Monica Beltran

Monica Beltran (born 1985) is a soldier in the Virginia Army National Guard who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for actions during a 2005 battle in the Iraq War.

Monica Beltran
Beltran in 2012
Born1985 (age 35–36)
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service2003–present
Rank Sergeant
Unit1173rd Transportation Company (2005)
Battles/warsIraq War (WIA)
War in Afghanistan
Awards Combat Action Badge
Bronze Star Medal with "V" device
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
GWOT Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Virginia Governor's National Service Medal
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/monica.beltran85

Early life and education

Born in 1985, Beltran is from Prince William County, Virginia.[1] Her mother is Luz Washington. Beltran lived in the Elizabeth, New Jersey area before moving to Northern Virginia, where she graduated from Gar-Field Senior High School.[1]

Career

As a teenager in February 2003, Beltran enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard, primarily for the supplementary tuition assistance.[2][3]

In late October 2005, Beltran was in Iraq as part of the 1173rd Transportation Company. She had been in Iraq for over 10 months by that point and was nearing the end of their mission; her unit's primary duty was providing armed escort for convoys of military vehicles in the country. While heading to a nearby forward operating base (for the first time) on October 26, 2005, Beltran and several other soldiers from her unit were ambushed by enemy forces using hand grenades, small arms fire, and rocket-propelled grenades.[1] Ranked private first class at the time, she helped fight off the attack as a vehicle turret gunner, providing suppressing fire with a .50 caliber machine gun, despite suffering (unbeknownst to Beltran at the time) a bullet wound to her left hand in the process.[4] Beltran's vehicle was hit by enemy fire, including rocket-propelled grenades, injuring the driver.[2] Fellow soldier James Witkowski, one of Beltran's friends, was killed in the ambush, and 5 other soldiers were injured.[1][2] Beltran's actions helped save 54 other soldiers from suffering serious injury.[5] As a result of continuing to fight against the enemy even while injured, Beltran was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, along with a Purple Heart (for her injury), and promoted to specialist.[2][6][7] Several other soldiers also received Bronze Star Medals for valor; the soldier who was killed posthumously received a Silver Star.[1] The entire battle lasted approximately 30 minutes.[2][8] In October 2006, Beltran was promoted to sergeant.[1]

In 2006, Beltran also worked for Lockheed Martin as a dispatcher.[1][9] She served with the XVIII Airborne Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013.[10]

Personal life

In 2006, Beltran lived in Lorton, Virginia.[1][11] She has a younger sister who was in kindergarten in 2006.[1] In 2012, Beltran was given the Virginia Women in History award by the Library of Virginia.[7]

Awards and decorations
Badge Combat Action Badge[2]
1st row Bronze Star Medal with "V" device[2] Purple Heart[2] Army Commendation Medal[2]
2nd row Army Good Conduct Medal[2] National Defense Service Medal[2] Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal[2]
3rd row Global War on Terrorism Service Medal[2] Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device[2] Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon[2]
4th row Army Service Ribbon[2] Army Overseas Service Ribbon[2] Virginia Governor's National Service Medal[2]
Badges Driver and Mechanic Badge[2] Marksmanship Badge with one weapon bar[2]

See also

References
  1. St. George, Donna (December 23, 2006). "From Parties to a Purple Heart". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  2. navymemorial (2013). "USNM Interview of SGT Monica Beltran". Retrieved August 25, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  3. "Monica Beltran". Virginia Changemakers. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  4. "Va. Soldier honored at Women's History event" (PDF). The Commonwealth’s Guardian. Virginia: Virginia National Guard. April 2012. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-19. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  5. O'Brien, Francis. "Va. Guard Soldier honored at Veterans Center 15th Annual Awards Gala". Virginia National Guard.
  6. Halstead, Rebecca S. (December 30, 2005). "The Bronze Star Medal to Specialist Monica Beltran". Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  7. Coyne, A. J. "Virginia Guard Bronze Star recipient honored at Virginia Women in History event". Virginia National Guard. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  8. VaGuard PAO (April 2012). "Virginia Guard Bronze Star recipient honored at Virginia Women in History program" – via www.youtube.com.
  9. "I just found Monica Beltran in Woodbridge, VA on Radaris". radaris.com.
  10. 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade (July 25, 2013). "3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade added a new photo — with Monica Beltran". Facebook. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  11. "60 Top "Monica Beltran" Pictures, Photos and Images - Getty Images". www.gettyimages.no.
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