WHO'S YOUR HERO?

[crazyphil]

I'm not really into hero worship, but this guy was the reason I
went to see the Air Force recruiter on my 17th birthday 2/11/52.
He and his younger brother were my first cousins.

His name was Elmer Hahn. He was a Captain in the Army Air Corp.
He and his younger brother Clyde had both been pilots
before WWII, and both either enlisted or were drafted when the
war broke out.

Elmer flew B-24s in North Africa for a while, and then he was sent
to the Pacific theater. Clyde was assigned to flying cargo "over
the hump" (China-Burma-India) in C-46s and C-47s.

Elmer was commander of B-29 "Werewolf". With a crew of 11
"Werewolf" flew from it's base on Saipan January 27, 1945. It's
target was the Nakajima aircraft factory on the outskirts of Tokyo.

The weather was poor, flak was intense, and thanks to General
Lemay they were at considerably lower altitude than previously.
"Werewolf" was attacked by Japanese Zeroes. An explosion
broke the bomber in two.

Apparently 4 were killed in the explosion, because only 7 parachutes
were observed by other B-29 crews. Three of those
who bailed out had parachute malfunctions and apparently died.

Four made it to the ground and were taken to the concentration
camp at Shibuya. Sgt. Myhra died of burn wounds, suffered in
the explosion of the B-29.

On May 26, 1945 the prison was hit by a "friendly fire" bomb
attack. The remaining 3, including Elmer Hahn, were all killed
at that time.

Just 93 days later the Japanese signed their surrender.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My human hero was my Dad. My all time hero is God.

 

[Muddyboot]

The everyday Joe and Josephine who get out of bed every morning, go to work, and keep the lights of this country on. The don't ask for, or are given thanks very often, but that's what hero's do....

 

[9mmPatriot]

Well my wife has tolerated me for 31 years of wedded bliss(ters). So I grudgingly submit the ol'bat I suppose.

 

[ladder13]

They say HE was born this month.

 

[bigwheelzip]

15 years ago, God and desperation from my terminal inoperable cancer diagnosis brought my hero to me. I was not willing to accept the death sentence, and after a brutal biopsy and five different specialists on Long Island concurred I'd less than 18 months to live, I finagled another opinion from the insurance out-of-network Memorial Sloan-Kettering in NYC.

With the clock ticking, I asked for an appointment with the first doctor available. Sloan-Kettering's Dr. Rizk, was undaunted by my lung cancer that had metastasized like spider's legs, to my heart and wrapped around my inferior vena cava. He assured me they could treat me, with the "intent to cure".

When I regained consciousness after the 8 1/2 hour surgery, my husband said when Dr. Rizk came out after the procedure, he looked exhausted and was dripping with sweat, but reported that the operation went very well.

Only after reading his report on the operation, which included cutting the cancer away from my heart, which was punctured and repaired twice, did I grasp the full scope of the surgery. No wonder the previous doctors preferred to write me off as inoperable.

My debt to this man can never be repaid.

 

[375hh1973]

Roger Staubach

 

[Deuce Caboose]

Because of the times in which they lived,
Because of their commitment to Family, God, and Country,
Because of the sacrifices they made,
Because of the example they set,

my hero’s are my parents.

 

[Smoke]

Corrie Ten Boom.

There's not even a close second.

She was 48 years old when the Nazis invaded Holland.

The Following is cut and paste directly from Wikipedia and if I get banned for posting it I guess it sucks to be me

Cornelia Arnolda Johanna "Corrie" ten Boom (15 April 1892[1] – 15 April 1983) was a Dutch Christian watchmaker and later a writer who worked with her father, Casper ten Boom, her sister Betsie ten Boom and other family members to help many Jewish people escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust in World War II by hiding them in her home. She believed her actions were following the will of God. They were caught, and she was arrested and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, is a biography that recounts the story of her family's efforts and how she found and shared hope in God while she was imprisoned at the concentration camp..

This is me again

Her religious beliefs prohibited her from having any part in killing people. She once refused to give the name of a Dutch collaborator to the underground because she knew he'd be killed (so she was true to her beliefs regardless of circumstances).

It's estimated that 800 Jews were saved because of her efforts and an unknown number of people recieved food.

 

[sigp220.45]

I don’t really do heroes, but if we’re talking famous people it would have to be Jimmy Stewart.

He was already an established film star, with an Academy award on his shelf for The Philadelphia Story. He fought to get into the Army Air Force and then fought again to get into combat. He flew real missions and dropped bombs on Nazis and brought his crew home every time. He stayed in the reserves after the war, and retired as a Brigadier General.

Don’t get me started on some of his co-stars.

Not famous? My Dad, of course.

 

[dave1918a2]

My Parents, God, and every Man and Woman who ever wore a US uniform.

 

[Smoke]

I don’t really do heroes, but if we’re talking famous people it would have to be Jimmy Stewart.

He was already an established film star, with an Academy award on his shelf for The Philadelphia Story. He fought to get into the Army Air Force and then fought again to get into combat. He flew real missions and dropped bombs on Nazis and brought his crew home every time. He stayed in the reserves after the war, and retired as a Brigadier General.

Don’t get me started on some of his co-stars.

Not famous? My Dad, of course.

