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<P>I imagine I'll catch some flack for this but here are my thoughts on the subject.</P>
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<P>I really don't feel that we should be called heroes. We are all Americans, fighting in the forces which guard our country and our way of life. But we aren't something that exists above the rest of America. We all made a choice to join the armed forces, even that doesnt serperate up from the rest of the people. There are countless civilians that would love for the oppourtunity to serve but are unable to due physical limitations or what have you. Also, I dont think there are many Americans that wouldn't defend our great nation if it were to be accosted by another force. I always feel uncomfortable when someone calls me a "hero". I made the descision to serve, not because i'm better than anyone else, but because I wanted to help ensure that the values detailed in our constitution for all of us to embrace and enjoy should be protected. If anything the we should be called Role Models, but not heroes. Now please don't mistake me for calling people who have died for our county and their Soldiers arent something special. Even within our own community there are some that might hesitate to jump on the grenade. But those who have, I look up to as something that should be strived for. Someone who is willing to sacrifice themselves for others and their nation is, to me, the epitome of a role model. Heroes exist in comic books and novels, they are based on fantasy and have super human powers. We do not, we just have a passion for service and made a choice to tackle the hard choices so others dont have to.</P>
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<P>Just what i have been thinking about for a while and wondered what all of you thought about the subject.</P>
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<P>I really don't feel that we should be called heroes. We are all Americans, fighting in the forces which guard our country and our way of life. But we aren't something that exists above the rest of America. We all made a choice to join the armed forces, even that doesnt serperate up from the rest of the people. There are countless civilians that would love for the oppourtunity to serve but are unable to due physical limitations or what have you. Also, I dont think there are many Americans that wouldn't defend our great nation if it were to be accosted by another force. I always feel uncomfortable when someone calls me a "hero". I made the descision to serve, not because i'm better than anyone else, but because I wanted to help ensure that the values detailed in our constitution for all of us to embrace and enjoy should be protected. If anything the we should be called Role Models, but not heroes. Now please don't mistake me for calling people who have died for our county and their Soldiers arent something special. Even within our own community there are some that might hesitate to jump on the grenade. But those who have, I look up to as something that should be strived for. Someone who is willing to sacrifice themselves for others and their nation is, to me, the epitome of a role model. Heroes exist in comic books and novels, they are based on fantasy and have super human powers. We do not, we just have a passion for service and made a choice to tackle the hard choices so others dont have to.</P>
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<P>Just what i have been thinking about for a while and wondered what all of you thought about the subject.</P>
Selfless Service
Heroes
Role Model
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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This is a difficult subject to field, much more so for us who serve. If you asked my grandfather who is a WWII vet, He would say no he is not a hero, but if you ask the 20-30 men he saved when his ship was hit by a kamakazi, They would disagree. Many veterans of WWII say they we just doing thier job, As we say now, but the populace dictates us as heros. It is not what you feel of yourself, it is how you are percieved from the populous. You may feel like you just did your job, but to those who have not and will not serve, you are a hero to them, because you chose to stand up and fight for this country. Where they do not have the fortitute to do so. So in essence reguardless of what you have or have not done, you are a combat veteran and a hero to those people, and nothing will change thier minds. Be happy, because I am sure our brothers and sister of the Vietnam era will tell you, it is better to be thought of as a hero than to return to what they had to endure.
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CW2 (Join to see)
Sergeant Major, my uncle has told few stories about Vietnam, but the few that he did tell definitely opened my eyes to what was going on at that point in time, and I couldn't agree with you more.
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MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D.
Well written Sergeant Major! Thank you for your keen insight, and reminding us of how our Nation's Vietnam Veterans were treated!!!
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If you've earned the title, sure. Having said that, I don't believe signing a sheet of paper is heroic. Saving a burning bus full of children, jumping on a grenade to save your buddies, risking your life in a firefight, running into a burning building to save a child, THESE are examples of heroics. Just being in the military does not make you a hero. Performing a heroic action while in the military (or anywhere) DOES.
