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<p>Now I know what it feels like to have people tell you they are thankful to us and too many times I see a false modesty. Take it from a veteran who was not welcomed before that we do deserve some kind of validation. </p><p><br></p><p>In your more elderly years you WILL reflect and over time I have come to appreciate other older veterans. Some here have a very good grasp of leadership and those pearls of wisdom should not go unheeded and this includes veterans both older and younger than myself.</p><p><br></p><p>As for myself, I do appreciate the kind words. Do I consider myself a hero? No, but that is a natural reaction to being put on the spot.</p>
Service
Heroes
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 76
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I am reminded of a comment from a D-Day veteran, this is not exact, "I am not a hero. The heroes are dead."
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Suspended Profile
For a young woman of my generation with very limited options, I volunteered, did my best to make a difference, and made a difference that was important to my patients.
My patients were very special heros because they risked everything each and every day.
Dustoff pilots and crew who flew on a moment's notice with no weapons and a half tank of fuel often in zero zero weather into hot LZ to pickup wounded were also very special heros to me.
Nearly a third of Vietnam Dustoff pilots and crew were badly wounded or killed in action.
My patients were very special heros because they risked everything each and every day.
Dustoff pilots and crew who flew on a moment's notice with no weapons and a half tank of fuel often in zero zero weather into hot LZ to pickup wounded were also very special heros to me.
Nearly a third of Vietnam Dustoff pilots and crew were badly wounded or killed in action.
SSgt (Join to see)
As a veteran I appreciate what you do. PCP are some of the best. The fire to do their best is obvious. I can feel the genuineness and I feel like others, especially the medical community treats us as human. I feel as your profession honestly care and after a lifetime, it is good to feel and experience.
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MSG(P) Michael Warrick
No just doing my job, civic responsibility and loving this great country in which I live!
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Heck no! And I am unsurprised that so many answered the same way. We're just soldiers; doing our duty for our country and our fellow soldiers. Some do that better than others. Some are presented with greater challenges than others. But we all put our names on the dotted line to serve our nation and put ourselves in harm's way. No conditions; no regrets. I'm proud to be a retired officer and to have served with so many great people.
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SGT (Join to see)
I think that in some light we are heros, I get that we signed up to do a job and that that is part of the job. In the eyes of others are jobs are heroic. To some kids and adults that's what they need to see. As far as fellow soldiers no we are all the same and should not be commended unless some act of valor is done.
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Kristen Cook
Well said and thank you Sir! I do need to rebuttal with a BUT their are those who sign the line for reasons that have nothing to do with honor or country and then there are those who go above and beyound for the country, their brothers/sisters next to them in the trenches, civilians being left behind. Then you have those who sign the line again not only after 1 time in theater but several times. My husband would agree with you completely w/o the but. But he is a hero! He went in enlisted, 1st thousand to jump into Kurkuk Iraq in 07 w/ 173rd Airborne. Seperated in 09 w/ CPTSD as a WO2 Blk Hwk Plt with 2 more deployments, Afghanistan & Iraq. Has lived it since every day. He is a hero and feels like a failure he would of stayed in another 30 & would of deployed 30 more times with empathy, honor, pride and you would have never heard him speak poorly about the Comander and Cheif, our country, military, flag/National Anthem or the mission and defentialy not the military! He don't try to stop me anymore when I refer to him as a hero. He is due that acknowledgement especially since it's taken him till recently to admit he has CPTSD and that he is wounded just as those who have actual physical scars. He is at our local VA CPTSD residential clinic and knowing what he is reliving, the trauma'S & stressor'S that contributed to his wounds not only for himself but for his family! That makes him even more of a hero! So even though you all sign that same line their are those who deserve the hero title. Especially if they don't come back telling who's under the cape! (even if their spouses do)
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I would never , ever consider myself a Hero. This sounds lame but the heros to me are those working 3 jobs and nights to support their kids. Heros are the nurses that take extra time to comfort their patients or people like my dad who pull people out of burning wrecks. Guys who are on their 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th deployment and still trying their best. <br>
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No, I do not consider myself a hero. It has been my honor to serve my country all of these years and to serve along side many fantastic men and women. I have met many whom I would refer to has heroes, but I am not one of them. It has been a privilege to be called Soldier, but I do not feel I deserve any validation for my service. That is why it is called service and that is why selfless service is one of the Army's values. In fact, I am almost embarrassed when someone thanks me for serving. There is no false modesty associated with it. In fact, there will never come a day when I will feel I gave enough.
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I am a Soldier, an NCO, a friend, an uncle, a brother but not a hero.
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Yes, I am a hero...to my wife, kids and family. I'll gladly accept that recognition any day.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
My four year old son came up to me one morning and said to me "Daddy, you're my hero," had nothing to do with the fact I'm in the Army. I'll take that honor any day.
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Myself and a fellow soldier were called heroes for a particular thing we had done, but I do not consider myself to be a hero.
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SSG (Join to see)
Having been deployed with a Combat Support Hospital before, I am not a fan of calling someone that. That was one of the two phrases we used when referring to our fallen.
Now I am not dense and understand that it has multiple meanings and is a good word. Just something I avoid using most of the time.
Now I am not dense and understand that it has multiple meanings and is a good word. Just something I avoid using most of the time.
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