Real Heroism Isn’t What You Think

During my first tour in Afghanistan, I encountered what American culture interprets to be the pinnacle of masculine power and heroism. Every day, whether at the DFAC (military slang for dining facility) or at the gym, I would greet big, perfectly fit soldiers with big beards and confident smiles. I knew what they did, as did everyone else: they captured or killed Taliban and terrorists on dangerous night missions, with a professional efficiency that rivaled the highest performers of any Fortune 500 company. They were dangerous and courageous, risking their lives over and over again in service to their country.