Being a Veteran and in a day and age when Thanking a Vet is as common as Good Morning, etc, and then trying to define "hero", it best that how it is define, let the individual use it as he/she see fit.  For my generation (Vietnam) we were Thanked in that time period way, No Thanks.  So I served not to be served, I did not serve for others, I would not die for others, it was a personal decision  and for me I do not accept or acknowledge, I did not serve for this reason.
Political Correctness / Dog and Pony Show, that is not me especially Political Correctness, freedom of speech did not say you must be political correct, the same holds true for freedom to bear arms, did not say which and did not say how many.  So leave Hero to be define as those who see fit, it is what freedom of speech means.