Honor, bravery and freedom

Today, I ran across this story about the first Medal of Honor recipient from Iraq (there are none from the first Persion Gulf War). Sgt. Paul Smith was his name and I hope you'll read his story. I've read many stories like this in my military history books and I'm presently reading a new book by Sen. John McCain called Courage,and it recounts a story of a Medal recipient from Vietnam (along with many other stories of courage; some outside of the field of war.) These stories are literally unbelievable. If you saw the scene acted out, you'd know you were watching a Rambo or Chuck Norris movie. But in the real scene, as with Sgt. Smith, the good guy dies. So what's so special about that? Many men and women die in combat. Few will recieve the nation's highest honor. Well, you see, there's this thing about it...(I quote from the above article.)

Since the Civil War, just 3,439 men (and one woman) have received the Medal of Honor. It recognizes only the most extreme examples of bravery - those "above and beyond the call of duty." That oft-heard phrase has a specific meaning: The medal cannot be given to those who act under orders, no matter how heroic their actions. Indeed, according to Library of Congress defense expert David F. Burrelli, it must be "the type of deed which, if he had not done it, would not subject him to any justified criticism."

So, in other words, the guy's just crazy right? If Sgt. Smith would have pulled back and said, "We can't (fill in blank)," no one would have thought the less of him. Instead, he saw that if he were to step into the breach, others could be saved. And that's what he did. Sacrifice. Sacrifice is what freedom is built on. Do not let a day go by that you don't give thanks to those who have sacrificed for our freedom.