Major Victoria Elliot: Medical Service Corps 

During her deployment in the summer of 2007 to Afghanistan, then-Captain, Victoria Elliot participated in two convoy missions will forever be ingrained in her mind.

In August of that year, her ground assault Coalition convoy encountered a complex ambush with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), mortars, and small arms fire. Immediately initiating radio communications, Captain Elliott relayed location information to the convoy commander. Her actions were critical in determining the enemy’s position and establishing a counter-ambush plan. Her tactical awareness and evasive driving rallied the rest of the convoy forward, out of the kill zone.

In October of the same year, her convoy was attacked on two separate occasions during a single mission in the treacherous Tangy Valley. Experience told her something was terribly wrong when the local children began running into their homes. As the street cleared, the first attack started, and a barrage of mortar shells and small arms fire rained down on the convoy. During the ensuing battle, Captain Elliott’s window stopped a sniper bullet from entering the vehicle. Her team was able to break contact and move out. Just one kilometer after remounting, the convoy was attacked a second time. The enemy directed RPGs and small arms towards the rear of the convoy and an IED to the lead vehicle. Captain Elliott guided her driver, who was temporarily blinded by debris from the IED, through the narrow winding road, and led the convoy from the kill zone.

Capt Elliott received the Bronze Star Medal, Army’s Combat Action Badge and the sniper’s bullet from her vehicle’s window, for her bravery.