Americans by nature seem to root for the underdog — in sporting events and in military battles. Many times, in our nation’s history we have been on the side that must beat all the odds. This was the story of our nation from the very beginning. Even farther back than the creation of the United States.

We can look to the settlement of Jamestown in Virginia to see how a small group of people could stand against the elements of the harsh new land to prosper and grow a thriving community. We saw the puritans sail through terrific storms to land upon the beach of Plymouth and for the first year in the Americas they fended off starvation and disease. The odds were truly against them, leaving only a tattered few to build a new existence. The residents of Roanoke who lost their fight with the elements of this wilderness. In all these instances we read about the harshness and savagery of their new home and of the other occupants they meet in their establishment of a harmonic homeland.

Even still during the earliest of times forming the birth of America as we know it, the minute men and eventually the continental Army would skirmish with far superior forces and in the pages of our history books complete them with satisfying victory. This was the story of Lexington Green and Concord. It would spread across the colonies with push after push against the tyrannical British soldiers. Many brave patriots would gain a prominent name in our history books from the American Revolution.

While our country grew, so did the feelings of freedom and of patriotic support for this country and its sovereignty. In places like the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, men became famous for their ability to stand against enemies even when they were defeated. Names like Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Davey Crocket and William Travis would become heroes of the Texas revolution. When war between the states occurred many times either side would find themselves against all odds.

Again, heroes would be made from nearly impossible feats accomplished. Some have local significance like Alonzo Cushing from Fredonia, who repelled Picket’s charge in the battle of Gettysburg. Another, William Cushing, would gain fame as he fought during the battles of the Ironclads in the waters near Charleston.

Some stories hold great truths as their tellers had survived the odds and others might be stretched a bit from being told by other observers or secondhand knowledge. True to the tale is accounts of heroism from the likes of Teddy Roosevelt during the Spanish American War, charging on horseback up San Juan Hill in Puerto Rico his saber raised over his head.

In World War I, we find Sgt. Alvin York a conscientious objector at the beginning of his enlistment straying into the fray single handed against multiple platoons of German soldiers killing or capturing so many that it was overwhelming for his squad to hold them by themselves. Eddie Rickenbacker, who in his Sopwith Camel biplane, gained the status of Ace as he downed countless enemy aircraft.

In more modern times viewing the combat veterans, we find similar situations where a lone soldier performs heroically against the odds like Audie Murphy, the most highly decorated soldier of World War II, or the brutalized men of the Bataan Death March in the Philippines, where surviving against the odds was monumental.

So many could be named from this war and the recounting from the many voices of the Greatest Generation. From Pearl Harbor to Africa and from Sicily to Bastogne these men were often the underdogs.

When we visit the store or restaurant or we drive past the American Legion or other veterans homes we may see our brothers and sisters of more current wars where we felt as though we were on the short end. At places like the bay of Inchon and on the muddy hill of Keh Sahn, in the city of Huey and for the defendants of the Benghazi Embassy or mountain soldiers in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province, we have often been outgunned and not favored to survive let alone win. But we did and with epic results.

It is nice to see that our government for the past several years has taken the stance that we will no longer be the losing bet. We will engage and defeat all adversaries with superior force and equipment. We will make a show of that force to let anyone who chooses to do us harm know that we will refuse to ever lose again and that the most secure bet will be on American victory.

With such thought can only create a spread of confidence in our American soldiers, marines, seamen and airmen that they will never be put in retreat or fail in their effort to protect the citizens of the United States of America at any cost.

Realizing that cost we as the citizens, must agree to provide them with the best tools and equipment that is available, and to train them for any situation that may cause such adversity. From that cause will spur those who love this country to give everything to secure its continuation.

As the citizens of this great nation, we must agree that with a military force of millions, we acknowledge millions of new patriotic heroes.

Kirk L. Miller is past commander of the Chautauqua County American Legion, 8th District, Department of New York.