As Democrats worked to convince Americans our GIs can’t win, General Peter Pace went to Fort Wainright, Alaska, to award the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Stephen Sanford. The military account, citing the award citation, says that on November 19, 2005, Private Sanford displayed “extraordinary courage during the evacuation of casualties from a home in Mosul while under intense enemy fire.”

“Although shot in the leg during his squad’s initial assault attempt, [Sanford] still accompanied his squad during its second assault. Once inside the house, Sanford provided a heavy volume of suppressive fire while the casualties were evacuated. He continued to engage the enemy while escorting wounded soldiers from the house. … Sanford returned to the house a second time to provide covering fire for the final withdrawal of casualties. When the last soldier leaving the house was shot in the neck, Sanford began performing CPR. Sanford was shot twice more in the back while trying to revive the other soldier. He returned fire and killed an insurgent while receiving two more potentially fatal gunshot wounds, the citation stated. He continued returning fire while helping his wounded comrade until he was incapacitated by his own loss of blood.”

The award show everyone was watching last night was the Oscars. But amid all the celebration of actors playing heroes on the silver screen, let us take at least a moment to remember the genuine article — like Stephen Sanford of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, United States Army.