Woman to Be Awarded Silver Star". Associated Press. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336259,00.html.
- ↑ Tyson, Ann. "Woman Gains Silver Star -- And Removal From Combat". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/30/AR2008043003415.html. Retrieved 05/1/08.
- ↑ Clare, SPC Micah. "2nd Woman Since WWII Gets Silver Star". United States Army. http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/21/8068-2nd-woman-since-wwii-gets-silver-star/. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
- ↑ "OIF/OEF, Page 1, A-F". U.S. Army Medical Department. United States Army. 27 September 2012. http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/silverstar/oifoef/oifoef1.html. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
External links[]
- www.thearmyexperience.com — "From high-school cheerleader to Silver Star recipient, Sergeant Monica Brown put her medical training to work and Duty above herself in Afghanistan." Portrait by the army (video presentation).
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