The Bravest Thing
I recently had a conversation about bravery, why we see some act as courageous and others as part of a job. One of the examples used was a soldier and how its takes an extraordinary act of courage and often self sacrifice to get any type of recognition.
The conversation turned to acts of personal courage such as facing fears, or doing something hard that in the long run will be for the best, when it would be easier to let things remain the same.
We then talked about the bravest acts we had ever seen, I thought about this for quite a while and I arrived at one act that I can say is the bravest thing I ever saw.
ARVE Error: need id and provider
What are some acts of bravery that you have seen?
I agree. I’ve always admired this guy.
The live broadcast of firetrucks and first responders going toward the World Trade Center.
Captain Sullenberger landing a loaded passenger plane on the Hudson River.
Flower the meerkat going into a burrow to defend her offspring against a cobra.
Agree with the lone protester.
Also agree with the First Responder headed towards the World Trade Centers.
It’s like the Rescue Swimmers say: “You have to go out. You don’t have to come back.”
God bless all who go in Harm’s Way.
Any soldier that refuses to volunteer their cash to AER,AUSA or 82nd Airborne Association standing in front of their CSM. And not backing down. The solider is than on CQ/Staff duty and demo guard in area J every weekend until the world ends.
Ha ha that’s funny
Can’t say I’ve been personally present to witness many acts of great heroism. But during my lifetime, one does kinda stand out. Obviously I wasn’t there to witness it in person.
“Let’s roll.”
The bravest? I can’t get there from here. The EMTs were mentioned at the WTC. Many a fireman got in line for a final blessing from the chaplain who himself was killed at the WTC. The “Let’s roll” line is legendary. There were other brave acts that miserable September day. Was one the bravest? And at Fort Hood, two unarmed soldiers went down trying to get at the SOB, rather than be killed cowering. Was that the bravest? Years ago at a raceway, a crash occurred and a young man in the stands jumped in front of a patron about to be struck by a flying wheel. He was killed but saved the other patron. Was that the bravest? Among our MOH recipients, was one braver than another? Bravery is to be admired and the brave honored. The “bravest” omits all but one and, as I say, I can’t get there from here.
Excellent points.
Easy one for me, Amid and Higgins.
I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t know the reference, and a googling didn’t enlighten me – can you tell me who these folks were?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_R._Higgins
http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-01/news/26146569_1_huge-security-lapse-peacekeeping-force-william-richard-higgins
http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2014/06/hezbollahs-first-usa-soldier-kidnapping.html
The other was an Israeli who took great risks in an effort to expose radical groups within the Mossad.
Both were successful in thwarting multiple plans for the killing of countless numbers of people. Both were aware of the sacrifice they would pay and the manner in which it would be carried out.
Three guys, two of whom decided who was going to step on the moon first. After, of course, sucking it up and flying inside a giant ICBM to get there. Knowing, that at any moment, something small and insignificant may go wrong that would kill them instantly.
One small step, took one massive amount of courage.
Our 1st responsers=servicemen and women,EMTs,Firemen and women and LEOs. Anyone who overcomes their personal fear to do what needs to be done. Me,I have some fears, drowning, being badly burnt, paranlyed and a fear of heights. For some reason flying in my helio never brothered me. Joe
I agree on the 9-11 scenario filled with brave men and women. Rick Rescorla also comes to mind for the events of that day.
The guy that stayed with the handicapped man in the wheelchair until he was rescued is another, neither of them came out. The people that had to choose how they would die, burn to death or hitting the concrete at a couple hundred miles an hour.
Tiananmen Square for certain with that kid standing in front of the tank took balls the size of a small nuclear warhead.
But I think for a day to day basis of uncommon valor are the men and women that suit up every single day and deal, not only with the assholes in Afghanistan and Iraq trying to kill them, but also with the UCMJ and the asswipe tongue lickers that are currently in the upper echelons of command in our armed forces.
To know that someone shooting at you and not being able to shoot back at the fuckwad unless a call is placed to a lawyer in Pensacola NAS is the ultimate act of bravery to me.
These kids that we are sending over there today are no doubt the bravest of the brave, the same a it was for those brothers that went to Vietnam knowing full well it was being given away by the assholes at the top.
Yes, each and every one of them that does that today are the bravest people I can possibly think of…
The one thing I can say though is that each of us as Americans have stepped up to the fight when our own world was in question.
Was I brave to go in when Vietnam was still going on? I’m not sure, it was a means to an end to me, and for that, I am grateful.
But as has been said by so many others, I served in the company of heroes.
And it has been my honor to do so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arland_D._Williams,_Jr.
The four Chaplains and my Lord, Jesus Christ.
Certainly not in that order.
OC