John Bradley

In my words, a hero wouldn't be someone that was given the opportunity to do something great, but worked for it. A person who never gives up, who fixes or saves something. A hero could also be someone that inspires others to do great things. The thing that comes to mind to me is someone that doesn't do something for fame, but to make it right. Some people think a hero is someone who is good at sports, but is a person that makes millions of dollars, just to shoot hoops or hit a ball a hero? Heroes are good people. I feel that whenever someone does something good, they try to squeeze as much fame out of it as possible. A real hero wouldn't do it for fame, but to the right thing. Another thing is that most real heroes stay unknown because they are humble. A hero is also someone who sets a good example. My hero is John Bradley.

John Bradley (http://www.iwojima.com/raising/bradleynavy.jpg)

John Bradley was born in 1923 in Antigo, Wisconsin. When he was 19, John's father suggested for him to enlist in the navy so he could avoid the dangers on he ground. But instead he was assigned as a medical corpsman and was assigned to the United States Marine Corps. He was one of the six men that raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Three of those men died in battle, while the other three returned home. John Bradley was offered news interviews many times from people such as Walter Cronkite. He even trained his children to say that he was "on a fishing trip in Canada" and could not answer the phone.

John was humble. He didn't think of himself as a hero. When his son, James Bradley, told him that his teacher said that John was a hero, he replied "I want you always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys that did not come back. Did NOT come back." I think he was like this because his best friend, Ralph Ignatowski, was brutally tortured and murdered during the battle. He had many flashbacks of this and could never forgive himself for not being there to save his friend's life. Think about this. John could have made gazillions of dollars traveling around the world, just talking about what happened on that hill. But he didn't feel like that was the purpose of it. Bradley was just overall a good person. When he saw someone that he knew in his heart couldn't make it, he would comfort them as best as he could. When someone was wounded, he would do his duty and tried his hardest to save the boy's life.

John probably inspired many young people to do the right thing and not "brag" about it. I would think that people all over would look up to him because he set a good example of what is the right thing to do. Young men might be inspired to rethink joining the army. Someone might even apologize for doing something bad, or wrong. Bradley was honest too. I think some people would have juiced up the story just to have the honor and to make extra money. But he didn't. He was still honored greatly and could have money out of it, but once again he didn't.

John Bradley is my hero because he is someone I look up to. I believe that he is not perfect, but is great enough to be recognized. I want to live up to his standards and always try my best to do the right thing. He is a great person and he is my hero.