What makes somebody a hero worth remembering throughout history? It can be difficult to pinpoint specific physical traits that are shared across all people and what’s even more difficult is finding out the reasoning behind them. One of the hallmarks of a hero is bravery. But that trait doesn’t always apply in wartime, where you could die every day.
As World War II veteran William Carpenter once said, “You show me a man who says he was brave [during World War II], and I’ll show you a liar. During World War II, both the Germans and the Allies were terrified.
We might think that bravery is the one key element of war heroes, but they might also have considerable skill with weapons. However, some of the most memorable war heroes never even picked up a weapon. Take Desmond Doss, a “conscientious objector” who hated weapons. However, he saved more than 50 people during World War II at the Battle of Okinawa. Doss never used a gun and instead relied on his skills as a medic.
Desmond Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman.
Then there are those who became war heroes only after changing their identities. Consider Deborah Sampson, an American heroine who disguised herself as a man in order to fight for our independence. Or, for example, Jennie Hodgers whose Irish heritage led them to live as a man named Albert Cashier and fight back in the American Civil War.