Are Soldiers Heroes?

[Celticgirl]

I just read the following comment on another forum:

"Soldiers are not heroes, never were, they are just people with a slightly different job to do."

This made me curious as to what people believe - military folks and civvies alike - about CF members and whether or not the term 'heroes' applies to all or any members.

 

[MG34]

I have to say that no,not all soldiers are heroes. There are those among soldiers that distinguish themselves by acts of uncommon valor ( ie an act well above and beyond the scope of their normal duties) simply being killed by enemy action or other means aoverseas or at home does not a hero make.

 

[Fusaki]

My mom says I'm a hero. ;D

I think alot of guys get uneasy when others refer to them as heroes. We just see ourselves as a bunch of dudes. Even when you have the odd guy who's done something exceptionally distinguished, hero just isn't a word we use. It just sounds a little too cheezy.

 

[RHFC_piper]

I agree with MG34.

I believe, because soldiers (should) have a keen understanding of the nature of their work, the risks and the expectations, that it kind of dismisses the label 'Hero', with the exception of those who perform tasks above and beyond what is expected of them. A soldier who does the job they're trained to do effectively, even if this is combat, is not a hero.  But a soldier who goes beyond the expected, either outside of their role or above the necessary in their role, is, in my book, a hero.  eg. a MSE Op who drives their vehicle in convoy through Kandahar = not a hero... they're just doing the job they're trained to do, even if they come under fire...  But, same MSE Op convoy comes under fire, a few vehicles are damaged, and the MSE Op rescues a fellow soldier from a burning vehicle while under fire = Hero.  The MSE Op is trained to drive in this environment, even under fire, and is expected to be able to do that job, but sacrificing personal safety to help others is exceptional, above and beyond their role.
With this in mind, an infantry soldier (or any combat arms) going into combat and performing their duties = just doing their job.  But again, if that soldier does something above their role, and as MG put it "Distinguishing themselves by Uncommon valour" = Hero.

Even by definition, this makes sense to me;

a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

link to definition

But that's just my interpretation of it.



But, this also depends on definition...  If you're referring to this kind of hero;

a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments)

Although, I'm pretty sure no soldier meets these criteria, I'm equally sure many soldiers feel like a hero.... But that can be solved with a trip to a deli.

 

[Celticgirl]

Although, I'm pretty sure no soldier meets these criteria, I'm equally sure many soldiers feel like a hero.... But that can be solved with a trip to a deli.

:rofl:

While it's still early, you already have my vote for "post of the day".  ;D

 

[Mike Baker]

Although, I'm pretty sure no soldier meets these criteria, I'm equally sure many soldiers feel like a hero.... But that can be solved with a trip to a deli.

Let's see, you owe me some coffee, a new monitor, a key board, and a bunch of paper ;D


Deadpan

 

[danchapps]

It's my belief that anyone can be a hero, be it the fellow that lives on the corner that keeps the kids entertained with stories of old, or the firefighter that makes the last dash in to a building to save a kitten even though they didn't have to. Anyone can think that someone is a hero to them, and that is the beauty of it. Often the hero doesn't know that someone thinks of them like this. I personally don't think that all soldiers are heros, just a few that do extrordinary things in extrordinary circumstances. I myself think that the father of 5 that was killed while trying to save his family is a hero.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/06/24/qc-huberdeau0624.html

 

[Pte.Butt]

Hero:

a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

  Although it isn't my belief, there are lots of people civi-side who view us as hero's even though we are just doing our job. We may look at a firefight, or roadside bomb in Afghanistan as another day in the office, but they see it as ''exceptional courage and nobility and strength''
  So, maybe some of us are just, unsung hero's? I know for sure, I am not!


edited: for silly typo's

 

[gaspasser]

I agree with MG34.

