Glorious Heroes

Every nation has heroes. Some are athletes, some are relatives, some are even famous people. The best heroes are soldiers. Soldiers fight and die for many reasons. American soldiers fight for freedom and to assist defeating those that are oppressed. Freedom for all... any race, religion, and country. The issue that comes with being a hero, is the way you are perceived.

A large majority of Americans have a relative, or many, who was a soldier, sailor, aviator, or marine. Two generations of one family fought two different style of wars. Both wars were fought for similar beliefs. Freedom from persecution and oppression.

In 1941, the "Greatest Generation" fought a large-scale war to stop oppression and persecution. Millions of innocent people and soldiers around the world perished. It took the United States four difficult years to fight to the victory. Some countries it took even longer.

Upon returning home, this particular family hero, a Navy Seabee, would be proudly excepted and he gladly talked about his missions and successes. He proudly talked about how he fought the ship during the invasion of Okinawa. Fighting off Kamikaze attacks. Upon landing on the beach, he and his buddies quickly repaired airfields and barracks to continue the fight.

The return to the States brought joy and celebrations. These warriors talked heavily about what they did. They smiled, they reminisced, they talked about actions of friends and fallen brothers. The world considered these soldiers and sailors as world heroes. Stopping extremely dangerous, aggressive, and homicidal nations.

Twenty years later, the children of this "Great Generation" found themselves in another conflict. Another war of oppression. This time from a belief. Communism. The Democratic world was afraid of this belief. They felt it forced individuals to follow a path that was structured simply for the country it governed. This was escalated in a small country called, Vietnam.

The sons and daughters of the "Great Generation" went and did their duty. For eleven years they would fight. Thousands of soldiers, aviators, and marines would die. The war would come to a conclusion that was not successful in the completing the primary objective. Stopping Communism.

It was not the warrior's fault. They did what they were trained to do. The enemy had a different set of goals. They were a determined enemy. The American Soldiers were fighting a people who were fighting a continuous war since prior to World War II.

The American warriors came home to an unwelcoming crowd. Why? They were heroes. They did what their ancestors did. They did what was asked of them. They died and suffered for their country and its belief. Many citizens of the Nation believed that the military mission was un-justified. That is an opinion that stuck with many different Americans for many years.

The ones who suffered the most were not the enemy, but the survivors of our American military. They came home to no parades, no exciting parties, and no overall praise. They were hated, ignored, and sometimes even called "Baby Killers".

Television was the primary reason for the hatred. It brought the action into the living rooms of the American People. They got to see what war really was like. World War II showed news reals that could be edited for the theatre. The war was covered in newspapers and magazines and on radios. The warriors were able to fight their war without their families knowing exactly what needed to be done. They fought the soldiers war. The warriors of Vietnam, however, could not keep their actions hidden from the world, from their families, friends, and loved ones.

So when these warriors returned, they did not tell their stories. They did not brag about their heroic actions. They cried for their fallen brothers in arms in solitude. They did not tell their children about what went on in Vietnam. These men and woman were heroes. Just like their fathers and mothers before them. It took many years for the Nation, as a whole, to accept these warriors as heroes, and to honor them accordingly.

People say acknowledgement of an action can come at any time. It should be accepted once given. However, the heroes of an eleven year un-liked war had to wait for the world to accept them as heroes. Having to wait has to hurt just as much as having to fight. It makes you feel unworthy. Unjust. Heroes come from everywhere. However, from one generation to the next, it should not be so different.

Now we end another twenty year war. A war on terror. A war started by an evil act in our own country. Thousands of men and woman have been maimed, hurt, and killed. Some suffer severe mental issues. As they come home, how will they be treated? Were they successful in their mission to stop terror? Let us not wait decades to support and honor these heroes. Let us not let them be forgotten.

Honor our heroes ... honor all who served, fought, died, and suffered for us, for others ... for freedom ... for love.

To the brave goes the glory. To death go the brave. Every generation must deal with war and oppression and evil. Because of that, we are all heroes.