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<p>I am not opposed to the community thinking of us as either role models or heroes. As for me, after 27 years active service, 5 deployments, encountering some people who wanted to kill me a few times (in Iraq, not family or coworkers), i do not consider myself a hero.</p><p> </p><p>My pet peeve is when our military goes out in public and just because we finished basic training, AIT, and are doing our job, behave as if the community owed us the world. </p><p> </p><p>News flash, <strong>they do not</strong>.</p><p> </p><p>Our young Officers, Soldiers and NCOs need to learn to be humble, gracious, and appreciative of the freedoms that we have, that our predecesors and we ourselves have fought to have and to keep, and the courtesies that our community affords us. Let us not forget that our brothers and sisters from previous conflicts have not being as lucky.</p><p> </p><p>Learn to say thank you. Learn to be polite in public. Learn to represent our military with dignity and respect. Treat our communities and each other with dignity and respect, and that would be a nice first step in the right direction.</p>
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I do not define the word hero. Everyone has their own opinion and idea of what they consider a hero. If someone considers my actions heroic, then by their definition I am a hero. If someone doesn't consider my actions heroic, that is their opinion as well.
My point is there is no real definitive term of what a hero is and it up to individual interpetation. If someone calls you a hero just be thankful there are people who hold you in such high regard and thank them for their support.
That is how I feel on the subject.
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There are heroes in uniform and who wore the uniform. The rest of us are just doing our job.
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As a dad, I am a hero to my kid. It is not because I do anything that I consider extraordinary, but rather that I do things that others consider extraordinary. The fact that I shave made me a hero to my kid at one point in life. <div><br></div><div>Heroism is in the eye of the beholder. I have been uncomfortable being considered a hero but I finally realized that heroism is about the other person, not about me. Whereas I would consider everyone in my company other than myself to be a hero, chances are, they would do the same. </div><div><br></div><div>We are all heroes to someone and we all have heroes. </div>
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I am not fond of the hero talk because I don't feel that the public believes their own words.
I work for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Outreach Program. This week, we are doing a presentation on STEM Careers to 11th graders. Guess what we are NOT going to discuss? The military. The excuse is that there will be blow back. Blow back from the people who call us "heroes" and thank us for our service? Keep in mind, we are the United States Army. I think when you call up Aberdeen Proving Ground and ask for speakers, why would you be shocked if we mentioned the Army as a career? But I'm supposed to buy that these people picture us as heroes and role models. I don't.
This is the big apology for the treatment of Vietnam Vets. I appreciate that they do not call us baby killers and spit on us, but I do not believe that deep down, people really view us as heroes. At my son's middle school dance, Pit Bull said, "I have 'em like Miley Cyrus, clothes off Twerking in their bras and thongs, face down, booty up, that's the way we like to–what?" but, if I say "if you like Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, the military has great options for you," parents will be up in arms. What does that tell you?
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MSG Jose Colon
I understand your point M'am. Our culture, America's culture has degraded to that point that you mentioned and it hurts. I believe that we are at a juncture in history where we are about 50-50 split between people in our Nation that support believes consistent we our seven Army values and those who don't. When the difference is that close, those who yell the loudest, usually win.
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Definitely not me. As a Navy Spook I did some good things and I did some bad things for my country, Why because it was my Job and I like doing my Job and I was good at it. If you are trained as you should be, most of what we do is instinct it is just in a bad to worse environment, critical or disaster situations. I will say it is an Honor to know all of you though.
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I agree that you have to earn the title. Wearing the uniform and making a sacrifice is part of the job. Everybody makes sacrifices all the time. We can be heroes in our own little way. But being called one for the mere fact that were service members makes me feel that it loses its true meaning. Its not a participation trophy.
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Less than 1% of the Population can wear this uniform, some of that don't make through boot camp & some don't even make it through their 1st enlistment term. Now does this make us "heroes"? that depends on your definition of hero. But does it make us worthy of some kind of recognition & set us apart from everyone else? I say yes.
