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As per the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, the definition of "hero" is:
Main Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural heroes
Etymology: Latin heros, from Greek
Date: 14th century
1 a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage
2 a : the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b : the central figure in an event, period, or movement
3 plural usually heroes : SUBMARINE 2
4 : an object of extreme admiration and devotion : IDOL
There's also what the Dictionary calls Hero worship defined as follows:
Main Entry: hero worship
Function: noun
Date: 1774
1 : veneration of a hero
2 : foolish or excessive adulation for an individual
After the Events of 9-11-01, the Media, Career Politicians, many of whom never were in the Military (while others made a Career out of being called one). Have promoted the idea of calling anybody, anyone who puts on a Military Uniform, a Hero. Now a days the DoD hands out Medals just for having set foot somewhere.
Gen. Eisenhower wore few Medals and MacArthur often wore None at all. Now I see all over the Media, left and right and all over the place, young military before the age of 30 with 10 yrs of Service wearing more medals than them. Many of them are even Females. So what's up with that?
IMVHO a Hero is someone who saves or tries to save someone else Life at the risk of his/her own life and well being. NOT everyone, NOT everybody who wears a Military Uniform has done that. Actually the records show that Very, very Few did. And Many, many Heroes are and have been Civilians. Others like Policemen, Firemen, EMT's, Nurses, Doctors etc. wear uniforms but NOT Military Uniforms.
Main Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural heroes
Etymology: Latin heros, from Greek
Date: 14th century
1 a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage
2 a : the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b : the central figure in an event, period, or movement
3 plural usually heroes : SUBMARINE 2
4 : an object of extreme admiration and devotion : IDOL
There's also what the Dictionary calls Hero worship defined as follows:
Main Entry: hero worship
Function: noun
Date: 1774
1 : veneration of a hero
2 : foolish or excessive adulation for an individual
After the Events of 9-11-01, the Media, Career Politicians, many of whom never were in the Military (while others made a Career out of being called one). Have promoted the idea of calling anybody, anyone who puts on a Military Uniform, a Hero. Now a days the DoD hands out Medals just for having set foot somewhere.
Gen. Eisenhower wore few Medals and MacArthur often wore None at all. Now I see all over the Media, left and right and all over the place, young military before the age of 30 with 10 yrs of Service wearing more medals than them. Many of them are even Females. So what's up with that?
IMVHO a Hero is someone who saves or tries to save someone else Life at the risk of his/her own life and well being. NOT everyone, NOT everybody who wears a Military Uniform has done that. Actually the records show that Very, very Few did. And Many, many Heroes are and have been Civilians. Others like Policemen, Firemen, EMT's, Nurses, Doctors etc. wear uniforms but NOT Military Uniforms.
Posted in these groups: 
Military Life
Heroes
Military Life Heroes
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 33
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About as much as I like to be called a baby killer. Neither are true, so it feels like stolen valor to have someone call me that if that makes any sense.
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I often think of the Midland Fire Department paramedic Robert O'Donnell who went down into a well to save a girl in Midland, Tx back in 1987. The entire world was watching this rescue attempt on television over a period of two days. 7 years later, he committed suicide.
I've been a sailor, police officer, and a firefighter...and I cringe at the term hero. My shoulders are personally not strong enough to bear the weight associated with that term. I simply refer to a saying that I recently came across...and I have to agree with it. "It's not that I 'could' and others 'couldn't'; it's only that I did when others 'didn't'. And, I'll have to also add to that: I didn't do it alone. Just my .02.
I've been a sailor, police officer, and a firefighter...and I cringe at the term hero. My shoulders are personally not strong enough to bear the weight associated with that term. I simply refer to a saying that I recently came across...and I have to agree with it. "It's not that I 'could' and others 'couldn't'; it's only that I did when others 'didn't'. And, I'll have to also add to that: I didn't do it alone. Just my .02.
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I haven't done anything to merit that yet, so no, I would not be comfortable with it.
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To quote one of my favorite movies:
"To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich, not some nut who takes on three Tigers."
I've opened more than a few eyes by explaining that in the Army the term 'hero' is usually used as a pejorative, as in:
'What are you, some kind of hero?'
'Ok hero, bring that crap over here and I'll break it down Barney style for you.'
Bottom line is much like a drunk driver, a 'hero' usually gets other people killed for no good reason. A Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, or Coastie, does their job. Don't be a 'hero'.
"To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich, not some nut who takes on three Tigers."
I've opened more than a few eyes by explaining that in the Army the term 'hero' is usually used as a pejorative, as in:
'What are you, some kind of hero?'
'Ok hero, bring that crap over here and I'll break it down Barney style for you.'
Bottom line is much like a drunk driver, a 'hero' usually gets other people killed for no good reason. A Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, or Coastie, does their job. Don't be a 'hero'.
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Everybody that wears or has worn a uniform of any kind is not a hero doing what you are trained to do does not make you a hero doing your job does not make you a hero and for fans sure getting killed does not make you a hero
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SGT Haskel Meadows
SPC Luis Mendez - I agree I've done it all my life volunteer fire and rescue vehicle extraction on top of military service I just used my training not heroics
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No it is a blanketed term that should only be applied to men and women who do great deeds for their fellow man. Audie Murphy was a hero. I am no comparison to the legend Chris Kyle, or Marcus Lutrell. Hell even General Patton. I thank people for their support, but unless you have some serious chest candy, advise people to not use that term.
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No, I hate it. The hyperbole Americans use daily drives me insane. No, losing your engines and ditching isn't a miracle, it's skill and luck. Losing your engines and continuing to fly? THAT'S a miracle. Flying missions against enemies that don't have an IADS or AF? It's not heroic.
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Lt Col John Tringali
SPC Luis Mendez - Integrated air defense system. Basically, we fly against an enemy that really can't do anything about it, and keep giving ourselves medals and awards for "combat time" even though there is less danger in the combat zones than there is flying low level training with a new student. No fixed wing jets have been shot down by the Taliban.
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SPC Luis Mendez
Lt Col John Tringali - Interesting, thanks for the Info! I'm guessing you're Air Force. I agree, the US since Korea is been fighting 3rd world, rag tag guerrillas made up mostly of malnourished, undertrained, under equipped, stoned, drugged and mostly illiterate, except for those who grew up in the west.
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I was a barber (SH3) in the Navy. By no stretch of the imagination does that make me a hero. My dad on the other hand, who was a hippie, drug dealing, protester, in the 60's has saved a life on more than one occasion. Once, even earning a key to the city and an award from the state of KY for his heroic action in saving a girls life in a serious car accident he was involved in. To me, he is much more of a hero than I have ever had an opportunity to be.
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Absolutely not, I hate it. I've done what any of our colleagues would have done if put in the same situation and had been the primary responding element as fate would have it. I am no better than any other Warrior with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star
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