In your opinion, "What is a Hero?"

In description, to qualify a “Hero” an individual must do an extraordinary act. An individual must always stand for Justice, Equality and Rule of Law at all cost in private and public instances; specially when opposing the opinion of the majority; even when it threatens his/her personal interest and life. A Hero is an individual that defends rights of the weak, the poor, the oppressed, the underprivileged, the outcast, the minority. A Hero never advertises his his/her good deeds; a Hero does not seek human recognition nor expects a something in return.
Good example is the Biblical story of Prophet Moses. After flight from Egypt, in a status of being homeless, wanted and poor in a foreign land, Prophet Moses aided a village people by moving a huge rock in order the village people to have more access to the water of a lake. Prophet Moses even refused for payment after the men of the village offered him a payment in return. Again, Prophet Moses helped two girls who always were denied and had to wait until the entire sheepherders (Men) of the village and their herds consumed their desired water from the lake. These girls were simply denied an equal treatment because they were women, a survival of the fittest. In spite of the normality of the culture, Prophet Moses aided them without anything in return. Such acts qualify Prophet Moses as a “Hero” an individual performing extraordinary acts.
Nowadays, people do not even do normal good deeds; such acts are becoming extraordinary acts. For example, at the present of an elder, a woman, a child or a disabled person, it requires an act of kindness; which in today’s society has become an abnormal behavior. As a result, civil service, military duty and humanitarian causes have become something to ridicule instead of every individual’s lifetime or professional career history.
In the eyes of those of us who recognize the significance of good deeds and despise being an average tend to categorize a “Hero” to an individual who is doing ordinary achievements of the old times as extraordinary acts in today’s society. When someone classifies a person’s action as “Hero”, that someone is plainly signaling that they appreciate such act by voicing their gratitude.
In summary, I may symphonize with you and appreciate your view; however, we are living in an age where protagonists are glorified for mimicking someone else’s life. In contrast, as a normal behavior, We the very few live by words like honor, duty, integrity, justice, loyalty, and commitment while expecting nothing in return. In distinction, because we strongly recognize that it is an obligation of every citizen and not a preference.
Semper Fidelis
My Brothers and Sister in Arms

My definition is rather morbid. I hear the word "hero" a lot. One guy I've known since elementary school told me his 10 year old daughter saw a pic of me in my ASUs on FB. She asked him who it was. He told her, "that's my hero." I felt honored to be considered such. However, I don't see myself as one. What do I think a hero is? There are some who do not get the privilege to live or survive. There are those who give their life to save others. They are raised up and carried home, then laid to down once they are home. Heroes don't get to live on this earth, except in the memories of the ones that survived.

A Hero is someone who shows up for someone else when their need is desperate.

It doesn't matter if it's a troop with bullet holes through their leg in a firefight, someone dangling from a precipice in danger of falling, or a child who is afraid of the dark; whoever comes to their aid is a Hero to them because they're the one that showed up.

A Hero is a person who is willing to sacrifice everything up to and including his/her life for others. Theses people that are willing to do this are everywhere around us from your neighbor to a stranger walking down the street anybody can be a hero when thrown into the right are wrong situation.

I completely agree with you SFC. However, a real hero doesn't think he's a hero! Lol, I like what one soldier said, "it's not hard to act like a Hero when your surrounded by them!"
My definition: Someone who sacrifices himself for others without regard for their personal harm or benefit!

I think Dick Winters put it best: "Was I a hero? No. But I served with a bunch of them."

I don't like the term hero and I think it gets loosely labeled on a bunch of people. Just because someone serves in the military or works as a police officer, fireman, paramedic or doctor or nurse does not qualify them as a hero. Yet often people in these professions as well as others in service to others, like teaching, get labeled a hero. It just labels someone that thinks more of other people than themselves and acts selflessly. They are also often humble and modest, never seeking attention for themselves. Many have died for others, or just greatly sacrificed for others while not thinking of themselves. Even pilots have been referred as Heroes, like Capt Sullenberger, the pilot that landed in the Hidson river.

Dakota Meyer, William Swenson, William Carpenter, and Leroy Petry are my standards who deserve the hero label. Even though, these guys would probably say they were just "looking out" for their guys they did what most would not be able to do. I met Leroy Petry in Afghanistan and he was the most down to earth guy who didn't want anyone to know he was a Medal of Honor recipient. Well done, heroes, well done.

My wife SFC Joseph James

I am still trying to figure rally point out so if someone is willing to put a question out there and tag everything they can or keep it to the simple. But this is what I want to know who is your hero or heroes why and when. Please tag me to it so I can read and respond thank you