everyone who has been in service has a story to tell. being blownup or getting a splinter is more or less a matter of dumb luck. i caught poison ivy in basic training which hampered my activities on a date the following weekend. i guess i'm a hero too.

Yep njdon, everyone has a story. I run into people at cocktail parties that never wore a uniform, they always have a story to tell also.

Sorry, you guessed wrong, no medals of valor for you. Nor do I believe Captain McCain USN (Ret) is a hero. His conduct as a POW was in keeping with what I would expect of a commissioned Naval officer - -

Incidentally, thanks for putting on the uniform. Oh, and me? I got yelled at in boot camp, I felt very offended. : - )

i did get a medal - service during wartime. check your dd-214. you can get the appropriate papers on the internet. in 6 months they'll send you a medal and then later a bonus certificate from the veterans of foreign wars.

this does not entitle or qualify you to be president of the united states.

Actually, here is my view of heroes to which I say you would qualify.

A hero is someone who risks his/her life for the benefit of others. To me that is all of our armed services members in or out of wartime as they can be put into a position in which they will have to risk their lives for the freedoms of the American people at any time. That also includes Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters who also risk their lives for the benefit of others.