Real heroes don't do it for recognition.
Captain America
Steve Rogers was a weak kid. As an ardent, patriotic American he went to enlist in the army only to be turned down. That didn't stop him though, the Wars were a group effort. He wasn't stupid enough to give up, and found another way to help the cause. He didn't have to be physically strong to work in the logistics effort. He probably contributed more to the vitality needed to sustain the lives of the Allied soldiers than any munitions dealer.
His childhood friend Bucky Barnes became high-ranking general in the WWs.
Rogers kept up to the war and kept correspondence with Bucky through letters. Through his conversations, he gave Barnes the tactical and strategic insight to be a successful General.
Years later, Old Man Rogers inspired one of his two sons to enlist in the Vietnam War. He hasn't heard from his soldier since it ended.
Barnes was still an Army General. Cloaked under layers of clothing Barnes meets Rogers at a small pub.
"We approved the quickest mass murder, a crime against humanity. I should have listened to you. Looking back, they'd have surrendered anyway at the end," Barnes said with his hands covering his flushed face.
"But we won, and we make the rules. Don't think they didn't deserve an appropriate response. We just chose the fast and easy decision."
A certain amateur photographer in the pub had snapped a photo secretly, without knowing who the men were.
Iron Man
Anthony Stark was born with a degenerative muscle disease that would put a limit to how long he'd be able to live. But thank's to his Birthright as Howard Stark's son, he had been given the best medical support in the World. He was 18 now and lived life moving from a wheelchair.
He's in college now. His classmate and friend Peter Parker pushes his wheelchair sometimes.
Parker sat across from me fiddling with his dinky camera.
"I'll never be able to handle our firm, Pete. I'm trying my best in the Research department, but I'm not particularly gifted. But, I'm a futurist through and through. You know I've always wanted Stark Industries to get into the Space Race, but father wouldn't take up the cause because of the risk.
I looked away from Peter into the sky, "I've always had the thought on my mind, 'I want to fly.'"
A gust blew and I might have heard a click. When I looked at Peter the camera was still fidgeting in his hands.
"Tony, you're so passionate. You're a better speaker than I'll ever be. Can't you do something else? Just get the word out there and change the government or something."
"Politics? Maybe."
Spiderman
I'm the guy next door. As a nerd we're accepted but still get sidelined because we're not stronger than our athletic peers. But, I don't need to be accepted by everybody. I have my family.
I respect what they've taught be about being a good person. And, I don't feel that I have the responsibility to do the right thing all the time. But I'll do it anyway. People abuse and hurt others. That needs to be addressed.
But, I'm a nobody, what can I do?
I have a blog where I post my pictures anonymously. I added Stark's photo to the one I took at the pub a couple weekends back.
Maybe I'll write a feature or something. I have time, I don't have to protect anyone, I don't have to keep secrets, I can do anything because I'm a nobody.