Your heroes

[4011]

Hero's

I had a Sgt. in Security a GM Arlington that is one of my hero's. I beleive he kept me from going the way of alcohol during a terrible time in my life. I never got around to telling him all this. He died in November. The other two are Robert Max Moore and John Roy Modisett. Two of the best men I could know. My older brothers in law.

 

[David LaPell]

George S. Patton, not just for World War II, but for his actions in World War I and Pershing's Punitive Expedition after Pancho Villa. Patton stood and returned fire as three mounted riders charged straight at him. One was Villa's top man. Patton shot two of these men while his soldiers got the other.
Frank Hamer and Walter Walsh. These guys were double tough under fire while wearing a badge in the early days of true law enforcement, before radios, SWAT, and back up. When those guys walked into a bad situation, it was up to them to walk back out of it.
My grandfather. At 15 years old during the great depression he left home and went cross country looking for work. He spent most of his time outdoors learning to hunt, fish, and trap. He ended becoming a champion featherweight boxer. When World War II arrived, he joined the 82nd Airborne in his mid twenties, and jumped into France on June 6 at Normandy lugging a BAR. After WWII he worked as a milk man and became almost totally self sufficient as a farmer, trapper,collecting bounties on coyotes and rattlesnakes when the state paid for them. He raised mink and silver foxes, had livestock and a farm. He killed his last deer at the age of 79 with a percussion .45 caliber muzzleloader and was still able to drag it out from the woods. It was the first gun I ever fired and I still own it today.

 

[cp1969]

I am quickly tiring of seeing and hearing the word "hero" misapplied constantly in the media. It is applied to far too many people who are not "heroes" in any sense of the word.

One person who is a real hero is a retired government worker named Lenny Skutnik.

There are many more. But not every cop, not every soldier, nor every fireman is a hero just because they belong to those groups. You've got to do something heroic to be a real hero.

 

[vytoland]

first and foremost my dad...a kind, patient, hard working man who always put his family first.

then, dick butkus, johnny unitas, muhammad ali.

 

[springfield.45]

My dad who gave 27 years of service to his country.

Pat Tillman would be a distant 2nd for giving up the NFL to defend our freedom.

 

[wyo-man]

The men that signed the Declaration of Independence.

wyo-man

 

[jag312]

Heroes:

1. I don't know what my father faced in the North Atlantic during WWII, because he never talked about it. I do know that he lost a ship to a German torpedo and got to spend some time freezing in a life boat before he was rescued by a Soviet warship. That's also where he developed a taste for vodka.

2. Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Steve McQueen because of the way they faced their end from cancer. A man's character is defined by the manner in which he faces his end.

3. The head football coach and one of the assistant coaches in college. Also my 6th grade teacher in elementary school. They were all Marines who saw action in the Pacific. I can't imagine what they faced on Iwo Jima. I don't know if I could have done what they did.

 

[sheepdawg]

1. My dad, WWII vet, a Wehrmacht soldier, captured by the Americans thankfully, who came to America in 1952 with just over $300. I wish I had 25% of his talent, heck 10%.
2. Alvin York, I'm from Tennessee.
3. Winston Churchill, gotta' admire someone that had so much influence on the world, smoked 10 to 20 cigars a day, drank a quart of gin and lived to be 90.
4. Any serviceman , policeman, or fireman.

As to Marion Robert Morrison better known as John Wayne according to the book The Young Duke by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss, Wayne at 35 was too old to be drafted and Republic Pictures would not let him out of his contract to enlist. It was a plea from no less than F.D.R that motivated Wayne to do his part by creating films that promoted American involvement in the war effort and were entertaining, hence Flying Tigers, Fighting Seebees, They Were Expendable. Back to Bataan

John Wayne wasn't a draft dodger and as to being a coward ask the Commander in Chief of most of WWII, F.D.R.

 

[chief38]

Excerpt From Wikapedia

Selective Service Records indicate he did not attempt to prevent his reclassification as 1-A (draft eligible), but apparently Republic Pictures intervened directly, requesting his further deferment.[38] In May, 1944, Wayne was reclassified as 1-A (draft eligible), but the studio obtained another 2-A deferment (for "support of national health, safety, or interest").[38] He remained 2-A until the war's end. Thus, John Wayne did not illegally "dodge" the draft, but he never took direct positive action toward enlistment.

