Is the instant hero status given to the military overrated?

Question

It seems that everyone pours this instant hero status upon the soldiers. As if they all are perfect superheroes who do no wrong.
Simply because you volunteer for something and throw on a uniform does not qualify you as a hero.
Yes, there are many heros in the military, but those ones have earned that status, and generally dont want to be called hero. They take it in stride. But why must we give this hero worship to all of the military?
There have been many famous people in the military. Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols, Jeffery Dahmer, i could name many more. Did they earn instant hero status too?
This is not a jab at the military, its just common sense. Just because you are a soldier doesnt make you a hero.
I know i will be hated for this one.

Ask anyone in the military if they consider themselves a hero. Ask anyone in the military who has done something that is actually "Heroic". They generally say dont call me that, im just a average guy doing my job.

Answer 1

The worst feeling I ever got was being thanked profusely when I was a soldier. I never went to combat, and I never did anything heroic whatsoever. When I got out the Army put that I had earned a GWOT medal. I tried to refuse it as I had never actually supported operations in any unit I was in, but they were just handing them out anyway. I actually do a lot more for my country now as a federal employee, but instead of being thanked I'm called a useless bureaucrat. Life is funny.

Answer 2

I just typed up something on cops a bit ago i think ill just copy and paste it over here

Well first things first if you said in your answer that it "isn't about the pay" your dead wrong. I know that not a single person would be a cop with out a check so that little debate stops there.

Second i don't think that cops are real heroic they might from time to time do heroic things just like any other person can do but they are the ones who are called.

OK and here i go off for a second about calling some one a "hero." I don't really think cops and, as said in a previous answer, soldiers are hero's. Why is getting shot at and shooting back heroic. I think people choose these jobs for romantic sense of adventure. That is not a bad thing at all that is why i joined the Army in the first place. I chose a combat position not to be a hero but to have some adventure. I know it might sound crazy but when i was with the people around me in my unit i got the feel that most of them were like me.

Listen the term hero is tossed around and around some more the bottom line is its in every single person to be heroic from time to time. Is a ball player a hero is a rock star a hero how about spider man i don't know. But if it makes you feel all warm a inside than believe what you want.

Answer 3

You are correct that no one in the military thinks of themselves as a hero. The public I think feels some guilt about not serving themselves and tends to overreact in a positive fashion to the military. This however is a recent trend in the US for a large part of our history the military were discriminated against and looked down on. My dad had a picture from Baltimore taken before the second world war. It was of a sign that said "Dogs and Sailors Keep of the Grass". It was not a joke sign.

Answer 4

Yes. It seems like anyone who gets killed in the line of duty is a "hero" whether or not they did anything worthwhile . There is nothing heroic about killing Iraqi civilians, dropping bombs on residential ares, or getting blown up by random roadside IED's.
I would be glad to give the title of Hero to anyone who brings home the severed head of Osama Bin Laden. I would gladly give the title of Hero to any firefighter who carries a child out of a burning building. Do you catch my drift?

Answer 5

It is not overrated. Anyone who will willingly risk their life for others is a hero. Do some not belong of course. Just look at the hero's in the astronaut program. To put your faith in man is always a disappointment.

Answer 6

When working at MacDill a few years ago my husband couldn't get over the whole 'hero' status foisted upon military personnel in the USA. It's totally foreign to us and to him, it was so utterly over-the-top but somewhat typical of what we think about USA (and American patriotism).

Check out NZ's latest Victoria Cross recipient Corp. Willy Apiata for 'hero' (NZSAS) and three of his comrades (also NZSAS) for gallantry awards. Guys like them are 'heros' as I understand the term.

Answer 7

On the other hand, I think we live in dangerous times.

I think anyone who puts their life on the line for our country
is a lot closer to HERO status then the rest of us.

Further ,whenever you get a large pool of human beings, some of them are going to be crazy. Period. Fact.

Answer 8

you have some valid points -- i am a retired military and spend my time starting in Africa in the Congo in 1960 and was there for several other world wide uprising including two tours in SEA and met a lot of what i considered heroes and just plain ordinary personnel like myself. yes i have several medals -and several scars but does that make be a hero -- no it makes me an American who just did my duty as i seen fit to do.

Answer 9

Perhaps you need to realize they are saying they are the hero of the moment...as in for that particular event; not saying they are a "super hero" for ALL events.

Your question is valid.

Answer 10

Yes. President Bush is the greatest War Hero Ever and he refused to serve in Vietnam.