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I have heard undercurrents from recently retired officers in the UK that they are disgusted with the behavior of the 15 captured sailors and Marines. In a good world, they would all be reprimanded for their pusillanimous behavior. Perhaps they will be.

We hear from British commentators often that the British military thinks the U.S. is crude and coarse and doesn’t know how to work in the Middle East. My response? Our men are not cowards.

"My response? Our men are not cowards."

Here's my comment on another thread about a real hero who fought hard to keep himself and others from being taken captive in Iraq in 2003:

"All I can think of is the incident in March 2003 involving the group of soldiers from the 507th Maintenance, who took a wrong turn and ended up being ambused by Iraqi soldiers. That was the group that Jessica Lynch was originally a part of. I recall the story of Pfc. Patrick Miller, who fought back against his would-be captors, killing at least one or two before being taken prisoner.

According to Miller's info on Wikipedia, "Prior to his capture, Miller had stood his ground firing at the Iraqis with a malfunctioning weapon, feeding bullets into it by hand to protect two wounded comrades. A U.S. Army press release said Miller jumped from his vehicle and began firing on a mortar position that he believed was about to open fire on his convoy."

It goes on to say: "After he was captured, he was repeatedly questioned about radio frequencies that were written on pieces of paper inside his helmet. "Thinking on his feet, Pfc. Miller told his captors that they were prices for water pumps," the release said. "Disgusted, the captors threw frequencies and his helmet into the fire."

From my own recollection, I believe it was Miller who stated after being rescued that he would drive his captors crazy by singing the song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." Pretty gusty if you ask me.

Besides the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medal, he received the Silver Star for his actions. He is quoted as having said: ""It's good to know that you actually did something to save other people's lives," he says. "But for me, as far as people saying that I'm a hero, I don't feel that I'm a hero. Because I feel that I was doing my job as a soldier."