Follow Up to “The Battle of Salman Pak”

This report completes the article “The Battle of Salman Pak” that appeared in the June 2005 issue of the St. Croix Review.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester who was the vehicle commander of the 617th Military Police Company, was awarded the Silver Star for her actions on March 20 when the supply convoy her unit was following was attacked by terrorists. Sgt. Hester is the only woman to be awarded the Silver Star since World War II.

Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein and Spc. Jason Mike, who are members of Sgt. Hester’s unit, were also awarded the Silver Star for their actions during the enemy ambush. In addition, other members of the unit received awards. According to a report from the American Forces Press Service,

The squad moved to the side of the road, flanking the insurgents and cutting off their escape route. Hester led her team through the “Kill Zone” and into a flanking position, where she assaulted a trench line with grenades and M203 grenade-launcher rounds. She and 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.

 

The award ceremony took place at Camp Liberty, Iraq, with Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, the Multinational Corps Iraq commanding general presenting the medals. Gen. Vines said:

 

My heroes don’t play in the National Basketball Association and don’t play in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. They’re standing in front of me today. These are American heroes.     *

 

“Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.” –Jean de la Fontaine