Dee,
Didn't mean for you to feel slighted. You see, I'm currently working on my 20th year of service. I'm an AF SNCO. Might have been better if I had been more specific in my subject line. MOST Americans will never know the service, sacrifice, danger, actions or level of effort that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines know sometimes on a daily basis, even just while training. I would never slight my brothers and sisters... However, for MOST Americans, their "heroes" are the one's they see on a regular basis on TV/movies.
Maybe we should redefine these as "traditional, positively masculine role models". I don't think of John Wayne as a hero who sacrificed and bled for his fellows or country, because he didn't. I do think of his character portrayals as a "hero" type. Strong, masculine, slow to anger, good in a tough spot or a fight, gentle with women (most of the time), etc...
sorry again,
ngh