What makes a Hero?

SPC William Wambolt — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 01:35:06 -0500

As a old vet I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who volunteers to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, especially during the past decade or more. However, there was a time when the term "HERO" was reserved for an individual who distinguished themselves in some way.

Today listening to the media it seems like when you a hero for enlisting. Is this an over compensation for the way the public treated Viet Nam Vets?

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Jan 1 at 2014 9:40 AM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:40:46 -0500

I am in no way a hero, but I am the daughter of two... my mother lost her first husband on the USS Arizona, then joined the Navy to accomplish something with her grief. My father was a Marine, who survived the south Pacific from Guadalcanal onwards, recieving 3 purple hearts, and outliving five units.

To me, a hero is a person who is absolutely terrified, but does what is needed anyway, because someone has to. Just my opinion, of course.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Apr 7 at 2014 5:37 PM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:37:38 -0400

William, to a degree I think your right, that the term is used to compensate our Vietnam Vets and maybe the Korean War vets! I say that, because it has been our society's way: "Lets remember those served WWII and those that have served OEF and OIF" But the ones in-between are forgotten!

Our military personal for the past 68 years since the end of WWII, have been thrown into many military incursions that have been forgotten or over shadowed by the fore mention!

Cold War veterans have already been forgotten! Those that served on the borders of the old Soviet Bloc countries or on the DMZ in Korea. Or in Kosovo, Beruit, El Savador, and so forth. Those that served in Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm.

So back to the original question, I think Hero should apply to those that are serving and have served! Our military is the most deployed military in the world and has been since WWII. Our Troops are depended on being the protectors of the world and not just the US. So yes again, anyone who has served and is serving should be heros! Because about 95 percent of Americans have not served and don't know the reality of serving.

Response by SGT William Howell made Dec 11 at 2014 10:12 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:12:59 -0500

I really think it is when you stick you hand up in the air and swear you would give up your life for your country.

When talking about heroes we used to think of Chesty Puller or Audie Murphy. In this day, no child could even tell you who these people are...who am I kidding, most adults have no clue.

People no longer sacrifice for our country. They think that the US owes them something, not that we owe our country for the freedoms we have been given. Military service was required in my family. My father and i never argued about it. It was accepted as my passage to becoming a citizen and a man. Now kids think it is public service if they protest about something that they have no real facts about because they heard about it on the news.

A kid strait out of high school that hears the calling of his country and joins to defend her is a hero in my book.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 9:10 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:10:42 -0500

A large sandwich, usually consisting of a small loaf of bread or long roll cut in half lengthwise and containing a variety of ingredients, as meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Dec 11 at 2014 9:53 PM

CPL Rick Stasny — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:53:08 -0500

I once heard a radio interview with a true hero from West Virginia. BG Charles Yeager, he commented on being a hero. He said that becoming a hero was easy, all you have to do is out live everyone around you, and no one can dispute your stories. Food for thought from one of the best.