I believe, because soldiers (should) have a keen understanding of the nature of their work, the risks and the expectations, that it kind of dismisses the label 'Hero', with the exception of those who perform tasks above and beyond what is expected of them. A soldier who does the job they're trained to do effectively, even if this is combat, is not a hero.  But a soldier who goes beyond the expected, either outside of their role or above the necessary in their role, is, in my book, a hero.  eg. a MSE Op who drives their vehicle in convoy through Kandahar = not a hero... they're just doing the job they're trained to do, even if they come under fire...  But, same MSE Op convoy comes under fire, a few vehicles are damaged, and the MSE Op rescues a fellow soldier from a burning vehicle while under fire = Hero.  The MSE Op is trained to drive in this environment, even under fire, and is expected to be able to do that job, but sacrificing personal safety to help others is exceptional, above and beyond their role.
With this in mind, an infantry soldier (or any combat arms) going into combat and performing their duties = just doing their job.  But again, if that soldier does something above their role, and as MG put it "Distinguishing themselves by Uncommon valour" = Hero.

Even by definition, this makes sense to me;link to definition

But that's just my interpretation of it.



But, this also depends on definition...  If you're referring to this kind of hero;
Although, I'm pretty sure no soldier meets these criteria, I'm equally sure many soldiers feel like a hero.... But that can be solved with a trip to a deli.

Piper, thanks for mentioning MSEOps...not too many people know or acknowledge the fact that many MSEOps are overthere performing thier duties. Some, above and beyond!.
Servitium Nulli Secundus.

I would also like to add that all of us who serve; be it an Army trade, Navy trade, or Air Force trade: are trained at some point in our careers to do the unthinkable in an unmentionable place at any given time.  So each of us is trained to go above and beyond.  Whether we choose to, depends on the occasion and circumstances.
Anyone {troops, tradies and medics} who put thier life on the line for his fellow soldier...are definately HEROES.

  for this, we fight   

 

[GUNS]

A soldier who is called a hero is no braver than any other soldier,
he/she just happened to be braver five minutes longer. :warstory:

 

[eurowing]

While I don't personally believe we are "hero's" for serving our country, we, as a whole are far more deserving of the title than many people I see called hero.  My hero's are everyday people like firefighters, paramedics and policemen. I feel they deserve far more respect than they get.  I NEVER see a singer/entertainer, sports star, movie star, as anything more than a well paid celebrity.  If a race car driver or hockey player is someone's hero then I would question their values.  Now, that celeb or star can earn status in my books if they do good things with their fame and money, such as charity work for kids hospitals etc.  But if their claim to fame is just being famous for being famous, playing a game or partying with other stars they earn no respect from me.

 

[George Wallace]

There are many different types of "hero".  Perhaps it is your values that are off.

 

[GAP]

Armed Forces personnel and Emergency Service Personnel routinely put themselves in harms way on a day-to-day basis. The extraordinary examples tend to get labeled "hero" by the media and people, but unless one has walked in their shoes, it is difficult to realize just how hazardous their day to day job is...

 

[Red 6]

My answer to this question may be a bit convoluted, but here goes:

The vast majority of people have no conception of what it means to serve. Most of them are focused on taking, not giving. These people aren't doing anything really wrong, but they don't know the meaning of words like sacrifice, bravery, honor, etc. In that sense, every citizen that wears the uniform of his or her country decides to perform a service that few others will ever think of. Now, add in the reality of wartime service with everything that it entails: long deployments away from home, the possibility of combat, death dismemberment, loss of friends and buddies, and so on.

Our society throws around the word 'hero" to describe overpaid, narcissist athletes, and the antics of rock stars and actors seem to be the role models for many young people. Why not look at and encourage people in true role models? We look back into history at events like D-Day, Iwo Jima, Trafalgar, Waterloo and other epic battles and say things like, "Every man that day was a hero." We consider our forebearers of World War I to be heroes. Who will dispute the courage it took to climb out of the trenches on the awful day in July 1916, or stand in the bucking troop well of a landing craft off the coast of Siciliy, Dieppe, Normandy, or any of a thousand other places mostly forgotten?

