Heroes

April 4th, 2003
Baghdad International Airport

Sergeant First Class Paul Smith was involved in creating a PoW camp when his force of 100 soldiers was attacked by a numerically superior enemy. Realizing the danger this put his comrades in, he jumped to action. He organized a defense, and helped evacuate 3 soldiers from a disabled APC (armored personal carrier). He personally attacked a tower that had been garrisoned by enemy soldiers with anti-tank weapons and grenades. Worried that their defenses would be overrun , he ran under "withering fire" to man the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the disabled APC, continously exposing his position until he was mortally wounded from small arms fire to his neck. He was personally credited with killing at least 50 enemy troops, as well as covering the withdrawal of wounded and endangered soldiers.

SFC Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. He was 34 at the time of his death, and left behind a wife and two children. He liked cats, skateboarding, and football, among other things. This was his second time in the region (the first being Kuwait in 1991). He had also been in Kosovo and Bosnia. In the last letter that Paul Ray wrote to the parents from Iraq, he told them '..now that he was a father himself, he realized just how much they had sacrificed to make his life a good life and he thanked them for that special effort.' He spoke of being prepared to give—as he said—'all that I am, to ensure that all my boys make it home.'

He did. SFC Smith was the only soldier to die during that battle.

April 2004
Near the Syrian Border, Iraq

Corporal Dunham was on patrol with his comrades when they met a convoy of vehicles leaving the scene of an attack on fellow marines. One of the occupants attacked Dunham, and as Dunham scuffled with the insurgent he yelled, "No! No! Watch his hands!" to his squadmates. At this point, the insurgent dropped a grenade. Without hesitation, Cpl. Dunham jumped on the grenade, covering it with his helmet. The resulting explosion left him critically wounded, but saved the lives of his friends. He died eight days later in a Maryland hospital. Corporal Dunham would have turned 25 years old today. He recently had extended his enlistment and volunteered to stay in the fight.

"All he wanted to do was make sure his boys came home." Lance Corporal Mark E. Dean. Cpl. Dunham will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

September 29th, 2006
Ramadi, West of Baghdad

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael "Mikey" A. Monsoor was in a rooftop hideout providing sniper security while working in conjuction with Iraqi security forces. He was near the only door when a grenade flew through the opening and bounced off of his chest, landing on the floor in front of him. Instantly he threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the main blast with his body. Two other seals were injured, and another was unhurt. A 28 year old Lieutenant was quoted as saying, "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him." This SEAL suffered shrapnel to his leg. His brother and father were both former Marines.

He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for previous actions where he pulled a wounded SEAL to safety under enemy fire, and undoubtedly will be the third member of our Armed forces to be awarded with the Medal of Honor for his sacrifice that day. He was 25 years old.

These men, along with countless other unrecognized acts of courage and sacrifice, make up the bulk of our armed forces. As much of an honor as the Medal of Honor is, Paul Smith's wife won't be able to cuddle up to its warmth on a cold night, nor will it be able to teach his son how to throw a football. Medals won't be able to trade war stories with Mikey's father and brother over a glass of whisky. They will never replace these brave men, but they will honor their lives, and the sacrifices of all men, women, and families who have given up years of their lives to deal with this on a daily basis.

There is nothing we can do to bring them back, and there is nothing we can do to truly show our thanks to them. This is heroics. It is not run and gun, I'm a glorious hero I'll save the day and get the girl. It is Ms. Smith's empty bed. It's Audie Murphy's springboard to fame. It's Ira Hayes' slip into alcoholism. It is the embodiment of not just the actions, but the results and consequences thereafter. The good, the bad, the tears, and the lonely nights.

As you push your politics and policies like drugs, from the left or right, think about the brave men and women who carry them out. Let them fight like they need to fight, and give them the support they need. Tomorrow we will pass another Veteran's Day, a day that is close to my heart. I will call my father, and thank him.

To those of you that know anyone who's served, remember this, and take a moment to let them know we appreciate it. To any who have served and read this, thank you.