Reply #22: Excellent topic nonconformist, I myself served 10 yrs in the Navy.

[Rebellious Republican]

I was Combat Aircrew, and was also a member of a combat camera team in Beirut. I proudly displayed my Naval Aircrew Wings of Gold, I received a Naval Expeditionary Medal for my time in Beirut. I have other awards and citations as well, but consider those Gee Dunk. I flew on some risky missions and was on the ground with FMF (Fleet Marine Forces) in Lebanon after the barracks were attacked, thats why I was sent there. I never considered myself a hero, my family and friends never treated me like one. There were no parades or homecomings for many of us returning from Beirut. Most people back then did not even know where or what Beirut was. I joined because it was the only way for a poor kid with no scholarships to get out of a one stop light hick town. I was looking for a little adventure and to see the world that I knew that I would never be able to afford on my own. What I am leading to is that I agree, the word hero has been over used.

I was not a hero, like Max Cleland, who threw himself on a grenade. The repubs would have you believe that he screwed up by losing his own grenade while boarding a plane. OK, so he accidental lost his own grenade. Here is what makes him a HERO, he WAS in Vietnam, he saw a grenade with no pin bouncing around in front of him, and he threw himself on it to protect others that were nearby. How many people would simply run the other way to save themselves. Gee I guess if he had a college deferment or was playing soldier in the Texas ANG he would probably still have all of his body parts because he would not have been in that situation to have make a very self sacrificing decision.

John Kerry is a Hero, yeah so they handed out Purple Hearts for getting so much as a scratch while in combat. Again, at least he was in combat, not at college or supposedly zipping around the friendly Texas Sky's. Besides the three Purple Hearts awarded he also recieved a Bronze Star with a V and a Silver Star. Here is the criteria for receiving a Silver Star,The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. John Kerry's boat was attacked by the enemy with B40 rocket, nuff said about that.

Should I mention John McCain, you know the Senator that chose to run against Shrub in the 2000 primaries that they tried to slander. Not only did he live in hell in a Vietnamese POW camp for FIVE years but he also survived a mishap on board his aircraft carrier. Yes he was in his cock pit when a missile from another plane was accidentally launched into his plane, as he was scrambling to get out the missile impacted and exploded. He barley escaped to fly another day for his date with destiny in Hanoi.
These are what I consider military hero's, however like you said there are hero's that are not or never have been in the military. Average everyday people, clergy, civil rights leaders and to many others to name that have put themselves in harms way or that have had to make a snap self sacrificing decision to protect others at there own personal expense whether with their lives or material well being. That is what makes a hero in my book! Good post nonconformist, you make us think, thank you.