You can define the word hero any way you like. At a minimum, she survived an ambush, gunshot wounds, stabbings, and several days of torture, apparently to include the breaking of bones. The physical evidence alone attests to that, regardless if she made up everything else (personally, I think she's telling the truth.)
Even if she only shot at the Iraqis (as opposed to shooting several) before being captured, I'd have to say that she probably rates at least the tip of the hat. She's a hero in my book, but you're probably Delta or something, and have a little higher standards than mine.