From The New York Times:
As the convoy rumbled up the road in Iraq, Specialist Veronica Alfaro was struck by the beauty of fireflies dancing in the night. Then she heard the unmistakable pinging of tracer rounds and, in a Baghdad moment, realized the insects were illuminated bullets.
She jumped from behind the wheel of her gun truck, grabbed her medical bag and sprinted 50 yards to a stalled civilian truck. On the way, bullets kicked up dust near her feet. She pulled the badly wounded driver to the ground and got to work.
Despite her best efforts, the driver died, but her heroism that January night last year earned Specialist Alfaro a Bronze Star for valor. She had already received a combat action badge for fending off insurgents as a machine gunner.
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My Comment: Women have been in the military since the beginning of time. They may have played minor roles .... but they were almost important. The difference today is that many countries now accept them for combat .... including the u.S.
Update: For all you guys (and some gals) who love to look at women in uniform, I recommend The Almighty Military Babes Thread.