Teddy Atlas: The athletes: boxers, fighters, and others, are not heroes. Soldiers are

[Soundtraveler]

One of my best friends took 2 AK-47 rounds to the thigh, and one to the foot which is now gone. It happened when the Iraqi Official he was escorting into a meeting came under fire - my friend threw himself on top of the official and saved the Iraqi's life.

My friend is a hero in my eyes, he always will be. I asked him one day if he had any regrets - he said "would I rather have my foot than this medal, of course." I then asked if he would throw himself on top of the Iraqi again knowing he would get shot? His response, without hesitation was "in a heartbeat."

THAT is a heroes' way of thinking, AND a HEROES' way of reacting under fire.

[El Jesus]

You know why you have that right? I bet you do. The americans fighting for you to have that right. I know people disagree with the war and blah blah blah but to be out right disrespectful about soldiers is crazy. You many not agree but don't be disrespectful toward the people that gave you the right to talk **** on this forum.

I have never said one single disrespectful thing about the troops. I told you the truth about what i was and what we do as a military. A soldier is a political statement, by implementing a flag means they are aligned to a country, and that country has made the statement that by any means nessecary they would make their point proven.

Any soldier fighting in a land not their own is making a statement, they are not defending anything, how are you defending your home thousands of miles away from it, from an enemy you cannot see or identify? This isnt world war 2 where the threat was obvious and immenent in a conventional war, not even close.

The difference between me and you is that i know what i was. And you think im talking **** because im not going to give you some lovefest about "SUPPORT THE TROOPS" and all that other bull****. Look closely at what i said, i never, ever disrespected the troops, because again, that would be disrespecting myself and what i used to be.

I notice your argument revolves around the same rhetoric, "dont talk about the troops!!" "your disrespecting the troops" and you basically ignore all the other aspects of what im talking about, because deep down you know what im telling you is a hard and honest truth.

[Dr.Depravity]

I think what Atlas was trying to say is that chances are your not going to leave a boxing match or football game missing a ****ing arm or a leg.

[1bad65]

Yeah Sound, you gotta respect someone who would do that. One of my dad's friends in his company threw himself on a triggered booby-trap to save the rest of the squad. He won the MOH for it, his name was Clifford Sims. I always say a little prayer on Memorial Day for those who gave their lives.

[El Jesus]

Yeah Sound, you gotta respect someone who would do that. One of my dad's friends in his company threw himself on a triggered booby-trap to save the rest of the squad. He won the MOH for it, his name was Clifford Sims. I always say a little prayer on Memorial Day for those who gave their lives.

There is a difference between doing your job and being a hero like your above statement, Not everyone in the service becomes a hero by default, but a hero is someone who uplifts themselves from others to do something not many would do. So i agree in this sense.

[Irish0910]

Any soldier would find all of your posts on this thread disrespectful Expecially those that do it for more than college money and longer than 4 years.

[Irish0910]

I think what Atlas was trying to say is that chances are your not going to leave a boxing match or football game missing a ****ing arm or a leg.

Nice post!

[Irish0910]

One of my best friends took 2 AK-47 rounds to the thigh, and one to the foot which is now gone. It happened when the Iraqi Official he was escorting into a meeting came under fire - my friend threw himself on top of the official and saved the Iraqi's life.

My friend is a hero in my eyes, he always will be. I asked him one day if he had any regrets - he said "would I rather have my foot than this medal, of course." I then asked if he would throw himself on top of the Iraqi again knowing he would get shot? His response, without hesitation was "in a heartbeat."

THAT is a heroes' way of thinking, AND a HEROES' way of reacting under fire.

Not everyone in the military is a hero but that man is!

[El Jesus]

Any soldier would find all of your posts on this thread disrespectful Expecially those that do it for more than college money and longer than 4 years.

Alot of my ideology comes from my personal experiance, as well as the experiances of family members who have served as well as friends.I have also read many veteran made books about Vietnam which is where i got the idea that soldiers are political statements. Essentially, what i have said does come from the outlook of other soldiers, so once again, your really failing to see what im saying, and you likely always will.

I served, my father served, my grandfather served, my great grandfather served. Generations of my family including myself put my their time in, and just because im not going kiss the military's ass with every statement doesnt mean i dont love this country and it doesnt mean i have disrespected the military.

[Soundtraveler]

Yeah Sound, you gotta respect someone who would do that. One of my dad's friends in his company threw himself on a triggered booby-trap to save the rest of the squad. He won the MOH for it, his name was Clifford Sims. I always say a little prayer on Memorial Day for those who gave their lives.

Your Dads' friend is indeed a true hero - the bravest of the brave, and I am honored to now know his name and be able to put a face with it. Thank you for the post, and thank you Clifford Sims.