At this year’s Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards ceremony, also known as the ESPYs, the recipient of an esteemed courage award was Caitlyn Jenner. It’s no secret that she is a recent icon of the transgender community, and as such has embarked on a life-changing path that the media has taken to heavily covering, all the while debating her legitimacy.

While millions support her, plenty do not. With a multiplicity of harsh claims coming from military soldiers and supporters, begging for bravery in the form of actively saving lives from award recipients, Caitlyn is yet again under attack.

Yes, plenty of incredibly brave men and women have died this year: athletes who lost the battle to cancer, soldiers who lost their lives for our country. The list is endless and well-deserving. Still, U.S. Army soldier Joey Vicente shot down those claims against Caitlyn’s heroism, giving his own perspective in the hopes of diluting the negativity and shining light on the meaning of “hero” in its many forms.

Via Facebook, Joey wrote a recap of his opinions, using his background as a behavioral health specialist to reframe the narrative on Caitlyn’s award.

“Your definition of what or who a hero can be is irrelevant,” Joey said.

He went on to describe Caitlyn’s speech as one that may have saved someone from committing suicide, considering 40 percent of the transgender community have attempted such tragic acts.

“You don’t like that a female who used to identify as a male got an award at a ceremony run by ESPN? Here’s a hint: get over yourself. You are on the wrong side of history,” Joey wrote.

The colloquial phrase “pain is pain” rings true in Joey’s message. We cannot proclaim one’s pain as harsher than another, one’s personal journey to peace any longer than another’s. Whether that path is walked on through a war-ridden desert, a hospital hallway or a mirror with distorted reflections, it can only be commendable that Caitlyn cracked open her closet door and walked into the world with her head and heels held high.

Joey shared his thoughts with Buzzfeed News, noting that he “joined the service and picked [his] job because [he] loves helping people.”

Saving a life by physical or emotional means is something Joey called “a victory on any scale.” A victory is, after all, a victory — no matter the form in which it’s received.