From USA TODAY and AP Wire...this story of incredible heroism. Praise all of the men and women serving our country...and protecting our freedoms. Since my time in the Air Force, I have seen and read about selfless acts of bravery...we all owe these latest heroes a debt of gratitude.

"Unlike many, maybe even most of the soldiers on this enormous military post, privates first class Marquest Smith and Jeffrey Pearsall had never seen combat before Thursday.
But the pair of 21-year-olds emerged from the tragic shootings of 43 soldiers and civilians here as bonafide combat heros."

Read the rest online...

WELL SAID

So sad

They are all hero and its very sad people who are killed for no real reason ..It's hard to understand ..

Why are you making them heroes ?. They were either in Iraq or Afghanistan killing weak, poor and helpless peole . Is this heroism now ?!!!. Any one who serves in either Iraq or Afghanistan is a pure coward .

I do feel sorry for you hiding behind a picture ..now who is coward ! Nobody wants to be at war ...

One of the good things about this country is people aren't forced to think a certain way, right? You may not agree with him, but he's allowed to have his view point on those soldiers, just as you are.

Sing, I think calling our soldiers "cowards" whilst reaping the rewards of what's kept our country "free" is a bit hypocritcal and definiteluy ungrateful... I say to those that don't like our country they are welcome to go to another... I'd love to see how the "complaining free thinkers" feel when they're treated with NO rights in another country....

Oh and just out of curiousity, how many soldiers do we think "requested" to be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan????

You're entitled to your opinion. I fought in a war for this country...to protect everyone's rights even those with whom I disagree. But, my friend, if you're going to engage in a debate...have your facts right...or I GUARANTEE, you'll lose! For the record, the two 21 year old HEROES had never been in combat before the shooting at Fort Hood. They each saved people..getting them to medical care quickly after the attack. War is ugly...I've been there....I know. But heroes abound...for a variety of reasons. Bone up on a lot..and you want a debate...I'll go toe to toe with you.

I'm not saying I agree with anything that's being said. I was just pointing out that he was talking about freedoms, yet calling someone else names for not agreeing.

That being said, people voluntarily sign up to be in the military. I'm sure many think that nothing will happen to them, but find out later on that it's not the case. I don't see anything wrong with those who choose not to be in the military.

Wow.....yeah, might have helped had he read your whole post...

Nor do I but I do show respect to those that have chosen to go... I know I couldn't make it through all that they go through and I'd rather not have my son's go but if it weren't for those that sign up, we'd have "draft" and/or we wouldn't be/have what we do now.. I just feel they are owed an amount of respect/thanks/gratitude for doing what most won't or can't do...

I was a lot younger when the Vietman war was in its "decline". (Sorry about the terminology but I do not know how else to describe it.)But I had eyes in my head that showed me how a national generation of peoples treated its heroes when they returned. Men went to a faraway war, a different world from their own and fought to protect their nations interests and died in so many cases for a dearly held belief. Soldiers came home to a nation in turmoil over the horrors of war coming into its living rooms, the heroes had to bow their head in shame and sickness. So few of the American people upheld the returning soldiers with the respect that they deserved. Only in the past few years have the American people begun to understand the sacrifices that were made by boys who went to war and came back as discarded and dishonoured soldiers.
So I say to you, people of the United States and the coalition Nations, Do not allow such a thing happen again.
The consequences are too great even for a nation as powerful as the United States.

I respect them just as you do. However, you can't force people to think the same.

But, getting angry at one person for calling someone a coward and then calling them names isn't going to solve anything. It just shows that they anger easily.

I don't think that person angers easily necessarily but perhaps the military is something they are very passionate about.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion that is very true, but I do think that respect is due to those that keep the freedoms such as freedom of speech and calling them cowards for doing what they are told to do and for being a part of the military that is the significant factor in our freedom shows ignorance...

Decades of soldiers have kept freedom and sacrificed for it so opinions can be expressed...when they fought for it in the 1700's, they didnt have disrespectful nutballs in mind.So ill use my freedom given to me and say, i appreciate every soldier no matter the cause.I disagree with most wars,but ill always agree the soldier and his brother dont care about politics,just doing the job.

Sing did you read the where coward came from ??Here is the quote in question and please read it and you see where the response came from:

"Why are you making them heroes ?. They were either in Iraq or Afghanistan killing weak, poor and helpless peole . Is this heroism now ?!!!. Any one who serves in either Iraq or Afghanistan is a pure coward . "

Now maybe you will have a better understanding where the other are coming from and than again maybe not ...

I'm thankful for anyone serving in military they give up a lot to protect us ...and sometimes their own lives and no one should call them cowards ..JMO!!!

PS go to VA Hospital you will have a better understand too...

As I said earlier, I didn't agree with what was being said. I was just stating my opinion on calling others names when they don't agree. It can go for either side.

Please then go to Iraq, or Afghanistan and express your opinion there...well if they let you