By Glen Meakem
A version of this article was published in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review
November 15, 2009

The history of the United States of America is a history of battles won in defense of freedom.  Yes, at critical moments, American leaders and regular citizens have stood up and successfully defended our people, our freedom and our constitution.  These moments include military victories like the Battle of Trenton during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War and the successful Invasion of Normandy during World War II.  There have been many other moments as well, including the march over Selma Bridge during the Civil Rights movement in 1965 and the rebellion aboard Flight 93 on 9/11.

Many nations have histories of Kings, conquerors, and dominating rulers.  Our history of successfully defending our liberty and constitutional democracy, even when things looked bleak, is unique.  And one aspect of it is particularly striking.  Time and again average Americans have stood up under pressure to protect us.  It is well documented that one advantage the American military had over both its German and Japanese opponents during World War II was a culture that enabled junior officers and troops to step to the plate and take command when needed.  When the captain was wounded, the lieutenant could always take command.  When the lieutenant was shot, the sergeant knew what to do, and when the sergeant was gone, the corporal or private would pursue the mission.  This ability of American troops at all levels to assume leadership and responsibility is a tribute to American military training, but more importantly, it is a characteristic of American culture.

To understand how deeply imbedded this individual ability to “stand up” is in our culture; just remember the story of Todd Beamer and the other 9/11 heroes on Flight 93.  Beamer and other regular Americans – salesmen, lawyers, students, flight attendants, mothers and fathers – were herded to the back of the plane by terrorists who were armed with knives and had just killed several other passengers and crew members.  Did these Americans just sit there like sheep waiting for the slaughter?  No, they used cell phones and air phones to discover what was happening to our country.  When they realized that they were on the fourth plane to be hijacked and were heading towards Washington, D.C., this group of civilian Americans organized themselves and formulated a plan.  They then attacked the hijackers and according to the “black box” recordings, came so close to re-taking the plane that the hijackers were forced to crash it into the ground screaming “Allah Akbar.”  The radical Islamic terrorists who had taken the plane never anticipated the quick, independent, and courageous response of ordinary Americans.

Nine days ago at Fort Hood, Texas, the world once again witnessed these strong characteristics.  This time, 34 year old police Sergeant Kimberly Munley, a former U.S. Army soldier and mother of two children received a report of a shooting at the Soldier Readiness Center Building at Fort Hood.  Munley and her partner, Sergeant Mark Todd, were on the scene within three minutes.  Without backup, they confronted Major Nidal Malik Hasan who is accused of killing 13 Americans and wounding 30 others in the incident.  Hasan shot Munley three times, including a severe wound to her thigh that later almost caused her to bleed to death.  Despite her wounds, Munley returned fire hitting Hasan at least three times, ending his bloody rampage.

Imagine the surprise this violent Islamic terrorist must have felt when he realized he was being beaten in combat by a young American woman!

All loyal Americans are proud of Kimberly Munley for what Lieutenant General Bob Cone, the commander of Fort Hood, called her “amazing and aggressive performance.”  Yes, Sergeant Munley is an amazing heroine, but our enemies should realize that there are millions more Americans just like her who stand ready to answer duty’s call.  Todd Beamer and Kimberly Munley stand as reminders that Americans will continue to win the critical battles to preserve our freedom.