Hero is an overused word by the press, what really makes a hero in military terms?

Answer 1

Someone who does something couragous for the benefit of others.

to the above poster, if dying was a prerequisite to be a HERO, then Sgt York and Audie Murphy would never have won the MoH.....

Answer 2

Good question.

Personally I would class a "hero" as my mate next to me - someone I know I can trust with my life... which makes each one of us a "hero" militarily speaking.

Words like this mean nothing to us.. tomorrow's chip paper.

Being able to TRUST someone explicitly and know that your back is covered when you walk out of those gates everyday is what gets us through the day.

Should the **** hit the fan, we know OUR hero will do the right thing for US.. (even if he can't work miracles and have me repatriated under the Welsh Flag..) at least he'll make sure I AM repatriated.

Answer 3

I agree. For example...Jessica Lynch. NOT a hero.

Here is an example. this Marine was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq. He and only one other person have been awarded the medal in this war. Unlike the word hero, this medal is not something easily given.

"On April 14, 2004, 3 days after Easter Sunday, Corporal Dunham was manning a checkpoint in Karabilah, Iraq, when an insurgent leapt from his car and began choking Corporal Dunham. A scuffle ensued as two Marines approached to help. Reportedly, the last words from Corporal Dunham were, “No, No. Watch his hand.” Suddenly, the insurgent dropped a grenade. Corporal Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, dropped to the ground, and covered the explosive as best he could.

The blast seriously wounded all 3 Marines. Eight days later, Corporal Jason L. Dunham died at Bethesda Naval Hospital from wounds he received in the incident. He was 22.

Corporal Dunham made the ultimate sacrifice, and in doing so saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Due to his actions on that fateful day, Corporal Dunham has been awarded the Medal of Honor."

Answer 4

OK what makes a HERO ....

you have two kinds of HERO...

1)the HERO who is still alive...
this is a man or woman who did something in the line of fire which caused a risk to his life but saved life's by the actions taken by himself..putting his life on the line for others without thinking about his safety.


2)the HERO who is dead...
this is a man or woman who did something in the line of fire which caused the death of himself but in the long run saved more life's.. so this was putting his life on the line knowing more then likely knowing he/she was not going to make it.

Answer 5

Hero is not a present military word, but it use to mean an elite fighter as far as the Greeks were concerned.

Answer 6

I think the word Hero stands for those that put that military uniform one last time in the States stand and kiss there loved ones goodbye, and get on that plane for a year to stand up for our freedom...

Answer 7

During my time as a First Sergeant - I regarded every one of my soldiers as heros.

A hero is somebody who is willing to take a personal risk in order to do the right thing.

Answer 8

A Hero is someone who without any thought to his own safety will risk his life for others .

Answer 9

you will never ever hear a military person refer to himsef/herself as a hero...Can only speak from my experience as a Marine wife, when people say to my husband that he's a hero, he simply replies... "it's my job,and I did it to the best of my ability." The press needs to see the real heros left behind are at home.

I'm not at all taking away from what our military is doing. but if you would ask them they would say the same thing.. the heros are left behind.

Answer 10

A hero is an undefinable combatatant,he/she may be a life taker ,a lifesaver ,he/she may be courageous under fire ,he/she may show courage under pain or stress ,perhaps even under interrogation ,heroism ,is a trait that is from the soul of the individual.None of the so called Iraqi hostages has shown any of this except courage under questioning of a fee paying press,cowards every one of themj ,during the first world war they would have been shot or imprisoned for lack of fortitude,gutless wonders every one.