(The Hollywood Times) 11/6/26 – In 2004, 23-year-old Leigh Ann Hester of Kentucky joined the Army. The following year, as a sergeant, Hester was part of a military police team in Iraq. On March 20, 2005 they were protecting a 30-vehicle supply convoy south of Baghdad.
Suddenly her unit was ambushed by approximately 50 insurgents armed with AK-47s, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades. Under intense fire, Hester took decisive action. She jumped from her vehicle and led her team to a flanking position, personally clearing two enemy trench lines and engaging the enemy at close range.
Hester’s leadership and bravery helped repel the attack. By the end of the battle, 27 insurgents were killed and six wounded. Against all odds, the Americans suffered zero fatalities. Hester was awarded the Silver Star––the first woman to receive the award since World War II and the first woman to ever receive it for direct combat valor.
Her story is one of five told in an excellent History Channel documentary to be aired on Veterans Day, November 11. It was jointly produced by the Channel, the White House, and Freedom 250––the public-private partnership celebrating America’s birthday.
The other four heroes being honored are all men. They include:
––Staff Sgt Clinton Romesha, featured in the true film The Outpost, with Scott Eastwood in the title role. On October 3, 2009, 54 U.S. soldiers were in Afghanistan at the bottom of a vulnerable valley surrounded by steep mountains. They were massively attacked by over 300 Taliban insurgents. Eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 were wounded. Romesh and a colleague, Staff Sgt Ty Carter, were both awarded the Medal of Honor.
––Army Private First Class James C. McCloughan, a combat medic in Vietnam when his unit was air assaulted into a battle from May 13 – 15, 1969. With complete disregard for his life, he ran 100 yards in an open field through heavy fire to rescue a wounded comrade. He ignored a direct order to stay back, moving into the “kill zone” four more times to extract wounded comrades. He too was awarded the Medal of Honor.
K.C. Alfred (Photo: Getty Images)
––Navy Captain E. Royce Williams on November 18, 1952 flew an F9F-5 Panther in a 35-minute solo dogfight over Korea against seven Soviet MiG-15 jets. He shot down four and damaged a fifth despite his plane taking over 250 hits. His initial 1953 Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor during President Trump’s State of the Union address on February 24, 2026.
––Staff Sgt Dominick Critelli, now age 104, spent 151 days in combat during World War II, flying a small plane behind enemy lines to provide isolated American troops with much-needed supplies.
Such is the stuff of what America’s fighting forces are made of. We civilians can do our part, by thanking and encouraging veterans, many of whom are in crisis, with an estimated 22 taking their lives every day. We can thank and encourage veterans by every means possible. Let them know this national toll-free hotline is open for vets––and all other citizens in crisis––Number 988.
https://www.history.com/videos/preview-mission-to-honor-a-250th-salute-to-american-veterans
