OLIVER NORTH
Posted on 10/25/2007 9:12:10 PM PDT by jazusamo
Friday, October 26, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Quick: Name a movie star, a noted celebrity, a great athlete and a radio or TV personality. When I posed these queries to some nice Americans this week, I got answers such as: "Russell Crowe," "Paris Hilton," "Britney Spears," "quarterback Tom Brady," "Curt Schilling of the Red Sox," "Tiger Woods" and "Rush Limbaugh."
Now: Can you name a contemporary American hero? Only two of the dozen or so people I challenged came up with, "Navy SEAL Michael Murphy." That says a lot about what our mainstream media thinks is important.
Last month, during a prime-time telecast of the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, actor James Spader and actress Sally Field were honored for their "dramatic portrayals" of fictional characters. In December, the 30th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will be broadcast on prime-time TV so we can pay tribute to "daring" entertainers such as Steve Martin, Diana Ross and Martin Scorsese. Then there are the Country Music Association Awards, the Tony Awards and, of course, the Oscars. Even the best television commercials are celebrated with the ultimate recognition of appreciation -- prime-time network television coverage and front-page newsprint. This week, in her daily "Katie's Notebook" radio broadcast, Katie Couric described those who get colonoscopies as her heroes.
Katie is wrong. Heroes are people who put themselves at risk for the benefit of others. They are selfless. Talented actors, movie stars, Hollywood celebs and winning athletes might make great entertainment, but for people who are really dramatic, people who accomplish real feats of daring, try the names Paul Ray Smith, Jason Dunham and Michael Murphy.
Thanks to our mainstream media, most Americans haven't the foggiest idea who these remarkable men were, what they did or where they did it. The word "were" is important because each of these men is dead. They were all in the prime of life when they died fighting terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each of them has a story that would make a blockbuster Hollywood film, which most likely will never be made. Each of them lost his life trying to save the lives of others. Each of them is a real American hero -- honored for "gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" with the highest tribute and most prestigious decoration that our nation's military can bestow on an individual: the Medal of Honor. Sadly, few outside their families and a small circle of friends know who they were and what they did.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith was 33 when he was mortally wounded on April 4, 2003, near Baghdad International Airport. "In total disregard for his own life," Smith braved "withering enemy fire" to repel an attack by more than 100 heavily armed fedayeens and saved the lives of scores of his soldiers.
Cpl. Jason Dunham was a 22-year-old squad leader in Karabilah, Iraq. On April 14, 2004, while grappling with a suspected insurgent after an ambush, the terrorist released a hand grenade. "Without hesitation, Cpl. Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body." His ultimate and selfless act of bravery "saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines."
Lt. Michael Murphy was 29, a Navy SEAL, leading a four-man team in the mountains of Afghanistan's Kunar province on June 28, 2005. When they were surrounded and engaged by more than 30 Taliban terrorists, every man was gravely wounded during a two-hour-long gunfight. Yet "in the face of almost certain death," Murphy fought his way to an exposed position to radio for help and then fought on until he was mortally wounded.
After presenting the Medal of Honor to Murphy's parents at the White House this week, President Bush said, "With this medal, we acknowledge a debt that will not diminish with time -- and can never be repaid." Unfortunately, thanks to our mainstream media, most Americans don't even know about this debt or the heroes to which it is owed. Though Michael Murphy was a native of Long Island, N.Y., The New York Times, which proudly boasts "all the news that's fit to print," gave limited coverage to the award.
In this war, courage isn't the only thing that doesn't get the coverage it deserves. The potentates of the press virtually ignored this week's announcement from Baghdad by Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno and Iraqi Lt. Gen. Abboud Qanbar that since June, terrorist attacks have dropped by 59 percent; that casualties from improvised explosive devices are down 80 percent; that sectarian violence is off by 72 percent; that there has been an 81 percent drop in Iraqi civilians killed.
Last week, there were no coalition casualties -- Iraqi or American -- in Anbar province. Just a year ago, this was the main base for al-Qaida and the bloodiest place in Mesopotamia. Having spent six of my eight trips to Iraq in Anbar, this is great news. But what am I thinking? Good news from Iraq or Afghanistan -- or about heroes like Paul Ray Smith, Jason Dunham and Michael Murphy who fight there -- is no news.
Oliver North is the founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance and author of The Assassins .
Paul Ray Smith, Jason Dunham, Michael Murphy
Ollie North is spot on. And the MSM and Democrats are foaming at the mouth.
Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, US Army
Corporal Jason Dunham, US Marine Corps
Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy, US Navy
These are true American heroes.
Thank you, SJ.
You’re fast, I was just working on that too.
I've been doing research on Medal of Honor recipients for a book I'm working on. Many of their exploits are astounding beyond belief. From the first recipient, Private Jacob Parrott of the 33rd Ohio Infantry for his actions during the Great Locomotive Chase, to the latest, Lieutenant Michael Murphy of the US Navy SEALS for his exploits in the mountains of Afghanistan, all of these men (and one woman) are worthy of honor and praise.
Your book endeavor sounds interesting and rewarding. If you have any kind of a list of people to notify when it’s completed I would appreciate you adding me to it and good luck with it.
B T T T
Great piece. Another American hero: Oliver North.
Spot on. Once again, Ollie has hit the nail on the head.
If you’re ever in Indianapolis, be sure and visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial which is close to the RCA Dome. It was dedicated on May 29,1999. I was in attendance at the Indy 500 when they had 96 of the living recipients at the race. It was an awesome sight, especially when the B2 flew over. At the time, there were 3436 recipients honored with a description of their actions which earned them the medal.
God bless these brave heroes including Oliver North!
Yep.
We also get to see surviving Medal of Honor recipients at the annual reunions.
Amazing bunch of men.
Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty (Hardcover)
by Peter Collier (Author), Nick Del Calzo (Photographer)
Beyond Glory (Hardcover)
by Larry Smith (Author), Eddie Adams (Author), Norman Schwarzkopf (Author)
Above And Beyond (Hardcover)
by Barrett Tillman (Author)
Americas Medal of Honor Recipients by U. s. Government Printing Office
Aside from having Berry Gordy's illegitimate kid, what has Diana Ross done that makes hera "daring" entertainer?
I agree totally, pissant.
He certainly has, DieHard.
Thank you all for the info and links.
Each of the celebrities he mentioned have “people” and organizations whose sole job is to keep them in the public eye in order to sell a product. Heroes generally don’t hire publicists and generally don’t have a product to sell.
Stated another way, celebrities are almost always a commodity, heroes generally are not.
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