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SGT (Join to see)
To be accurate about 30% of people "can" wear the uniform, less than 1% actually do. Still, there are plenty of people who are willing to serve but cannot due to physical limitations. Should we discount their willingness to protect our way of life? To carry on that point, how often do you hear people that have enlisted complain about the military? We are, on a fundimental level, all citizens of the United States of America. Those of us who wear the uniform simply made a choice. Does that make us Heroes or just somebody to look up to?
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PFC Eric Minchey
Let me ask this what is the difference between<span style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-size: 12px;"> Heroes & just somebody to look up to?</span>
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(Join to see)
PFC Minchey, if I may provide my input?
The uniform evokes images (to many people) of people gallantly going to foreign and exotic lands with a rifle in hand. These people backed against walls with bullets flying towards him. His mind racing as he makes split-second decisions that will determine if he lives or dies. And he chooses to be put in those situations, so that the Common Man will be able to live in peace.
The image of that man is quite symbolic of sacrifice of one's time on this Earth for the security of his nation. Of one's comfort lost as he stands at the figurative front lines of the War on Terror. Of one's courage as one chooses to take that stand so that others will not have to.
To many, it gives the illusion that we are heroes. And thus we are worthy of being looked up to. But does that truly make us heroes? Does wearing the uniform truly make us merit that respect and reverence?
I would say it does for some. For men and women who have engaged in firefights or even sat in a FOB knowing that every minute could be the one where a mortar strike deprives them of their life. Deprives their family of their son, their daughter, their brother, their sister, their father, their mother, etc. It takes courageousness to volunteer to be put into that position.
For others who have never even left the States (I am included in this group as I have still yet to even leave for BCT/AIT), I believe that illusion is just that. Wearing the uniform makes us an easily recognized icon. It is for that reason that when someone sees me in uniform (receive them in RSP) as I return from Drill and thanks me, that I accept it. Not because they're thanking me, but they're thanking every man and woman who has sacrificed for their freedom. They don't thank PV1 Cherry. They thank the countless brothers and sisters who will never truly leave the war or those who didn't come back home.
So I believe the difference is that title of Hero is earned, while being looked up to is not. Have you sacrificed? Or do you stand as an easily recognized symbol of those who have?
The uniform evokes images (to many people) of people gallantly going to foreign and exotic lands with a rifle in hand. These people backed against walls with bullets flying towards him. His mind racing as he makes split-second decisions that will determine if he lives or dies. And he chooses to be put in those situations, so that the Common Man will be able to live in peace.
The image of that man is quite symbolic of sacrifice of one's time on this Earth for the security of his nation. Of one's comfort lost as he stands at the figurative front lines of the War on Terror. Of one's courage as one chooses to take that stand so that others will not have to.
To many, it gives the illusion that we are heroes. And thus we are worthy of being looked up to. But does that truly make us heroes? Does wearing the uniform truly make us merit that respect and reverence?
I would say it does for some. For men and women who have engaged in firefights or even sat in a FOB knowing that every minute could be the one where a mortar strike deprives them of their life. Deprives their family of their son, their daughter, their brother, their sister, their father, their mother, etc. It takes courageousness to volunteer to be put into that position.
For others who have never even left the States (I am included in this group as I have still yet to even leave for BCT/AIT), I believe that illusion is just that. Wearing the uniform makes us an easily recognized icon. It is for that reason that when someone sees me in uniform (receive them in RSP) as I return from Drill and thanks me, that I accept it. Not because they're thanking me, but they're thanking every man and woman who has sacrificed for their freedom. They don't thank PV1 Cherry. They thank the countless brothers and sisters who will never truly leave the war or those who didn't come back home.
So I believe the difference is that title of Hero is earned, while being looked up to is not. Have you sacrificed? Or do you stand as an easily recognized symbol of those who have?
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