Warbird Information Exchange

The term "War Hero" is often applied to some vets, especially if they are running for office. John McCain's identity as a candidate is mostly based on this, the core of his speeches and adds.
What qualifies one for this title, in your opinion, since there doesn't seem to be an official designation?
Did he qualify by his service in the fire on the carrier, Forrestall sp? Or by being a POW tortured by the N. Vietnamese? Is being a POW enough? What if you are a POW, but humanly treated? Do you have to be shot down? Can an enemy be a war hero? Are the Suadi's or Iraqis the US captured and tortured, war heroes? How about John Kerry? Like McCain he was a navy man, though not a POW, but he holds a silver star and a bronze star. Can a Democrat be a war hero, like Sen. McGovern or only a Republican? Can a ground person qualify? Is it anyone who served or only someone in combat?

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Bill;

ONE MORE TIME, let's keep politics off a board about airplanes.

I may not be able to define "war hero" but I can define one who is not.

Old Shep

For Old Shep. Check Wikapedia for the resume on John McCain. You'll find he was a Pilot on the carrier, sitting in his Plane when the fire began. Also his service in Nam was as a Pilot, flying Airplanes. So despite your personal feelings or prejudice or attempted personal insult, my post fits the forum on both counts, and is concerned with his military service primarily and that of others who have served. Perhaps you can tell us of your own service that some may have overlooked.
And why don't you start your own topic as to who is not a hero?

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Don't hold back Bill, tell us where you stand.......

Steve

EASY. The ones who didn't come back.

Rest were just doing their job. Ask any of them... that's usually the answer they give.

Steve, it is not me telling where I stand. What I'd like to know is what other WIX members think about this.
If you really want to know I'd certainly put any of the three I mentioned as war heroes. But where is the line that qualifies one?
Django, yes I have had heard that one too, but it leaves out the guys who took the same risks, but were successful and fortunate enough to avoid getting shot down or captured or killed.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Valid question.
A hero is generally a person who commits acts of self-sacrifice for an ideal or concept.
Doesn’t the word Hero depend on your point of view?
So a hero would be someone who commits self-sacrifice and others…(the majority would consider some value in that sacrifice.)

Let us take an individual who I may consider a hero. Martin Luther King.
But at the time, many people would consider him a disruptive individual who was attempting to change the status quo.
Now 40 years later… most regard him as a hero as do I.

Karl Dönitz committed acts of self-sacrifice for an ideal. But as we all know being a Nazi is a not the ideal that most now would select.
There were even some allied officers that admired him… but I would not call him a hero.
My value system does not hold Nazis in high regard.

The same could be said of our current people who are running for office or who are in the public eye.
Really it is only a matter of opinion.

Bill, to answer your question… being a POW may be enough for some, but not others.
Same with Democrats, or Republicans... it depends on what you and the majority value.
McCain is certainly not a Hero to the North. Vietnamese.
(I will not comment on his politics on this board…) However, I do admire him and the service he provided to the United States.
He has shown honor… and integrity in the past. Values that I would like my children to have. So he would be a hero of sorts for me. As to the war part…
I guess only historians will truly know if he will be considered a hero.
(or what the majority of people alive at the time think.)

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Live the Good Life
Bluedharma
http://flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/
http://www.airport-data.com/photographe ... arma;1045/
bluedharmawix@gmail.com

Anyone who puts on a uniform and defends his/her country is a hero.

Anyone who puts on a uniform and defends his/her country in harms way is a war hero.

John Kerry------U.S. Navy

John McCain----U.S. Navy

Medals awarded to U.S. Naval/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Personel by significance:

1) Medal of Honor

2) Navy Cross

3) Defense Distinguished Service Medal

4) Distinguished Service Medal

5) Silver Star


Ted

Ted, that is why I put the question mark and "I think" after my post about the Silver Star. I have corrected my sentence. And strangely I could not find what medals McCain was awarded either on his oficiall site or Wik.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

According to wikipedia he was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, DFC, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal.

Bill,

Your politisizing the term "war hero" cheapens the service of those who served and those currently serving. I served and I am darn proud of it.

Steve

Steve, if you served and are proud of it that's fine and you have a right to express your opinion. I also served, but you don't seem to feel I have a right to ask the questions. As for the politics, what I am asking about is the military service, not the politics. And it is not me who is running for office, primarily on the basis of the war experience.
As for cheapening anyone's service, if their service was noble or valuable or heroic, then it can stand on its own. It is not my aim to cheapen anyone's service, but even if it was, a few words from me could not change the worth. And maybe your opposing a discussion cheapens the value of the Bill of Rights part of the constitution that people take an oath to serve.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

From the description for the Off Topic section:

"ANY political discussions in any other forum will be deleted and the user suspended. I have had it with the politically motivated comments."

From the Rules of Conduct section:

"It has become evident that discussions of a political nature cannot be done in an objective fashion about this subject that people are so passionate about. So, unfortunately, political discussion is prohibited as of March 19, 2007. You have been warned, so anybody who posts a political post or baits a political discussion will be banned for 30 days, repeat offenders will be banned permanently."

Seems pretty clear to me...

It is only the actions of the individual service person that can burnish or tarnish the idea/image of "hero". And even so, it is only the image of that one person that is affected by the actions of that person.