Should Prisoners of War (POWs) be treated as heroes?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:27:28 -0400

The linked article is in response to Donald Trump's comment about McCain "He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured."

Should we as a general rule treat POWs as heroes? What do you think?

McCain urges Trump to apologize to U.S. military families

Senator John McCain urged Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday to apologize to U.S. military families for saying prisoners of war are not heroes, in his first direct response to Trump's remarks. Trump drew a barrage of criticism over the weekend after telling a Republican forum he did not think McCain, a Navy fighter pilot who was held prisoner for more than five years during the Vietnam War, was a hero because he was...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 3:30 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:30:57 -0400

Some POW's were heroes some were not.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 3:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:31:01 -0400

I don't think I am a hero. I think most active duty and veterans would agree. I'm here to serve and do my job, we don't need to be put on a pedestal.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 3:31 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:31:25 -0400

I would offer that I don't particularly like the word "hero." I feel that it is either too vague or too specific, conveys too much or too little. Heros come in too many shapes and sizes and calling someone one is very general. All that aside, I do think John McCain is a hero.

I also think that we need to be very careful how we treat people who are captured. There is a reason that we do not have a stance of dishonor for those who are captured. Imperial Japan viewed defeat as dishonor, and although we don't strive to be captured or defeated, there is no honor in dying for no gain. Fighting to the last is one thing, but intentionally dying when you cannot gain anything by not surrendering is another. Even further there are those who were captured and didn't have the option of resisting to any realistic extent (IE disarmed).

POWs should be honored and treated with the respect they deserve, and in my opinion Trump should apologize.

Response by 1LT Jonathan Cowan made Jul 20 at 2015 4:00 PM

1LT Jonathan Cowan — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:00:27 -0400

Hands down yes, this shouldn't even be a question... Not for what they necessarily did, but for what they endured for out country. If they refrain from giving information, survive, and make it out, then they went above and beyond the call of the typical Soldier

Response by Sgt Mark Ramos made Jul 20 at 2015 4:07 PM

Sgt Mark Ramos — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:07:33 -0400

Trump just made a mess of his entire message. Agreed that getting captured doesn't automatically make a person a hero. But neither does not getting captured. It is the honor in which one conducts themselves. When offered special treatment by his captors, McCain refused to be released ahead of or in place of others. That is heroism to me.
Trump's message was really that being a war hero doesn't automatically qualify you as a good politician. He should have stuck to that.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 4:11 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:11:26 -0400

If they acted honorably

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 20 at 2015 4:20 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:20:10 -0400

Big, humong-acidal mistake by "The Donald" In many instances those POWs that held out and held their ground the best they could should definitely be considered heroes. Only those who fully collaborated with the enemy and turned against their fellow POWs should not be included in this group.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jul 20 at 2015 4:30 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:30:37 -0400

Not everyone who puts on the uniform or is a POW is a war hero. We tend to throw that description around too carelessly these days. John McCain most certainly was a war hero; and Trump made a fool out of himself for saying otherwise.
http://ewross.com/John_McCain.html

JOHN MCCAIN - EWRoss.com

I sat apprehensively in John McCain’s office that September day in 1992, waiting for the senator. In my briefcase were a stack of recently-obtained glossy black and white photographs of dead American flyers missing in action from the Vietnam War.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 4:55 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:55:32 -0400

Montel Williams says it like it should be said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW_-LxD1h30

Montel Williams slams Donald Trump for Mocking John McCain's service

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 5:01 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:01:52 -0400

CDR, I think we should look at each individual case and determine if they are in fact a hero. Some who had to endure torture but kept the faith and trust of our country and did not provide to much information or non at all I consider to be heroes. But on the other hand if they collaborate with the enemy as much as they can to make their life better compared to others then I would like to say hell no.

Response by LT Garth Young (Ret) made Jul 20 at 2015 5:17 PM

LT Garth Young (Ret) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:17:06 -0400

I said it when he threw his hat in the ring and it's proving to be true.....Mr. Trump is going to make the race for the White House fun! As for John McCain & the issue at hand....McCain was not a war hero UNTIL he was captured....it's his POW time and the way he handled himself during those years that made him a hero.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 5:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:36:46 -0400

If you served in the military and willingly underwent hazardous missions, in my book your a hero.

Becoming a Prisoner of War doesn't make you more of a hero than you already are... however honorably enduring as a prisoner of war does make you even more of a hero.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 20 at 2015 5:38 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:38:56 -0400

A Hero is someone who represents the ideals of a society. Overcoming, or enduring adversity used to be one of those ideals. Accomplishing great things used to be one those ideals. Fighting injustice used to be one of those ideals. Running into the breach used to be one of those ideals. Volunteering for Service used to be one of those ideals.

I would love to know what Mr. Trump's ideals for American Society should be.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 20 at 2015 6:03 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:03:18 -0400

Yes. To ensure the hardships and tortute that they went thru entitles them to the title. Like senator McCain or not, he did time in the worst hell hole any of us could imagine.

Response by PO3 Michael James made Jul 20 at 2015 9:05 PM

PO3 Michael James — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 21:05:02 -0400

I have always felt that ANY man , now women, in the uniform of our Country were ALL HEROES, they did not have to be a POW, they did not have to have a chest of ribbons, they did not have to have scrambled eggs, shoulder boards, or an arm full of stripes.. They were THERE, maybe not in bloody combat, but FOR THE MOST PART, they never quit, they never waivered, they stood their ground, Day-in, Day-out, committed to defending our Constitution, therefore, protecting all of us !!! They may have had second thoughts, but only thoughts... AMERICA'S FINEST.. OUR HEROES .. I for one, Thank You..

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 21 at 2015 12:42 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:42:07 -0400

There is a larger story. Just wait. Check DuffleBlog and similar sites. I have earlier understood that McCain did not comport himself with dignity and honor. Release of the POW's debriefing tapes would be interesting. 40+ years later, what Nat'l security issues could possibly present?

Response by CW2 John Brookins made Jul 21 at 2015 9:05 AM

CW2 John Brookins — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:05:45 -0400

Once a word is used to the extent "hero" has now, it has no meaning. Call McCain a hero or not it's irrelevant. Trump will not be the GOP primary pick and I don't think he'd make a good President, but it's nice to see someone that doesn't back down because the media and Washington insiders say so. He stated multiple times in that same conversation that McCain was a hero. McCain, on the other hand, can say anything he wants as long as it's directed at his own party, with media impunity.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 23 at 2015 3:27 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 03:27:11 -0400

Not everyone who was a POW was a hero. Some definitely gave information to their captors while others did not. In fact others refused early release (CAPT John S McCain for example).

Response by SSG Gene Carroll SR. made Oct 22 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSG Gene Carroll SR. — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 16:06:08 -0400

Yes, I think so. They when threw alot of anguish and trouble.