Heroes, veterans, and those who serve - revisited

2014-08-15T12:05:49-04:00

I think some service members and veterans feel that "hero" has a meaning that far exceeds what we do each day, I know I do. Somehow, to describe SGT York, Audie Murphy, NYC Firemen on 911, and me as "heroes" cheapens what all those other guys did. I was in in the Pentagon on 9/11; what did I do? Got myself out of the building and made sure my partially sighted co-worker was able to get home safely. Was that heroic? I sure don't think so.

I deployed to Bahrain (not even remotely dangerous at the time, unless you count the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption). We had a LT who volunteered twice to go TDY to Iraq to brief the MND on Iraqi history, politics, and the (growing at that time in 2003) insurgency. He never returned alive from the second trip. I could buy he was a hero, in some respects - but not me.

I'm on my second deployment to Afghanistan - the most heroic thing of done so far was confront an abusive Master Sergeant about the way he was treating his people (some of whom were "my" people). Even that doesn't count as remotely heroic in my book; the Chief's Mess trained me to take care of my people and live by Honor, Courage, and Commitment - and the Navy pays me to do it. It is true that many people fail to live up to those values, but does that make doing so heroic?

I saw a t-shirt yesterday defining Veteran as (paraphrasing) "someone who wrote a blank check, valued for up to and including their life" - but does being willing to do that make you a hero? Again I come back to Audie Murphy, etc... - didn't they do so much more than most of us? Isn't calling all of us "heroes" the patriotic equivalent of "everyone gets a trophy"? To me, the differentiation between a veteran and a hero is important, a veteran has volunteered and is willing, under the right circumstances to take the actions that will make him or her a hero. Being willing to do that is amazing and worthy of honor. Nonetheless, those circumstances never arise for most of us (thankfully, since too many heroes never come home alive).

Let's call those who go above and beyond, without regard for their own safety, heroes. Let's call those of us who volunteer to serve our country something else - maybe "patriots."

This article sparked my thoughts and is well worth reading: http://taskandpurpose.com/call-veterans-heroes-getting-it-wrong/

If You Call All Veterans Heroes, You’re Getting It Wrong

As far as what you can give to veterans, don’t bother with the handouts. Just make sure veterans get what they were promised when they joined.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2014 12:07 PM

2014-08-15T12:07:43-04:00

I personally do not associate with the word hero as meant by most who throw it out there. But in a way all that have something to risk when performing their job to benefit others deserve to have the title hero at some level.

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Oct 11 at 2014 5:48 PM

2014-10-11T17:48:00-04:00

No need to get worked up over this, Hero is a subjective title. Anyone can be YOUR hero. My Dad is my Hero, and some have told me I am their Hero.

Now the definition of "A HERO" refers to dead U.S. soldiers incoming on a Helicopter.

Anyone can be your hero, you can be anyones hero yourself, but you cant be A Hero (Unless you gave the ultimate sacrifice)