Sgt. Hester's Silver Star

It was supposed to be another routine mission.

In the vehicle following right behind Nein, Cooper, and Morris was 23 year-old Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, team leader and vehicle commander from Bowling Green, Ky. Hester and her crew saw the RPG hit the lead vehicle. ...

"I saw Staff Sgt. Nein jump out of the truck. As soon as I saw him jump out, I was right there," Hester said. From there, Hester, Nein and company pressed their flanking advantage and engaged the enemy full force.

"On the right hand side was a berm. They were still shooting at us from there and from down in a trench line," said Hester . "So we returned fire. I think I shot off three M203 rounds, and I don't know how many M4 rounds I shot. I know I hit one of the RPK gunners," she said. ...

Hester, Nein and their comrades continued to press the advantage, completely disrupting any plans the insurgents had at a successful attack. After the approximately 45-minute firefight, only three Soldiers from the 617th were wounded. Conversely, 27 insurgents were dead. Six others were wounded; one was captured. None escaped.

On June 16, 2005, Sgt. Hester received the Silver Star--the first woman ever to receive one for close combat.