To me, any Soldier who straps on his gear and goes forward into battle is a hero. I had to chance this past weekend to O/C an Army unit at Ft Lewis in convoy escort and IED procedures and it really struck me how young the Soldiers were. Some might argue that only a service member who is decorated for personal heroism is a hero. It's a personal opinion and I won't argue with that person. I've heard many combat veterans downplay their own actions, but characterize their mates as heroes. Which is right? It all goes to the viewpoint of the person.

So to me, anyone who serves is a cut above the ordinary and is worthy of recognition. Anyone who goes beyond to place his or her life on the line in combat is a hero just by stepping into the breach.
cheers, Mark

 

[MedTechStudent]

I think that line from "Flags Of Our Fathers" said it best.  Something like "Heros are something we create, something we need to give us strength and aspiration."


Or "Black Hawk Down"....."You guys think your a bunch of heros"    "I'd say no, nobody asks to be a hero, sometimes it just turns out that way"


Even though they are movies I think they are both excellent summations.


EDIT: Wow forgot to type in my actually opinion in it.  Jeez long day.  Personally I think that many many people have heroic qualities, and a select few are lucky enough to do something that showcases that.  I mean a man pulls a baby from a burning building, there are many who would not run into the fire, but also many who would.  So I think "heros" are lucky in the sense that they were given an opportunity to shine, but thats not to say there aren't a great deal of people who know in their hearts they could "run into the fire" as it were.

Curious though how most "heros" don't like being called that word, and oppose the title with the classic line "I did what anyone would do".  I think thats what they like to believe, that humanity is good and they just did the right thing, not necessarily the "heroic" thing.

 

[eurowing]

There are many different types of "hero".  Perhaps it is your values that are off.

In a way I agree George, today, there are many types of "hero" (and we should not forget the heroine). My definition is a person who has done noble deeds, acts of courage or outstanding {achievements (in my view, that is academia excluding the arts)}  So, yes, my values may be quite different from others.  We are all products of our upbringing. As an example, it is unlikely I would admire someone who commits suicide, but in Japanese culture it was a noble act.

 

[George Wallace]

I would narrow your definition down a bit to "people who commit selfless acts to help others".  You may see many of these types around Terminal Care Wards.  Many of them survivors of a fatal illness or disease.  People who have put others before themselves.

 

[The Bread Guy]

So to me, anyone who serves is a cut above the ordinary and is worthy of recognition. Anyone who goes beyond to place his or her life on the line in combat is a hero just by stepping into the breach.

I mean a man pulls a baby from a burning building, there are many who would not run into the fire, but also many who would.  So I think "heros" are lucky in the sense that they were given an opportunity to shine, but thats not to say there aren't a great deal of people who know in their hearts they could "run into the fire" as it were.

Concur - there may even be a continuum of heroism, with the highest level being seen by those getting the opportunity to show, through a specific act, selflessness.

A slight tangent - given the range of this discussion, wonder how Canada Post will handle the issuing of a new stamp in the fall of 2009 honouring "The Greatest Sacrifice - Canadian War Heroes"?  How do you get across the idea of "war heroism" on a piece of paper (literally) the size of a postage stamp?

 

[GAP]

A slight tangent - given the range of this discussion, wonder how Canada Post will handle the issuing of a new stamp in the fall of 2009 honouring "The Greatest Sacrifice - Canadian War Heroes"?  How do you get across the idea of "war heroism" on a piece of paper (literally) the size of a postage stamp?

My guess will be a takeoff of one of the great images of an infantry man currently used by media.....the most common one is of a guy leaning forward in the process of moving forward with all his gear on...(shades of Panjui 2006)

 

[Blackadder1916]

A slight tangent - given the range of this discussion, wonder how Canada Post will handle the issuing of a new stamp in the fall of 2009 honouring "The Greatest Sacrifice - Canadian War Heroes"?  How do you get across the idea of "war heroism" on a piece of paper (literally) the size of a postage stamp?

If it was a series of stamps, 'sacrifice and heroism' could be protrayed by a selection of posthumous winners of the VC.  As a single stamp, a tableau showing an existing symbol such as Vimy, a war cemetary or even a single (standard war grave pattern) headstone may evoke the sentiment.