I imagine they are VERY much like the rest of us humans when it comes to self preservation!
Sure; there'll be those who do 'heroic' measures when saving someone else's life; but I'd guess that most would be intent on savin g their own first!
"Better to be judged by 12 than be carried by 6" is also on THEIR minds!
The following paragraph is from a history website with emphasis on the Battle of Fort McHenry and our Flag with slight modifications.
Read the paragraph below several times. This paragraph shows just how much freedom meant to these soldier who died holding up our Flag!
Upon discussing the previous night with survivors of the great battle, he learned just how much keeping the flag flying had meant to the soldiers. The flag itself was hit many times and had holes in it. In addition, several times through the night a cannon ball had hit the flag pole. It was hit enough times that the pole was actually leaning and in danger of toppling over. Brave men rushed to the pole to help prop it up with their bodies and arms. When one man holding the flagpole up was shot, another was ready to take his place. The bodies of these men were piling up, one on top of the other. When the dawn came, the carnage was clear. The flag was being held up by the brave men all dead or dying. It meant something to them to keep this flag flying. This is how they kept the flag flying all night!
Think of these brave men rushing to hold up our flag makes one cry, if one has a heart. Men rushed in throughout the night fearing not. Each man knew it meant curtain death, yet still each man went to hold up our flag. Many since have asked Oh, What's the Point. God forgive them for they know not what each man knew on that night.
A path for each woman and man in America was lain out that night. Nobody want to die. And a sane nobody does not want to kill or be killed, but the men who held up that flag went. Insanity ruled that night. It was suicide to go prop up that flag, but those men went. Do you want to prop up America? Speak up. Become involved. Hold the politicians and the medias feet to the fire. Go and prop up the flag. I can guarantee you ... probable death.
Surrender? This War is Lost? We must understand why they hate us? My answer shall be for the lives of those men and women in the present willing to go out to hold the flag high shout a resounding NO of I will not retreat, I must not understand anything except being an American requires sacrifice. Being an American also means taking a stand. Those men on that night took a stand. It turned the War of 1812, as History calls it, around from being a defeated America to being a victorious America. When and if the time comes, it all boils down to where each of us will stand. Will each of us stand under the flag knowing certain death is coming or will each of us run and hide? I know not yet, for my test has not come from God but God will come and God will test us all. What these men did on that night of 1814 for America by holding up that flag causes one to weep if one is sane. The insane and the lost, we can only pity them.