Heroes in Afghanistan

By Larry Stimeling Staff Writer

The bloodiest battle in over a year…… The deadliest battle in a year….. Eight American killed in fighting in Afhanistan. These are some of the headlines from the weekend.

However there was a different headline that appeared on the ABC News website that caught my eye

 Exclusive: Wounded U.S. Soldiers Refused to Leave Taliban Fight

 The ABC report by Karen Russo was an account of the same battle. Her story is the only one that spoke of the bravery and the valor of our men and women fighting in Afghanistan. She was the only reporter to get to the scene of the fighting when she was flown in by a Medevac chopper.

The report states that she was only on the ground about 5 minutes yet she witnessed the bravery and the skill of the medevac team. Landing under the battlefield conditions was extremely dangerous and difficult. 

She was told of injured Americans who were refusing to leave as they were still able to fight.

She saw soldiers giving blood during the battle to help save their comrades.

She saw doctors treating the injured in pitch black conditions working by touch to save lives.

This is the kind of bravery and valor that the men and women fighting in Afghanistan display on a regular basis. We seldom hear of it happening but it does. We should be proud that it happens. Our volunteer military is performing everyday like heroes. We need to treat them as such.

Stonewall Jackson once said, "The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth." These young men and women in Afghanistan are proving him right.

No matter why we are there. No matter what the body count. No matter when they come home. They are heroes.