Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown has received the Silver Star for her valor in Afghanistan. In an interview on CNN this morning, the 19-year-old Texan told how she used her body to shield five injured comrades, after a roadside bomb struck her convoy last spring. Running through insurgent fire to get to the injured, she administered aid and dragged her fellow soldiers to safety.
Monica is only the second woman since World War Two to receive the Silver Star, one of the army's highest medals. Though Pentagon policy prohibits women from serving in front-line combat roles, the unique nature of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, (without formalized front lines) accounts for more women soldiers taking part in close-quarters combat than in previous conflicts. With the goal of getting a college degree, Monica joined the army with her brother in 2006. Next month, she is expected to return home from Afghanistan, where she is serving as a medic. I hope she enjoys her hero's welcome!
Do you think this is a phenomenon we'll see more often? Does the changing face of war amount to equality of the battlefield? Are women serving different roles in the military than they have in the past?
Seafolly
Tabitha
Tamaris
Wow. Congrats to her! Very brave indeed.
1Women should not serve on the front lines with men. That should not change. That said I still applaud this girl though she was very brave!
2Wow. I am impressed.
I am even more impressed when I think of all the moronic sh*t I was going around doing/thinking about when I was 19 years old. She sounds amazing!
3She is AWESOME!!!! What a great women for girls to look up to, instead of people like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.
4That is awesome...talk about above and beyond! I have so much admiration for women in the service. The military isn't for me (I hate being told what to do, lol), but I really have to hand it to these women showing the world that we can be just as tough as the boys!
5Makes you feel kinda silly about what you were doing at 19 doesnt it??
I know it does for me!
6I think of course we'll see this more often. I am so proud of her!
7A true hero!
8This is wonderful! I'm glad that she is safe and I am so glad to see her honored in this way. I think that we will see a lot more of this. Women play just as important a role as men in the military and hopefully that will continue to be recognized. When I was still in the Navy women were still not allowed on submarines. Do you know why? BECAUSE they didn't have "bathroom facilities" for women. This was only four years ago. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure that still stands today. It's ridiculous. Good for Monica and for all of our service men and women.
9if women want to fight in the frontline so be it thats their choice as it is men's, bravo to her, im glad jess went out to kuwait just hearing this story makes me think these people see death on a daily basis and to have a celeb go over there and take them away from that is so refreashing,even for a few hours
10Now this is a woman to be proud of.
11I think that if women can match the physical tests that men need on the front lines, they should be there. We need to get over our issues, and realize that more of OUR soldiers die if the best and brightest aren't used to their full potential.
I think it is great for women to hear stories like this. She is very inspiring!
12Yay for teen girl heroes!
13Fearless, she deserves all the good in the world
14While I think it's deplorable that people so young are fighting in and dying in this war (men and women), I must object to the use of the word "teen" to describe this woman. To me, "teens" are people who have not yet reached adulthood (i.e. 18). Calling her a teenager isn't much better than calling 20-something women "girls." It's a bit disparaging to someone who is obviously very mature for her age, and who is acting commendably is a very "adult" situation.
15Throw back comment: YOU GO GIRL!!
16Go SPC Brown!! =D
17The sad thing is that she'll get maybe 1/4 the media/general public attention that the puppy-killing Marine did. It's a real shame.
@Harmony, you're right about the subs still having that policy.
Wow, this is like hearing some "G.I. Jane" stuff. She definitely deserves her hero's welcome.
And cabaker... I don't feel silly for doing what I was doing at 19. I wouldn't be doing this to go to college.
18Wonderful, thank you for serving our country! what an amazing woman!
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