"Heroism" Frequently Isn't...But This One Surely Is

No doubt this week, as we watch coverage of some truly remarkable performances of athleticism and competition in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, we will be subjected to commentators and announcers using the term "hero" as they, and we, stand in awe of what it takes a person to achieve such levels of performance. And, to be fair, Mr. Webster would not take issue with such use of the word. Here, (Merriam-)Webster defines "hero" as:

1 a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage
2 a : the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b : the central figure in an event, period, or movement
3 : an object of extreme admiration and devotion : idol.

So it is a pretty broad brush with which we might paint one another as "hero".

Still, absent a better word, I choose to reserve my use of the word to a far narrower definition: "one who shows great courage, especially in the face of signficant personal risk to life and limb, while engaged in service to others."

For an example of such heroism, read this article from The Cincinnati Enquirer, covering Ohio Governor Ted Strickland awarding the Silver Star to Ohio National Guard Sergeant First Class Mark Wanner last week for lifesaving gallantry and competence under fire in eastern Afghanistan. The Silver Star, being the third highest decoration our Armed Forces have for valor, is not an easy bar to clear. But if there be any doubt as to whether SFC Wanner cleared it, all you need to do is listen to the testimony of one of his fellow Soldiers, SFC Sean Clifton [standing beside SFC Wanner in photo below], who had a particularly intimate view of the events (as recounted in the Enquirer article and Defense.Gov News):

Fighting back tears, Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Clifton recounted the day he almost lost his life after being shot multiple times during a raid on a Taliban compound in eastern Afghanistan.

The previous week, Clifton and his team had received word that a known Taliban leader soon would be meeting with about a half dozen Taliban fighters in a nearby village.

After waiting for five days with what Wanner referred to as “tactical patience,” the team received word that their target was in position. It had been training with their Afghan counterparts for nearly five months, and the plan was to allow the Afghans to take the lead and for the U.S. soldiers to follow closely behind.

But when the team approached the village, the Afghans already were in trouble, and the situation was deteriorating quickly. They had expected five or six Taliban fighters, but there were at least 30. They reacted immediately. “I led some guys into a doorway, and that just happened to be the room that had 80 percent of the threat,” Clifton said. “I knew something wasn’t quite right. Then I got hit.” Clifton had taken at least four rounds. The first entered his pelvis just below his body armor, the second hit the chest plate of his body armor, the third shattered his left forearm, and the last round hit his helmet, knocking off his night-vision goggles.
When he saw his injured arm and realized his rifle had dropped in front of him, Clifton knew he was in trouble.

Bullets [had] hit him in the wrist, head, chest and stomach. His helmet and chest armor deflected two shots. The other two bullets did extensive damage. His wrist bone was shattered. His insides were shredded.

[SFC Clifton] turned to Wanner.

Before collapsing, he said two words: "Save me."

And Wanner did.

He treated wounds. He used his body as a shield. He helped carry a man taller and heavier than his five-feet, nine-inches and 170 pounds to safety. He saved a life while bullets zinged around his head and danced at his feet.

“I’m standing here today, alive, because of the heroic and competent actions Mark performed on the night of May 31, 2009 -- Memorial Day,” Clifton said.

You know, I (Mudge) have never done anything approaching heroic in my entire life. And there is a darned good chance I never will. But I still get teary-eyed when I learn of the deeds of such men as SFC Wanner who saved, in my opinion, one of his fellow heroes while serving with a whole mess of heroes who daily protect non-heroes like me. And believe me when I tell you this is just the tip of the hero iceberg and, regrettably, like a real iceberg, most of that which comprises it will forever remain unexposed.