World War II: Definition Of True Heroes

rah Huber

Heroes

Heroes are not people who wear a cape and underwear outside their clothes and have the words super or hero in their name. True heroes are everyday people who when facing turmoil, persevere and face challenges head on and in the end triumph. Since heroes are everyday people it is difficult to put a definition on their character. For me, true heroes are brave, courageous, and selfless. A hero might be forced to persevere during hardship everyday, or it might be one moment in a lifetime. No matter if it is just a moment or every day the hero must overcome some adversity while sacrificing something important to them. He or she must go beyond the normal definition of selflessness or bravery and do something that is exemplary.

When the word hero is brought up Americans think of soldiers, but heroes are present in everyone’s life. Classic examples of heroes range from soldiers during World War II to groups or people today. The more heroes we know the more we can specify what a hero is. Therefore, todays heroes and World War II's heroes will help me define a hero. I believe a hero is a person who gives up everything so that others may have a chance to receive all the opportunities in life. Gail Halvorsen during World War 2 and The Green Angels of today are both heroes. Gail Halvorsen was an airplane pilot that flew supplies during the Berlin Airlift. Berlin was being barricaded in without food or supplies by the Soviet Union so airplanes flew in necessities. Halvorsen saw the desperate situation of the people. He got his candy and gum rations, tied them to a handkerchief and parachuted it out the window while flying over the children of Berlin. He put his job on the line so that kids who have no hope may know that there is hope. Like Halvorsen, there is a group called the Green Angels. They have recognized the needs of the people. During the year they collect toys, clothes and sanitary supplies,

From the few heroes I have identified I was able to determine that heroes are not just people who just sacrifice their life for someone else. I imagined heroes had to save a person’s life or risk their own life to do something heroic. Now I have learned that there are two types of heroes. One type of heroes are those who risk their life to achieve something for someone else. These heroes are easy to identify and can certainly be found in times of war; these are heroes like Gail Halvorsen and Audie Murphy. The second type, are people who experience some tribulation so they can help someone else, these heroes are groups like the Green Angels and Mrs. Gramse. A hero is a person that risks their life or a person who self-sacrifices in order to help someone. Either way a hero is someone who faces adversity to help someone