Intel Soldier 'was doing her job'

Photo By Master Sgt. Jerry Saslav | Pfc. Christinna Viruet, a native of Newington, Conn., is awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., during a visit to Forward Operating Base War Eagle, in Baghdad's Adhamiyah District, Dec. 23, as Col. John Hort, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., watches the presentation. Viruet, who serves as the senior Sunni intelligence analyst, is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, was awarded the medal for helping to dismantle a major al-Qaida cell in eastern Baghdad. Hammond is the commanding general for the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B. Hort is the commander of the 3rd BCT.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.24.2008

Story by Sgt. Jerry Saslav 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq – She doesn't go on patrols and she isn't a medic. But she has saved countless lives and helped dismantle a major al-Qaida cell, while working alone for a major part of this deployment.

For her actions, Pfc. Christinna Viruet, was presented the Bronze Star Medal by Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, the commanding general of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division, during a visit to Forward Operating Base War Eagle, in Baghdad's Adhamiyah District, Dec. 23.

"I was doing my job," she said.

Viruet, a native of Newington, Conn., served as the brigade's only Sunni intelligence analyst for a while. She is assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

For just "doing her job," Hammond, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., awarded her the eighth highest medal a Soldier can earn.

"She's been one of our key analysts here in the brigade, focusing on the Sunni, al-Qaida threat within east Baghdad," said Col. John Hort, the commander of the 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. "Her work ... has led to the capture of nine high-value individuals."

The individuals were members of a terrorist cell that specialized in "sticky bombs" and other types of improvised explosive devices that were used against innocent Iraqi civilians as well as members of the Iraqi security forces.

"We believe that she has saved countless lives by her ability to see the enemy and allow commanders like myself and the Iraqi army to target those individuals and bring them to justice," said Hort, a native of Fayetteville, N.C. "She is part of a great team. Her abilities are a testament to the rest of her teammates as well. I'm truly honored and feel privileged to have some of the smartest Soldiers in the Army right here in the brigade."

Viruet said she was honored to be presented the award, but it caught her off guard because she was only doing her job as a member of the team.

"I'm really surprised," said Viruet. "I didn't expect to receive an award."

• Date Taken: 12.24.2008
• Date Posted: 12.24.2008 05:25
• Story ID: 28094
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