As a Trump said, he was not a hero. He was a war survivor. Big difference.
He had a chance to be brought home early on account of his well-connected daddy, but wouldn’t leave without the other men. Heroic enough, but so what. Menachem Begin was a hero in 1948, but gave the Sinai back to Egypt in 1978. Fidel Castro was a hero when he was fighting in the mountains, but later was a commy dictator. George Washington was a hero in the revolution, and a great President. Ben Gurion was a backstabbing creep during the revolt against the Mandate, but was an outstanding prime minister. Heroism in war-time is irrelevant to performance as a politician years later, and vice versa. Heroism launches careers, but does not define them.
He had a chance to be brought home early on account of his well-connected daddy, but wouldn’t leave without the other men. Heroic enough, but so what. Menachem Begin was a hero in 1948, but gave the Sinai back to Egypt in 1978. Fidel Castro was a hero when he was fighting in the mountains, but later was a commy dictator. George Washington was a hero in the revolution, and a great President. Ben Gurion was a backstabbing creep during the revolt against the Mandate, but was an outstanding prime minister. Heroism in war-time is irrelevant to performance as a politician years later, and vice versa. Heroism launches careers, but does not define them.
I think he was a hero. I appreciate what he did for servicemen and I believe he served our country well. But now he is willing to dismantle it and I loathe him for that.