Leigh Ann Hester

Leigh Ann Hester
Hester visiting the U.S. Army Women's Museum at Fort Gregg-Adams (then called Fort Lee) in February 2007.
Born (1982-01-12) January 12, 1982 (age 42)
Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service2001–2009, 2010–present
Rank First Sergeant
Unit617th Military Police Company
269th Military Police Company[1]
Battles / warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
Hurricane Maria response
AwardsSilver Star
Bronze Star
Army Commendation Medal
Other workLaw enforcement officer

Leigh Ann Hester (born January 12, 1982)[2] is a United States Army National Guard soldier. While assigned to the 617th Military Police Company,[3] a Kentucky Army National Guard unit out of Richmond, Kentucky,[3] Hester received the Silver Star for her heroic actions on 20 March 2005 during an enemy ambush on a supply convoy near the town of Salman Pak, Iraq.[4]

Hester is the first female U.S. Army soldier to receive the Silver Star since World War II and the first ever to be cited for valor in close quarters combat.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference VolState was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Free Family Tree, Genealogy and Family History - MyHeritage". www.familytreelegends.com.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ArmyHesterProf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "50 Heroes for 50 States – U.S. Department of Defense Update". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  5. ^ Sergeant Sara Wood. "Female Soldier receives Silver Star in Iraq". Department of Defense. Retrieved 16 March 2011.