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Somalia.
Part of a hundred and forty strong force whose mission was to remove some Aidid's top militia who were meeting in a location known to the Americans, his aircraft was struck by an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) and crippled. The helicopter half-buried itself in the ground as it slammed in.
One of just two survivors of five, he lay broken and relatively helpless in the smashed chopper. Somalian militia were closing in from all around and his situation looked truly hopeless.

Enter real heroes (in the truest sensed of the word).

Gary Shutgart and Gary Gordon were two Delta Snipers from the Elite US Army unit. The cream of Americas armed forces, they were lifetime soldiers. They were circling above watching and awaiting orders when Durant's bird went down.
Knowing one of their buddies was helpless and knowing an angry mob, spurred to an even more frenzied state by the successful downing of the American chopper, was heading towards him, they asked to be inserted to defend their fallen comrade. They obviously knew the chances of survival were slim to non-existent, but regardless of their own safety, they responded as soon as permission was granted.
Through hails of bullets and RPG's, and hundreds of armed Somalis, electrified on (a local, amphetamine-like drug), these two men defended that downed chopper and it's hurt pilot to their very last bullet, resorting, when their automatic weapons spent their last, to handguns. Tragically, their efforts were in vain for them at least the chopper pilot was taken prisoner by militia, but released some time later.
These two men are actual heroes. Not swimmers, not cricketers, not football players not even firemen or policemen(who as it happens, get paid handsomely for their efforts).

Much like love', hero' has been overused to the point its meaning has lost effect somewhat.

Shutgart and Gordon were posthumously awarded Medals of Honour, America's highest award, for their bravery and rightly so. True heroes, they laid down their lives for another, disregarding their own safety.

So enough of the hero tag for players of sport, givers to charity and other such insignificant pastimes, it belittles the true recipients. A real hero doesn't think of himself. Or bask in self-indulgent adoration from fans cause he scored...whatever.

And before the feminist lobby start whining about my apparent sexism or herself.

An ordinary woman (one of the aforementioned 'Joes' - or Josephines, I suppose) driven by desperation demonstrated this careless

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