Bagram, Afghanistan, the front lines in the Global War on Terrorism. Philip Schreier- Reporting

0530: to most of us those four numbers look like someone's ATM PIN, but for anyone who wears a US Military uniform, those four numbers, pronounced OH Five Thirty, mean very, very early. But 0530 was the scheduled start time for Task Force Warrior's Memorial 5K race today, and 0530 is when it started. Seventeen minutes and forty five seconds later, it was all over.

Months of planning, endless emails, price quotes from vendors, customs declarations and finally, flying into an active war zone, all culminated in the amazing speed and endurance of one lone US Navy Lieutenant, an NRA member from Virginia, who crossed the finish line and took home a brand new Springfield Armory XDm pistol.

LT Edward "Ted" Herbert, pictured above, has been in Afghanistan for almost 6 months attached to CJTF 82 CJ 9 and only has two weeks or so to go before he is back home in Norfolk, VA, trying out his new XDm. He already has a collection of Glocks and Rugers and enjoys varmint shooting as well as just plinking at the range.

LT Herbert was one of almost 900 participants in the TF Warrior memorial race today. When the initial email was received at NRA HQ to help sponsor the race, it was to be in memory of two TF soldiers who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Only a few short months later that unfortunate number has grown to 15 soldiers. It was in an effort to honor their memories and to bring some of their comrades together that the memorial run was established. Colonels ran next to Petty Officers who were running next to soldiers from Poland, New Zealand and other coalition forces. It was the largest event of its type ever held at this Air Field that is home to 20,000 servicemen and women as well as contractors and civilians.