Are all military servicemembers who fight in war heroes?

dogcow

After 9/11, I noticed the word "hero" showed up all over the place. Frankly, I think the word is over-used.

Footballers and tennis stars are not heroes. I will even go so far as to say the majority of the people who died on 9/11 were not heroes. No more than any other person who died that day in ways completely unrelated to the terrorist attacks. It was a tragic loss, and they were part of a devastating event .. but they weren't all heroes (outside of the men and women, in and out of uniform, who risked their own lives to save others). I don't think people who overcome illness or mentally challenged individuals competing in sporting events are heroes.

To me a hero is someone who acts in a situation that requires courage or sacrifice, where there is nothing to gain but much to lose. Acting selflessly in a perilous situation in a way that benefits others. Its really more an action than a person.

There are brave people. Courageous people. There are inspirations and role models.

And then there are heroes ... a class reserved for a select few whose actions directly and positively impact the physical lives of others at great cost or risk to their own.
For no benefit. For no glory.

Of course, my husband is MY hero. Though not because he's career Army, but because he kills spiders ... that would otherwise eat my flesh and burrow into my brain! :)

Trader G

I fought in Viet Nam and I do not consider myself a hero.

jim s

A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life."

That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

Buckeye Bill

Heroes are born by accident except maybe Audie Murphy. Nobody thinks gee I'll jump on that grenade and be a hero. The docs don't think gee I 'll medal if I go to wounded. NO!! They do it by instinct and trust me not every Soldier, Sailor or Marine have that instinct. We have millions of brave Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen but all are not heroes nor should they be called such. Have a great day.

Perro De Lava

My personal opinion is that they are not heroes...

What about the person who serves during time of war but never actually deploys to the war zone? Is he/she a hero? I would say no..

Military members are not heroes, it is the actions of a few of them that makes them specific few heroes..

But I understand why civilians would consider calling all military members heroes..It doesnt bother me..I dont think military members go around with a chip on their shoulders because someone calls them a hero.

tommy s

if they are not dishonorably discharged the army and considers them a hero, however some people call dead or wounded soldiers heroes, and yet others depending on how many of the enemy they killed.
I think just enlisting to defend freedom, even if you dont do it for whatever reason, is heroic.

c321arty

Hell no. He's like George Dubbya who got in the Texas Air Guard to avoid the draft. Although their is no draft now, people are still joining the Guard just for the money. Are they are joining the Military looking for the softest job possible. If you were serious they wouldn't be on here asking people what the softest jobs were. There's a recruiter in my neighberhood who never served a day active, except for his weekends and summer camp, who went active to serve as a recruiter. To me he's a joke. But he must be good at talking other kids into being cannon fodder as he just got promoted to E 7. My 16 yr. old son would make a perfect Ranger. He's got the balls and the perfect make up. But I'm trying to discourage him. Oh,by the way I was a Paratrooper in Viet Nam.

wildestfan2000

Heroes are the ones like Audrey Murphy who does something extraordinary out of a bad situation. I served yet I am not a Hero from doing my job. It is one who stands up and does something to save his buddies from harm. I would consider anyone who is wounded or killed as hero's from the stand point of giving the ultimate sacrifice. Either blood or their life.

booboo

Absolutely...regardless of why he is there, he is still there.

Guessses, A.R.T.

â€œThe soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.â€
General MacArthur

Roderick F

Depends what they fought for

Mother knows best!

He could very well become one !

We never know when we are face to face with danger the way that we will react. Joining the service doesn't automatically make anyone a hero , a man/woman becomes one when he/she put his/her life second to others and at time pay with his/her own life . Heroes are part of our every day life if we only looked around to notice them !

Every war had Heroes , the reasons for joining were different for everyone , no one wants to get killed and I mean no one!

YouWishYouWereMe

In the answer to your question the way it states...YES.
He is performing his duties and doing his job in a difficult situation. Agree with the war or not. the guys that do the job the right way and keep us all safe...they are all HEROES!!!!!

To Jim S. - I could not have said it better. Everyone who has ever served put his/her life on the line to ensure that some of the "people" in this country can say the stupid things that they do. to those people I still say...if you are so opposed to the things this country does.......GET OUT!!!!!!!!!

Trader G - The fact that you do not see yourself as a hero, thats why you are a hero. Those who do the job will never look at themselves that way. The rest of us who know what it means, we appreciate you and all others who sacrifice so much.

Astro F

there are no heroes in the military, just pawns...a hero is a sandwich.

sprcpt

Signing a piece of paper that says you are property of the US government and getting shipped to a war zone does not make you a hero.

It makes you a pawn of the government and possible cannon fodder.

If serving in a war zone automatically made you a hero, then every soldier would get the congressional medal of honor.

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