Posted on Jan 1, 2014
SPC William Wambolt
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As a old vet I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who volunteers to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, especially during the past decade or more. However, there was a time when the term "HERO" was reserved for an individual who distinguished themselves in some way.

Today listening to the media it seems like when you a hero for enlisting. Is this an over compensation for the way the public treated Viet Nam Vets? 

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Cpl Glynis Sakowicz
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I am in no way a hero, but I am the daughter of two... my mother lost her first husband on the USS Arizona, then joined the Navy to accomplish something with her grief.  My father was a Marine, who survived the south Pacific from Guadalcanal onwards, recieving 3 purple hearts, and outliving five units.
   To me, a hero is a person who is absolutely terrified, but does what is needed anyway, because someone has to.   Just my opinion, of course.
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SGT William Howell
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Edited >1 y ago
I really think it is when you stick you hand up in the air and swear you would give up your life for your country.

When talking about heroes we used to think of Chesty Puller or Audie Murphy. In this day, no child could even tell you who these people are...who am I kidding, most adults have no clue.

People no longer sacrifice for our country. They think that the US owes them something, not that we owe our country for the freedoms we have been given. Military service was required in my family. My father and i never argued about it. It was accepted as my passage to becoming a citizen and a man. Now kids think it is public service if they protest about something that they have no real facts about because they heard about it on the news.

A kid strait out of high school that hears the calling of his country and joins to defend her is a hero in my book.
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SGT Thomas Lucken
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William, to a degree I think your right, that the term is used to compensate our Vietnam Vets and maybe the Korean War vets!  I say that, because it has been our society's way:  "Lets remember those served WWII and those that have served OEF and OIF"  But the ones in-between are forgotten! 

Our military personal for the past 68 years since the end of WWII, have been thrown into many military incursions that have been forgotten or over shadowed by the fore mention!  

Cold War veterans have already been forgotten!  Those that served on the borders of the old Soviet Bloc countries or on the DMZ in Korea.  Or in Kosovo, Beruit, El Savador, and so forth.  Those that served in Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm. 

So back to the original question, I think Hero should apply to those that are serving and have served!  Our military is the most deployed military in the world and has been since WWII.  Our Troops are depended on being the protectors of the world and not just the US.  So yes again, anyone who has served and is serving should be heros!  Because about 95 percent of Americans have not served and don't know the reality of serving.
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SGT William Howell
SGT William Howell
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I really do not understand why Korea and Vietnam vets are so overlooked. Two brutal wars. You are heroes to us Iraq and Afghanistan guys. I truly thank you for your service!
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SGT Thomas Lucken
SGT Thomas Lucken
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William, as of this week I have jumped into a venture to bring awareness to our Vietnam Vets to start with! And looking to expand it down the road to other areas.

We are looking to build a Firebase Museum, based on Vietnam Firebases! There is only one in the country currently and that is in South Carolina! We look to be the 2nd one here in a couple of years! We have the knowledge and manpower to do it, and I am working on land acquisition for it.

We have several Afghanistan Vets who are/were Engineers that want to do it!

I think it is a idea and many others do also. A friend of mine who I have done events with, called me Monday night and several us sat down Tuesday and have discussed where to go.
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SGT William Howell
SGT William Howell
>1 y
That is a great idea. I have never seen a firebase that was not built out of hescos. I think that I would make the trip to see it.
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SGT Thomas Lucken
SGT Thomas Lucken
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Thanks William, gonna take a couple of years to get organized and raise the funds and do it.
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