He was also present as an observer on a couple of missions during the Viet Nam war. I'm not sure how it works in the Air Force but he wasn't there as "Jimmy Stewart". He was acting in his official capacity as a Brigadier General and there was some mission requirement for him to be there.

 

[30-30remchester]

My father-in-law. A humble honest man. Quiet and soft spoken. Worked on a dry land farm in eastern Colorado as a kid. Survived the depression and dust bowl. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps at 17 and went to war. Fifty one missions in the ball turret of a B-17 over occupied Eastern Europe and Germany. Came home, put away his uniform to never be taken out again, got a job, got married, had 3 daughters who knew the sun rose and set on his shoulders, ( I would find out later for myself). Though he had a job as a mechanic, the pay was poor, yet he built his own house from scratch by himself during his lunch hour and on weekends. When I say he built the house himself I mean everything. Poured the basement with a cement mixer, built the walls and trusses, insulated, wired, plumbed, Hvac'ed, built the cabinets and the doors and with the scrap lumber he even built his own furniture. All with used hand tools. He had a $5 bill in his wallet always and when he passed he still had it. No toys for him, he had a family to take care of. Never bought a new vehicle till his youngest was a senior. Dad we miss you.

 

[arjay]

My folks came out of wartime Europe where they both lost everything, built new lives here and never moaned about it

 

[Mule Packer]

In reading Fran Striker's original creed for the Lone Ranger, I can't help but hope that I might follow that example.

The Lone Ranger's Creed

By Fran Striker

1. I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.

2. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

3. That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

4. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

5. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

6. That "this government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live always.

7. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

8. That sooner or later... somewhere... somehow... we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

9. That all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever.

10. I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.​

 

[Grayfox]

For me it is my father. He was a simple Tennessee farm boy who got drafted in 1942 and went to war. He very rarely talked about the war. What little I know has been put together from bits and pieces he let slip over the years.
He was a gunner on a machine gun crew.
I believe he spent a short time in North Africa, but have never been absolutely certain. I know that he fought in Sicily and Italy. He survived D-day going ashore on Omaha Beach with the 29th Infantry Division.
Somewhere about half way across France, Dad and his gun were holding a hill against a german attack. Unable to get past him, the germans called in an artillery strike. Poor dad was nearly blown to pieces. They never thought he'd make it to the aid station, much less survive. But he did. He spent a year and a half in an Army hospital in Waco, TX recovering.
The highest rank he ever officially received was PFC. But at the time he was hit, he was the acting Platoon Sergeant.
His injuries plagued him for the rest of his life. In the late 1960s the lower half of his right leg had to be amputated.
He never complained. He was a strong, but quiet man who dealt with what life had given him. He had no regrets.
When other kids were worshiping astronauts, athletes or movie stars, all I had to do was look across the room.
He passed in 1987 at the age of 66. I still miss him dearly.

 

[sheepdawg]

My dad. WW2 vet, P O W and the most talented individual I've ever met. Superb artist, could fix a watch or any firearm, a master with an air brush. He could doctor a picture up before Photoshop and did it quite often for various Departments of the Government. Great shot as he proved to me many times. Honest and with a tremendous work ethic. Always fair.

 

[pawngal]

My Mother.
But I never thought of her in that way until 2 years ago, she was just my Mom.
Several years after she passed away and the home farm was sold the new owners found Mom's diaries from age 15 to 21. (1926-1932) in a far corner of the attic of the house and sent them to my sister and then I had the opportunity to read them. When she was 15 her father passed away leaving the widow, my Mom and 3 younger siblings. Her Mother was very depressed and unable to handle the necessary things to settle the estate, couldn't drive, understand the farm operation, or handle the younger children.
So at 15 Mom became the head of the family, taught herself to drive, handled the legal work, arranged renting the farmland, and quit school to work out as a hired girl. She realized the importance of keeping all the farmland and used the small amount of life insurance to pay it off. Some of her diary entries showed her being resentful for the loss of her youth. Mostly because she had wanted to be a nurse.
At 19 she married one of the sons of a family she worked for. But, not the son they wanted her to marry! But she chose well, Dad was 18 years older than Mom but they were a good match.
Married and started farming on their own in 1930 at the height of the depression. In the next 2 years my sisters were born and the diaries ended. 14 years later along came me!
Then when I was 16 Dad passed away and once again she stepped up, kept the farming operation together, raised chickens, kept the 30 tree apple orchard going along with a huge garden. We had the original Farmers Market every year.
I regret now not giving her the respect she so deserved.

Edit to add: She was also a 4-H leader, a Girl Scout Leader, was an active church member, taught me how to cook and sew and in her later years delivered Meals of Wheels.

 

[Golddollar]

I don’t really do heroes, but if we’re talking famous people it would have to be Jimmy Stewart.

He was already an established film star, with an Academy award on his shelf for The Philadelphia Story. He fought to get into the Army Air Force and then fought again to get into combat. He flew real missions and dropped bombs on Nazis and brought his crew home every time. He stayed in the reserves after the war, and retired as a Brigadier General.

If you ever get a chance, I think you would like to see the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, PA. I visited it a number of years ago and was really impressed with it. It had a significant exhibit about his miliary career and I remember seeing a reference about how he said he was prouder of his military career than his show business career.

 

[Rudi]

I have many, many heroes. Add bigwheelzip to the list.