Senator Obama and his allies in the press corps have been having a field day lately mocking Senator Clinton’s claim to have braved enemy sniper fire when landing in Bosnia. The controversy has, alas, all but drowned out a genuine story of bravery by an American woman in combat.

Meet Army Specialist Monica Brown, now 19 years old, and only the second woman since World War II to win the Silver Star for gallantry in combat. Spc. Brown, a medic, was on a routine patrol in Afghanistan last spring when the Humvee behind hers hit an improvised explosive device. Small arms fire began to ring out. According to the Army, Spc. Brown left her vehicle and ran a few hundred yards under intense fire to reach two badly wounded soldiers in the bomb-stricken Humvee — an “intense fireball” — and drag them out of the way. Now mortar rounds were mixing with the small-arms fire. Spc. Brown loaded the wounded soldiers into a working vehicle that could remove them to await a helicopter evacuation. The two soldiers survived in part because she was able to treat them.

The Silver Star citation says that “On several occasions, PFC Brown used her body to shield the casualties from enemy fire, as well as the explosions of ammunition.” It spoke of her “extraordinary heroism.” We don’t dismiss lightly the personal risks Senator Clinton has taken in traveling to war zones in service of America. But the real heroes in America these days are the young men and women like Spc. Brown, who with their service are making the world safer for us all. Vice President Cheney, in presenting Spc. Brown with the medal earlier this month in Afghanistan, spoke of “authentic American heroism,” and said, “I appreciate the chance to say to all of you: Thank you for what you’ve done for all of us.” Mr. Cheney spoke for a great many Americans.