[Dobbs:] And now our weekly tribute to our men and women in uniform, "Heroes." Tonight the story of Captain Daniel Van Kirk, the soldier who led the first army tank platoon into Iraq four years. Casey Wian has this story.
[Casey Wian, Cnn Correspondent:] Daniel Van Kirk had been in charge just three weeks when he took the first tank platoon into Iraq.
[Captain Daniel Van Kirk, U.s. Army:] It was a pretty important honor to be able to know that you're going to be taking, you know, the rest of the U.S. forces across the border, you're leading the way.
[Wian:] Leading nervous troops initially outfitted in protective suits anticipating an Iraqi chemical attack that never came.
[Van Kirk:] Everybody is scared to go into war like that. Not many of us knew what to expect.
[Wian:] They found out soon enough. Van Kirk's platoon headed the third infantry division's charge to Baghdad when the enemy first appeared.
[Van Kirk:] About 250 meters in front of us were two tanks on the road, and my gunner I've got my head out the cupola, so about a vision block about that big. And I didn't see them before he saw him. He said I have two G-72s in front of us. I said, "Are you sure?"
[Wian:] Then Van Kirk saw them with his own eyes.
[Van Kirk:] I gave command of fire at the first tank. Loaders already loaded up a second round, gunners already on the second tank on the right. And we shot the second round.
[Wian:] What they thought were two Iraqi tanks actually were four. Van Kirk's lone tank squad destroyed every one of them.
[Van Kirk:] My one tank facing off against an enemy platoon, basically because we were stuck on that road, and we're talking like under 20 seconds they were the enemy was destroyed. It was just that clockwork, that quick.
[Wian:] Van Kirk received the bronze star for bravery.
[Van Kirk:] If it weren't for those men, first platoon bravo company, none of this would have happened.
[Wian:] Kirk's wife Michele is not surprised.
[Michele Van Kirk, Wife:] He would do anything to protect his men. That was the most important thing to him.
[Wian:] Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.
[Dobbs:] Captain Van Kirk was about to deploy to Iraq a second time when he was called for further officer training. He's now with the army's sixth recruiting brigade out of Las Vegas, Nevada. The results of our poll tonight, 96 percent of you say the president's "jobs Americans won't do" phrase is an insult to American citizens. Let's take a look at more of your thoughts now. Sandra in Ohio: The United States has become an anything for a buck nation in terms of national policy. There is no interest in protecting American workers or their futures by this White House. Teresa in Texas: President Hu is looking out for China and its best interest. I have absolutely no problem with that. That's what he should do. What I want to know is how do we elect him to be president of the United States so we can finally have someone to look out for our best interest? And Bruce in Connecticut: We're regarding the trade deficit with China and trying to get China to purchase more products from the United States. What products? Everything in the U.S. is made in China. And Janice in Montana: Lou, when did Vicente Fox and Hu Jintao become co-presidents of the United States? Bush seems more concerned about the economic well being of the people of China and Mexico than ours. And Chuck in Texas: Lou, I keep hearing the administration and Republicans bragging about a growing economy. Are they talking about China's growing economy? The only thing the middle class sees growing is the cost of living, the cost of gas and our anxiety over keeping our jobs. And Allen in Michigan: Lou, if paying the high price of gasoline results in changing the balance of power in Washington, come November, it might just be money well spent. The middle class needs a wake up call. This might just do the trick. And William in Kansas: If President Bush gets invited back to China, should they play the Mexican or the U.S. national anthem? We love hearing from you. Send us your thoughts at LouDobbs.com. Each of you whose e-mail is read here receives a copy of my book, "Exporting America." Thanks for being with us tonight. For all of us here, we wish you a very pleasant weekend. Good night from New York, thanks for watching. "THE SITUATION ROOM" begins right now with Wolf Blitzer Wolf. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com