What is a hero? To many, a firefighter, police officer, or superhuman might come to mind. According to Robert F. Kennedy, “Every time a man defends an ideal, or the lot of others, or eliminates an injustice, he sends out a little wave of hope.” Clara Barton, Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, is the epitome of a hero, as her heroic acts, courage, and focus during the Civil War serve as an inspiration to others in today's dark times . Barton's training to become a hero began at a young age. She was raised by her father, Captain Steven Barton, a member of a local militia, who never actually reached the rank of captain. His mother, Sarah Barton, was strict and hardworking and instilled the values ​​of hard work in her children (Pryor 5). Barton's tenure as a hero began early. When her brother David fell from the roof while building a barn and suffered serious internal injuries, Clara, who was only 11 years old at the time, took care of him and nursed him back to health (Krensky 18-20). This experience spurred Clara's heroism, which increased during the Civil War. Clara Barton also set a precedent for women in the workforce. Barton began working as a teacher for more than a dozen years before becoming the first female clerk at the United States Patent Office (Manning 121). Barton broke barriers as a woman in a male-dominated career, which opened the door for her heroism to shine, as she broke barriers in the Civil War. Clara Barton's heroism reached epic proportions during the Civil War. While her father was on his deathbed, he convinced her to go and help wounded soldiers on the battlefield. “It changed me with the love of a dying patriot to serve and sacrifice for my country, its dangers and… middle of paper… the Civil War. He defended the fate of wounded soldiers and instilled in them a wave of hope. “He was perhaps the most perfect embodiment of mercy the modern world has known,” the Detroit Free Press said after his death in 1912 (Manning 122). She eliminated injustices, advocating for equal rights and compensation for women, as well as women's suffrage. He was persistent and defended his ideal of the need for the American Red Cross and the ratification of the Geneva Convention. Clara Barton is the true embodiment of a heroine, as her heroic deeds and beliefs serve as an inspiration to others and continue to have a lasting impact on the world to this day. Carroll's New York Globe tribute to her read: "Give the world enough Clara Bartons and the brotherhood of man will be inaugurated. (Somervill 95).”