Every Day Heroes

Lou Dobbs' weekly tributes to heroes are exceptional and shouldn't be missed. This week's edition featured the amazing story of Jeremy Church

DOBBS: It's time for "Heroes," our weekly tribute to our men and women in uniform. Tonight, the story of Army Reserve Specialist Jeremy Church and his extraordinary heroism under fire when he was a private in combat in Iraq. Philippa Holland has his story.

PHILIPPA HOLLAND: It was April 2004 and Private First Class Jeremy Church was the lead driver for a fuel convoy in Baghdad.

SPEC. JEREMY CHURCH [U.S. Army Reserve]: We started noticing tendencies that the military teaches you on recognition, people not being around, lack of traffic. And we're like, well, this might not be a good thing.

HOLLAND: Quickly, they were attacked -- 200 insurgents with improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles and machine guns.

CHURCH: Two rounds came through the front window and struck my lieutenant in the head. From there, I looked over, grabbed my medical bag, put it over his eye for him, and continued to drive and fire out my window.

HOLLAND: Church managed to lead the convoy back to the base but a quick count showed there were soldiers missing.

CHURCH: When I looked back outside the gates, you could see their vehicle stranded about a mile out. I just grabbed my weapon, and told them that's where we needed to go, and we jumped in a Humvee and went out there to get them. And we had pretty good resistance going back out.

HOLLAND: Under heavy fire, they battled back to the stranded soldiers and loaded the wounded into the Humvee. But there was not enough room for Private Church and another soldier.

CHURCH: I said you guys don't have enough room. Try to hurry back. Me and Specialist Cowls (ph) stayed out there, kept fighting the enemy.

HOLLAND: The Army credits Church with saving the lives of at least five soldiers and four civilians that day. Now a specialist, Church was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry in action. He's the first Army Reservist to receive the Silver Star in this war.

CHURCH: I didn't really know how to take it. You don't really ask to get those kind of things, ma'am. You just be honored that they decided to award you it.

HOLLAND: Philippa Holland, CNN.

DOBBS: Specialist Church returned to Iraq five weeks ago. He's now serving with the 454th Transportation Company.

Lest we forget - Church's mission was the one in which Spc. Keith “Matt” Maupin was captured.

No surprise - Chuck Simmons wrote about Church last year. Twice. And Blackfive included him in his "Someone you Should Know" series here.

Stars and Stripes had a detailed account last year too.