I was only a gun captain on the battleship Alabama for 34 months. People have called me a hero for that, but I'll tell you this - heroes don't come home. Survivors come home.
Bob FellerRead
The soldiers that didn't come back were the heroes. It's a roll of the dice. If a bullet has your name on it, you're a hero. If you hear a bullet go by, you're a survivor.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote honors fallen soldiers and emphasizes the unpredictable nature of survival in warfare.
Bob Feller's quote reflects on the bravery of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in battle, stating that those who do not return are the true heroes. It highlights the randomness of life and death in combat—suggesting that if fate has marked you for death, you are a hero, while those who escape bullets are merely survivors. This duality recognizes both the honor of sacrifice and the sheer luck involved in surviving conflict.
Themes
HeroesSoldiersCourageSurvivalSacrificeBattle
In practice
Example use cases
A speech at a veterans' gathering to honor those who served.
More from Bob Feller
All quotes →I'm no hero. Heroes don't come back. Survivors return home. Heroes never come home. If anyone thinks I'm a hero, I'm not.
Bob FellerRead
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