system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Escape From New York] Is Snake so well known because of his crimes or because he's a war hero?

In the deleted opening scene, Snake is captured trying to rob a bank. He references this when speaking to Brain and mentioned it was 4 years prior. Was this Snake's only crime? When Hauk offers him the pardon for taking the mission he says it applies for "all crimes committed in the US" insinuating there's multiple. Someone like Cabbie who has been in NY for 30 years even knows who Snake is. In fact, he was able to recognize him just from the back in a dark theater. Do people think of criminal when they hear the name Snake Plissken or war hero? Hauk also mentions Snake's military record including being the youngest person honored by the president.
gpt
Both, really. Imagine if Audie Murphy came back from WWII and instead of going to Hollywood became a contract killer, or if instead of getting shot down in WWI the Red Baron took his Fokker and started gunning down zeppelins that didn't pay up protection money. Snake is equally famous and infamous, and the contrast between the two halves of his life is part of the legend.