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WRITE ON WEDNESDAY
ON THE WORD HERO
This past week’s release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to US forces in eastern Afghanistan prompted a lot of debate and comments regarding what a military hero is. Did the soldier walk off his post? Is it true that six of his brethren died looking for him? With the anniversary of D Day approaching, the word hero is getting scrutiny. Today’s “Write On Wednesday” comes from a regular LuLac reader and Viet Nam War veteran. We welcome your comments.
Here we go again with that word Hero. The serviceman recently released is not a Hero and what he really is at this point is undetermined. It is best to let it play out.
All who serve are not heroes. Audie Murphy and Gino Merli were Heroes.
I was in a Combat Zone for 365 days. I saw two heroic acts in that time. Neither committed by me. That’s one every six months where opportunities presented themselves. Of those two only one received a medal for his actions. The other insisted he only did what any good soldier would have done and he sincerely did not want a decoration. He just wanted to finish his tour and go home.
As a former serviceman I am getting damned tired of the constant references to all as Heroes and equally sick of hearing about Post Traumatic Stress. Anyone who ever served in a Combat Zone has some form of Post Traumatic Stress. Simply put, you see things you just are not prepared to deal with. Some really have good reason. Many use it as an excuse for failure. Most find a way to handle it. Trust me, Heroes are rare, but real. A young Sergeant in my outfit went into a burning helicopter not once, not twice, but three times in an effort to rescue fellow soldiers. All three were dead, but that didn’t change or alter the courage of the act. He was a Hero. I didn’t like the guy, but I will never forget him.