Frankie Wong

11/4/15
English Composition 1101
Trina Sotirakopolous
Hero of War

The definition of hero is typically described as a person who is admired or idealized

for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Our basic instinct is that we often
associate people in the military to be heroes. Often labelling them as the shining example of
what a hero is. We show respect, gratefulness, and even admire the soldiers defending our
nation, showing patriotism and fighting for the greater cause and such, ignoring the taboo
topic of PTSD. Sometimes in our thick-headed minds, we assume heroes have no
weaknesses, no fear, only courage. But in reality, many soldiers dont want to be called such
heroes. The word Hero bears a significant burden on veterans shoulders. The things they've
done in the battlefield, mistakes that cost peoples lives, the regretted decisions, the
amount of stress coming from the battlefield; many of the veterans feel ashamed and
hesitant when people define them as role models for others, as it not only puts a high
standard on the soldiers themselves, but also taunts their past experiences in the war.
In an article regarding soldiers as heroes, it explained that many soldiers from the
military didnt want to be called heroes. When asked the question of heroism, Marine Corp
Nicholas Mejia stated that "Blind hero worship gives people a false sense of pride. These are
still kids. Its setting them up for failure and breakdown." (LeBlanc). In war, many actions
thought to be wrong are seen as just. Decisions that were thought as right became
downright complicated. The things seen in war, there is no black and white, only gray area
throughout. The line we never cross, the soldiers skip over every moral line they grew
accustomed to. Often times, when soldiers come home, people praise and blindly worship
the heroic deeds done, even deeming them as perfect. In the soldiers perspective,the

things theyve done in the battlefield will never be right, and the orders theyve carried will
haunt them for a lifetime; theyre far from perfect. But its the high standard we put on
soldiers that makes them reluctant to get help even if they desperately need it. Sgt. First
Class Remsburg puts it like this: If you blindly worship someone because of their job, they
are going to fail you and you are put into the position of defending terrible action. It also
puts stress on the soldier to be perfect, which is impossible. Soldiers will fail (LeBlanc 1).
Even when suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, soldiers wouldnt dare to get help due to
fear that it would be used against them on assignments and promotions.
A soldiers experience to war can never be forgotten even when they come home
from the battles and scars. Some experiences more vulgar than others. Post-traumatic
stress disorder almost always affects the veterans who come home. We often think that we
bear open arms with the PTSD veterans, but in reality, we shunt them away. In an article
from the U.S. Army, a soldier named Anthony shares his experience with PTSD. He explains
that when he first suffered PTSD, he felt chest tightness, difficulty breathing, panicking, and
feared for his life. He would rather have a heart attack, stating that A heart attack was
honorable, PTSD was not (Huerta 1). He goes on to say that he felt alone. Nobody able to
help him overcome the memories. Trying desperately to ignore the flashbacks and not being
able to hold them off.
We often see veterans being awarded many medals from the battlefield, and we
instantly recognize them as heroes. We greet them with songs of worship. All it takes is to
have medals and scars to have people proud of the veterans, but the people dont know
where the scars have come from. They dont know about the hardships, the horrific and
brutal scenes of war, the events leading up. The veteran comes home a hero, but he knows
in his mind hes not. Hes not a hero of war, but that is what people see when he comes
home with medals and scars to prove it. Thats the only reason people are proud of him. But
in reality, hes just another soldier that had to do his job.

Works Cited

LeBlanc, Gannon. Most Soldiers Arent Heroes And Dont Want To Be Called Such.
AntiWar.com. Randolph Bourne Institute, 13 August 2014. Web. 3 November 2015.

Huerta, C. Carlos. Leaving The Battlefield: Soldier Shares Story Of PTSD. Army.Mil. U.S.
Army, 25 April 2012. Web. 9 November 2015.