Here are some photos of our female warfighters receiving medals for their work.

Spc. Tiara Winn, Task Force 34, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, S1/human resource specialist, is awarded an army commendation service medal for her achievements during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, April 22. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed United Forces of the United States who distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Spc. Winn is a native of St. Paul, Minn. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Spc. Jenaye Hoke, Task Force 34 INTEL analyst from Farmington, Minn., received an Army Commendation Medal at an award ceremony at Joint Base Balad, Iraq on April 20. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to Soldiers who distinguish themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Spc. Audrey Devries, Task Force 34, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, S1/human resource specialist, is awarded an Army Commendation service medal for her achievements during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, April 22. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed United Forces of the United States who distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Spc. Deveries is a native of Lakeville, Minn. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Sgt. Christina Oases, Task Force 34 INTEL analyst from Fairmont, Minn., received an Army Commendation Medal at an award ceremony at Joint Base Balad, Iraq on April 20. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to Soldiers who distinguish themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Pamela Howell Task Force 34, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, S1/ military personnel technician, is awarded the Bronze Star medal for her achievements during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, April 22. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Bronze Star with V device for valor

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey D. Moe, 2nd Bn., 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device on Feb. 20. Moe heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the June 3, 2007 in Diwaniyah, Iraq. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael R. Noggle)

In front of Soldiers from his unit, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Moe spoke briefly about the night of June 3, 2007.

“I just thank God we made it out of there alive,” said the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) linguist.

More than 17 months later, Moe received the Bronze Star with Valor Device from Col. William H. Shaw III, 10th SFG(A) deputy commanding officer, at the McMahon Theater on Feb. 20.

Moe served as an assistant team sergeant supporting a Special Forces Operational Detachment–Alpha and members from the 8th Iraqi Army. Their mission was to capture or kill a targeted individual in Diwaniyah, Iraq.

While conducting the mission, the entire element was engaged in a firefight with more than 100 members of an insurgent force who massed during the night.

“We started taking fire in all directions when these insurgents showed up,” Moe said. “It threw me back; one of the Iraqi soldiers was killed. It got scary really quick.”

After completing his task, Moe began assisting in securing the area and preventing the enemy from maneuvering on the ODA.

During the firefight, a sniper team moved out in advance of the forward line of troops in order to engage enemy rocket-propelled grenade and machine gun positions. After engaging the target, the sniper team was trapped while one member of their team was severely wounded. The team attempted to evacuate themselves back to the friendly troops but was unable due to accurate and persistent enemy fire.

In order to provide covering fire for the movement of the trapped team, Moe voluntarily stepped directly in to the line of enemy fire and began suppressive fire on the enemy position.

“I just wanted to do the right thing and help my fellow Soldiers out,” Moe explained. “I didn’t think too much about it, I just reacted. I knew things were getting pretty thick and they needed help to get out.”

Despite rounds of small arms fire impacting inches from his head and being shot in the right leg, Moe continued to place effective fire on the enemy until the sniper team was safely under cover.

His courage and selflessness allowed the sniper team to move to a secured position where the wounded sniper could receive immediate medical treatment and be evacuated out of the area.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about that day,” said the emotional staff sergeant. “I thank God that he prevented more people from getting killed or hurt. I hope I did the right thing, and I’m happy all those guys made it out alive.”

USASOC
By Staff Sgt. Michael R. Noggle
10th SFG(A) Public Affairs

Bronze Star with V device

Pvt. Erick Rodriguez, a medic in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, receives a Bronze Star with Valor, from Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, March 20, on Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq. Without regard for his own injuries or safety, Rodriguez provided medical care to injured Soldiers after an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle, Dec. 12. Photographer: Pfc. Amanda Mcbride, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Bronze Star with V device

A joint terminal attack controller has been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his work in Afghanistan.

Tech. Sgt. Jose C. Valentin, currently deployed to Bagram Air Base with Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, received his medal Dec. 22.

The award, presented by Army Maj. Gen. John F. Mulholland, was for actions during an insurgent attack on Aug. 19, 2006.

Back then, he was on patrol in Yakhdan village in Oruzgan Province when his patrol made contact with enemy forces who greatly outnumbered the coalition unit. A rocket-propelled grenade burst over the patrol, wounding two and killing the patrol’s other JTAC, Senior Airman Adam P. Servais.

Valentin, who had volunteered for the mission as a driver, immediately ran through enemy fire to determine the enemy’s position. He directed airstrikes and artillery against the insurgents, silencing the foes long enough for a medevac crew to pick up the casualties. The enemies began firing on the helicopter as it attempted to lift off, so Valentin and the rest of the patrol provided covering fire.

With the medevac safely en route, Valentin’s team started to pull back to a nearby military outpost. As they passed through a valley on the way, the patrol was ambushed again, this time by insurgents firing from the high sides of the valley.

“We fought as we moved,” said Valentin, who recalled being in the back of a truck directing an A-10 aircraft and AH-64 helicopter to support his teammates under attack on the ground. The patrol was able to make it safely back to the outpost.

Valentin was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his decisive leadership during the attacks.

“I was no hero in that battle,” said Valentin, a Puerto Rico native. “I simply did my job under really bad circumstances.”