Staff Sgt. Tina Resch of Libby

Resch cited for heroic actions in Iraq

A Libby soldier has been recommended for a Bronze Star medal and numerous combat action badges stemming from her ongoing deployment with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

In a recent letter, Col. Steven Williams said that he wants the people of Libby to know that they have "a real hometown hero" in Staff Sgt. Tina Resch.

"Staff Sgt. Resch, Tina Ann, is by far one of the best soldiers we have ever had in the military fighting for us," Williams said. "She has made an impact on this war along with our hearts. Our country and our lives would not be the same without her. You should all be very proud of her."

Resch is serving her second tour in Iraq and volunteered for the deployment. On Jan. 5 - her 28th birthday - her vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb while traveling in convoy through the city of Mosul. The up-armored Humvee was damaged, but the soldiers inside were unhurt.

According to Williams, the convoy commander did not know what to do and panicked, leaving the convoy with one other gun truck and 12 "third country nationals."

Resch took charge of getting the rest of the convoy out of the area, Williams said. A third country national stopped in the road and didn't want to keep going.

"Staff Sgt. Resch jumped out of her Hummer and persuaded him to start moving again, while she had him at gunpoint," Williams said. "They were on an alternate route, and the only one who knew the way was the convoy commander, and he was six miles away and out of radio reach. Staff Sgt. Resch led the way to navigate the rest of the convoy through the city of Mosul."

Following an investigation, the convoy commander was relieved of his position.

Williams said he asked Resch what she said to the third country national to get him moving.

"I asked him if he wanted to die today and he said no," Resch said. "So I told him not to p— me off."

Williams asked Resch how she was able to navigate through the city without knowing the way. She told him she could see helicopters landing and taking off in the distance, and she knew the only airfield in the area was at her base.

"So I kept driving closer and closer to home," she said. "If it wasn't for the airfield I'm not sure what would have happened."

Williams also asked some of the soldiers in Resch's squad what she's like.

"She is funny, crazy, fearless and at the same time compassionate, scary, smart and caring," one of the soldiers said. "I would follow her anywhere."

Another soldier said Resch is hard on them but compassionate at the same time.

"I am not afraid of making a mistake because everyone does," he said. "I am just afraid of letting her down or disappointing her. She is truly an amazing person. We all love her. We will follow her anywhere. We are her boys."

The soldier said Resch has succeeded in turning the squad into a family.

"We also started giving each other hugs and saying 'I love you' to one another before leaving on convoys," he said. "You never know what could happen, but at least we get to hear someone say 'I love you' before we die."

Williams added that Resch was the only one chosen out of 4,000 female soldiers to go on raids with Special Forces, kicking in doors in Mosul and searching for insurgents plotting attacks on U.S. troops. She helps clear rooms and searches Iraqi women. He asked Resch about her favorite part of those missions.

"I am the only one in my company on it, and I get to come back and tell them how fun yet scary it was," she said. "The best part is I make them jealous."