 

[28Shooter]

The men that stood that April morning in 1775 on Lexington Green and at Concord Bridge; Jimmy Stewart -actor and combat pilot; Theodore Roosevelt; Roy Rogers - actor, hero to countless numbers of children, and genuine good guy; Gandhi - a man of peace; Henry Ford -industrialist; Alvin York - a brave man who saw his duty and did it; Charles Whittlesey- commander of the "Lost Batallion"; Brig, Gen. Lewis A. Armistead, CSA; and Lt. Com. Francis Thomas of the Nevada for getting his ship underway at Pearl Harbor - their attempted run for the sea was a real boost to moral. RIP all.

 

[Mule88]

My Dad. Learned more from him than anyone else.

 

[Joeygun]

My heroes are very limited, as compared to those I may admire for personal attributes, qaulities, or achievements.

Msg. Roy Benvidez for his bravery, for overcoming seriours injury to go on to greater accomplishment, and for risking his life to rescue fellow team members.

Ultimately, my heroes are my parents. They came from what would be called poverty today. They made three children stay out of trouble, fed and clothed us, sent us to twelve years of Catholic schools, and did so with very limited financial resources.

We ate dinner as a family, we prayed as a family, we went to mass as a family. My parents have three children who are now all college grads with their own families.

I am where I am and who I am because of them.

Thanks Mom and Dad.

I

 

[deduke1907]

Oldman45:

I would agree with your picks except for one, John Wayne.

He was an ACTOR (and a bad one at that), a "draft dodger", and in my personal opinion, a coward. He always played the big hero, but in real life he was the opposite. Alvin York was a TRUE BRAVE HERO! During WWll Wayne's friends and producers begged him to join the Military (photography and film division) where he would be relatively safe and away from the front lines, but he would still have the status of being in uniform. He was begged to do this more than a few times but still would not do it. When his draft notices came, they were swept under the rug by his Hollywood connections, (dodging the draft).

I am not purposely trying to tick you off, just surprised that someone who has himself served in the Armed Forces ( as you did ) would idolize such a man. I think his whole billing as "John Wayne - True American" is a kind of a made up myth, and as some of his fans are quickly finding out by reading, he was not the "great" American hero people have made him out to be.

Just my opinion I realize, and I am sure there are more fans here on this Forum than people such as I, but I have actually done some research on Marion Morrison (his real name) and know some information that is not publicly touted. Do some internet research on him and you will see what I am talking about.

by the way you didnt do enough research and also what branch of the military did you enlist in. why dont we just put john wayne in the same class of HANOI JANE. hell maybe you to. remember just my opinion. you know what they say about opinions

 

[johngalt]

My Dad. I often didn't appreciate how hard he worked while growing up, but I now realize just how lucky I was. He is the smartest, most common sense man I know.

 

[chief38]

deduke1907:

I was not in the Military, and have NEVER said that I was! I have also NOT portrayed myself as a Great American Hero! I was too young to enlist during the Vietnam War, and to old for the current conflict. I have also never been a part of any hate group like the John Burk Society.

I am NOT saying that he can be compared to Hanoi Jane who I think should have been tried as a traitor; just that he was an ACTOR and NOT a true American Hero (IMHO). Obviously our opinions differ, and that's OK; it's America.

Chief38

 

[deduke1907]

i dont ever remember john wayne saying he was an america hero. i think the america people made him the hero.

it appears that you chose not to serve your country which is your choice. but remember john wayne served his country in another way that had the america people making him one of their heros.

all your points are well taken and i respect your opinion but remember you shouldnt knock some one for not enlisting in the military until you know all the facts. we do have a military in between conflict but it appears you only thought that you can enlist if a conflict is going on.

 

[pinduck]

My Grandfather, raised 10 children of his own and made a home for me when no one else would.

