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The moment recalled Sir Winston Churchill's famous line, "Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result," but the most impressive response was that of the Marines and Iraqi police accompanying the unarmed contractors. There was no burst of return fire from the Marines, no aimless barrage from the Iraqi cops. Instead, as the camera continued to roll, they hustled the civilians to cover and the Marines can be seen scanning distant windows and rooftops through their ACOG sights. Later, Marine Gunner Bob Tagliabue summed it up best: "We go to the range. The terrorists don't."

17th Street Police Station: When the call came over the radio, "RPG! Eleven o'clock, Street level!" everyone in the vehicle looked to the left front. An instant later there was a flash as a rocket-propelled grenade was launched -- followed by the command, "Engage!" As the projectile detonated in a pile of sand in front of the Humvee, the U.S. Army M-1 tank beside us opened fire -- not with the main gun, which would have done enormous damage, but with the coaxial machine gun.

The result: a terrorist who will never again try to kill an American soldier, Marine -- or an Iraqi cop. When I asked the young tank commander about the decision to use the lighter weapon on the RPG shooter, the soldier replied, "Yeah, it was the right thing to do. It's only 'collateral damage' when it's someone else's house."

Kuwait City International Airport: The sun was setting as six camouflage-clad pallbearers reverently carried the flag-draped coffin down the ramp of the C-130. At the command of the pilot who had flown the Angel Flight, an honor guard of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines drawn up in two ranks on either side of the ramp saluted the fallen Marine captain.

"Where did this detail come from?" I asked Staff Sgt. Kevin Buckley, who had come to pick us up on the tarmac.

"From all over the base, sir," the soldier replied. "We do it for every Angel Flight. The same thing will happen when he arrives in the states, even if it's Christmas. He's our brother."

"He's our brother." What an eloquent statement about those who have fallen in this war. No press, no cameras -- just a simple, moving ceremony honoring one of America's fallen heroes. As Americans celebrate the birth of the Son of God this week, they should pause to thank Him for giving us men and women willing to make such sacrifices. They are America's greatest Christmas gift.

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Oliver North is the host of "War Stories" on the FOX News Channel.

COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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