The term hero is definitely misused and/or overused.

To my mind both "hero" and "coward" are overused. Almost casually so. And yes, that does devalue its legitimate use.

My next door neighbor served in Nam, still has shrapnel in his body, and tells me his service there (and resultant first-hand acquaintance with mortality) has informed how he's handling his wife's fatal pancreatic cancer diagnosis. I don't meet many people who are truly courageous and heroic; he is one of them. Maybe in part because he knows, as only one who has seen death, that your number can be up at any time. In my view that's a great way to live, with as little as possible unsaid and undone at all times.

Thank you for your service. I agree with you about "hero." There's a song by Big & Rich that I think captures the feel of that particular war. I hope you like it too:

Respect to all warrior's who fought in wars through time and many countries. We owe them a debt that should be paid by uniting the world & working for a lasting peace on a global scale.

Too many too young for too little.