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The Dave Box Chronicles - Volume 5 A Rare Privilege   I had a rare privilege last week. Most people go through their life without ever having seen the Medal of Honor, let alone meeting a living recipient of that award. I was traveling to Iraq and met three gentlemen in an air terminal awaiting their flight. There was nothing 'special' about these gentlemen, other than the fact that they appeared to be a little older then the average soldier. As it turns out; these gentlemen were VERY special as they each were recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.   For those who don't know a lot about the Medal of Honor, it is awarded to those who, while members of the military, "...distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of The United States". The Medal of Honor is not an award that is awarded lightly. In fact, in most cases, the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously because the member gave their life in order to save others. Right now, there are only 105 living members of the exclusive fraternity of Medal of Honor winners.   The term "HERO" is thrown around way too often in our society. We make heroes out of sports figures and celebrities merely because of the way they play a game or because of how they look or how much money they have. We raise them to 'elite' status. So, what should we look for in a "HERO"? I know we need to be selective in the people we select as our heroes. For me, I think a hero is someone who serves others. For me, I think a hero is less concerned with their own needs and more with the needs of those around him/her. For me, I think a hero is a person who shows the strength of character to do the right thing.   With respect to these three gentlemen; they are ordinary people who did extraordinary things. In the heat of unbelievable terror, they found the strength, character, and courage within, to perform unimaginable feats. Please don't misunderstand my words. I'm not saying that you have to risk your life to be a hero. What I am saying is that you have to possess the strength and courage to do the right thing. That strength comes in many forms. It can be the teacher who spends extra time with a struggling student. It can be an emergency response professional who rushes into a building while others are rushing out. Or, it can be the soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who risks their own life to save others.   Ironically, if you meet a recipient of the Medal of Honor you would never know of their heroism (because they won't tell you about it). They are ordinary and unassuming. They laugh and joke and live regular lives... in effect they are much like you and I. However, the depth of their character is not easily measured. Fighting and sacrificing they faced the pain, the danger, and the horrors of war and yet they persevered. They saved the lives of those around them, sometimes buddies, and sometimes total strangers, without regard for their own safety. They are HERO's.   I've attached a picture taken of me with the three Medal of Honor recipients I was privileged enough to meet. It was taken in the cargo bay of an Air Force C-17.   Cheers,   Dave   David W. Box CDR, SC, USN Deputy Mission Director CDDOC - Current Operations DSN: 318-430-5222