Defining a Hero

[MarkInCA]

Let me start off by stating that I do not intend to diminish in any way the torture that John McCain went through for five plus years of captivity in Vietnam. However, I can’t see how that makes him qualified to lead our country.

As I follow the election I often hear about John McCain being a hero because he spent 5 plus years in a POW camp. It seems to be the answer to every uncomfortable question that McCain is faced with. As I try to understand why he is a hero I keep coming back to the question “What is a hero?”

The primary definition of a hero according to Merriam-Webster is:
a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability
b: an illustrious warrior
c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities
d: one that shows great courage

I think we can eliminate “a”, we can all agree that John McCain is not mythological or legendary.
Definition “b” uses the word “illustrious” which is defined as notably or brilliantly outstanding because of dignity or achievements or actions. OK, I had to think about this one. Was John McCain’s time in prison notable or brilliantly outstanding? There were many POWs who endured exactly what John McCain did, but don’t seek the national spotlight and use it to try and advance their career. If he was still alive, ask Floyd James Thompson who spent 10 days short of 10 years as a POW in Vietnam. I do not intend to diminish in any way the hell that John McCain went through for five plus year (I would have caved on day one) but I can’t see it as “notably or brilliantly outstanding.” Often it is mentioned that he heroically refused to be released because others had been there longer than him. This isn’t heroic, it is following the United States Military Code of Conduct. This code also states in section 6.V.d: “Actions every POW should resist include making oral or written confessions and apologies.” Oops John.

Regarding “c”, first what did he achieve? He got shot down while on a mission. Then he was captured. He survived his detention. Maybe the guy who didn’t get shot down deserves some admiration? Secondly, is this noble? If that is the case, there are a lot of vets who should be president.

I will give him part “d”. Then again how many others showed great courage in this war? I agree he has courage, and I admire him for that. I do not think that he has so much more than the thousands of others who served in this war and the courage he showed does not automatically qualify him to be president.

OK, so what is a hero?

When presented with the question of who is a hero over the years I have always thought of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jr. and others who I thought were admirable and improved our world. In the last few years I was blessed to have the opportunity to understand what the true meaning of a hero was. I saw it in my father-in-law.

My father-in-law grew up in a small town in Indiana and expected to follow in his father’s footsteps working a blue collar job until one day a recruiter grabbed him off the street and suggested that he join the Marines. He did and in a few years he was chosen by his fellow Marines as the “Ideal Marine.” While this was just for a contest which lead to some wartime advertising (He’s the Marine selling Coke in Life magazine in February of 1943), it was the first indication that this was a man who chose to dedicate his life to the service of his country.

In 1943 his term of enlistment expired and he was discharged with a Good Conduct Medal. The next day he re-enlisted and that year went on to attend Officer Candidate School and become an officer in the Marine Corp. On February 19, 1945 he and the 5th Marine division assaulted the island of Iwo Jima. Almost a month later he left the island having survived not only the most horrific amphibious assault in modern history, but also the most costly battle in Marine Corps history. Later that year he retired from active duty and in 1952 returned to serve during the Korean War. In 1963 he would retire as a Lt. Colonel. After his military retirement he continued to serve his country with the United States Postal Service until his final retirement. His legacy is recorded in local museums as well as the Library of Congress Veteran’s History Project.

Was my father-in-law qualified to be President? Certainly not, but is John McCain because of his war service? John McCain certainly served an admirable career in the military and went through terrible treatment while a POW, but I don’t think that makes him especially qualified to serve as President of the United States of America.

Does being a hero make you more qualified to be President? If that was the case there would be many people in this country more qualified than John McCain to be President.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Your father-in-law IS a real hero.

I believe I saw a video wherein one of McSame's fellow POWs said that he felt that McSame was not qualified to be president..and that being a POW did not make him so.

[MadMaddie]

2. MarkInCA you have put into words what I and others have

been thinking.

You have returned the term "Hero" to it's origins. As we often see, the Republicans hijack words for convenience not for true meaning.

Just as you have clarified what John McCain is and isn't we must do the same for Sarah Palin...she is in fact a woman but that does not solely qualify her for the position of VP.

Thank you for sharing and welcome to DU!:hi:

[MarkInCA]

3. Thank you

Though I risk the exposure, I am in the process of honoring my father-in-law at www.donbrazeal.com.

He was a democrat to the end and was repulsed by the current administration.

[TahitiNut]

4. There are currently 100 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor

Sixty of them were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Viet Nam War. John McCain isn't one of them.

I personally witnessed the event in which one of the Medals of Honor was awarded. Sadly, John Levitow is no longer one of the living recipients having passed away a short while ago.

LEVITOW, JOHN L.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, 3d Special Operations Squadron. place and date: Long Binh Army post, Republic of Vietnam, 24 February 1969. Entered service at: New Haven, Conn. Born: 1 November 1945, Hartford, Conn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Levitow (then A1c.), U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while assigned as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 aircraft flying a night mission in support of Long Binh Army post. Sgt. Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole 2 feet in diameter through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were wounded and helplessly slammed against the floor and fuselage. The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat. Sgt. Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest to him who had been knocked down and was bleeding heavily. As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the opened cargo compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle. Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Sgt. Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg. Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily upon the burning flare. Hugging the deadly device to his body, he dragged himself back to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the open cargo door. At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air, but clear of the aircraft. Sgt. Levitow, by his selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Sgt. Levitow's gallantry, his profound concern for his fellowmen, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

That's a hero.
Even so, I doubt Sgt. Levitow would have claimed he's qualified to be President.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And if you asked him, are you a hero?

After an uncomfortable silence, I am betting he'd have the same reaction I had recently... when my sis used the term with me.

:-)

Sergeant I salute you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I'll tell you what.. a hero is a person who serves

no matter the cost, to a point

And does not say he\she is a hero

I've met my fair share in my time... and most of them have never been recognized... nor will be recognized

They are the firefighters I have seen time and time again to into burning structures to save a life

The cops that go into the line of fire to rescue somebody

The medics who go into foggy roads, in the middle of the night, and stop to work at a car accident, because somebody needs it

The civilians that from time to time I met while on duty, who risked life and limb to save a fellow until we "pros" arrived.

People like your uncle, who repeatedly led people and never asked for somebody to pat him in the back

And people who are very uncomfortable when others use that term about them. Hell, I know... We went down to mexico city to visit parents, and my nephew asked that question... he's five

My sister pointed to a red cross ambulance whizzing by... and then pointed at me... I used to do that... and used me as an example

I felt more than just awkward... I am not a hero and said such... while uttering a prayer for that crew to go home at the end of their shift.

And I am sure you asked your uncle... he'd say the same

The heroes are those that didn't come home from those sands he led a platoon into...

Or the people I helped bury, who died in the line of duty... those are the true heroes.

But a man who needs to keep telling you how heroic his service was, and gee golly, he was a POW... he feels guilty about something... and I'd like to put my finger on it.

[MarkInCA]

7. Exactly, they don't push being a hero n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. K&R