 

[11B Lifer]

The family of Cpt. J. Steele-he was killed in combat June 2007. His siblings are in the service-his parents are strong supporters of the military.
Next, my son-on his third tour he commanded a combat unit in Afghanistan-he is an up-front leader. He hunts terrorists and is proud of it. He completed the mission and brought everyone home in one piece-and thats the standard. True warriors.

 

[Pilgrim]

My Dad.

He was there on June 6, and fought his way across France for seven weeks. During those weeks he was wounded several times,captured and left for dead. He spent a year in an Army hospital recovering from his wounds.

I attended about 10 of his Army reunions with him and I've heard several of his comrades thank him for saving their lives. One guy introduced him to his wife, kids and grand kids who were all at the reunion. His old buddy introduced him and said that without my father, none of them would be there.

He went into a minefield to carry his wounded CO out. ( I met him too!)

He was awarded 4 Purple Hearts and the French Legion of Honor.

He says he was young and crazy.

He raised me and my brother and taught us values and many skills. He's been a generous and loving father and husband. He worked hard all his life.

He's almost 86 and falling in health and it tears me up to think of what will happen all to soon.

He's an example of a real hero.

 

[feralmerril]

I have read this hero crap before about how john wayne is bogus on this site and another. Two general thinkings here that I dont agree with, I know it isnt going to make me popular here, but I want to get it off my chest.
Let me start by saying I have never been in the military or a LEO. I did try many times to get in both and physicaly was bounced.
That said, it seems the main qualification a lot if not most here for being a "hero", is being a killer. Unless you wore a uniform of some type, you aint "crap". I call BS! I dont know the stats or %s, but a huge buch of military was draftees that didnt want to be there! Yet most all did their job to stay alive. So did the krauts, russians and everybody else sent there by dictators and old politicians that didnt have to worry about personnaly fighting.
One of my many uncles didnt check his mail for a long time, was drafted, hated the service and yet came back probley the most highly decorated in my home area. He would have been the 1st to tell you he just fought to live.
Yes, people older than john wayne enlisted, but I doubt very many his age or older. He already had 3 or 4 kids too. He didnt fight to get in. Thats a given. He could make a fortune, or go in for $40s a month. Lets see. You got kids, can make a fortune at home, are about 36 years old, have to hump with 19 year olds, the goverment probley wont put you in harms way even if you enlist, you can stay home and inspire many thousands to enlist by keeping your job, so you now dont fight to join. That makes you a coward? I dont think so. If you do, thats your opinion.
I am not going to give a name, but it IS NOT audie murphy. I worked the studios. A very highly decorated movie star a few notchs below audie murphy was a known moody angry obnoctious spoiled drunk that definetly didnt respect women and possibly the lord. Other guards gave me the word and description on him.
Make a game or a riddle of this. Maybe I will post the verse #s in the bible latter. Do your own reading. David was probley Gods favorite person in the bible. David balled bethsheba, uriahs wife and got her pregnant. To cover up, he had uriah killed in battle. David had henchmen that got him to the top and eventualy king. They were known as davids 40 great men. They all were loyal soliders of david that followed him from being a bandit band to all the way to the top sorta like poncho villa and his band.
In the bible it gives a riddle. Who was the greatest of davids 40 great men? You have to read it closely back and forth. I came up with the answer, uriah. The bible never gives the name directly. When david heard bethsheba was knocked up he found she was the wife of uriah, one of his 40. To cover up david sent for uriah to come back from battle in another city they were at seige with. David wined and dined uriah on pretex of seeing how the seige was going. He then told uriah to go home and sleep with his wife and party on. The next day david found out uriah didnt go home, but slept in davids hallway. David asked him why he didnt go home. Uriah said his buddies were sleeping in the field in the elements, and he didnt feel right by going home and sleeping with bethsheba in comfort. Now david had a problem. His coverup wont work. He solved that with writing a letter telling uriahs commander to put uriah in the heat of battle and have his other men withdraw, getting uriah killed. He sealed the order, gave it to uriah to take to his commander. Uriah carried his own death warrant!
Yet when you read the bible david is made out to be the hero of all time, killing goliath etc. The riddle tells you who the real hero was.
Things arent often what they first seem.