Real Heroes #3

John Paul Jones, a Scottish-born sailor of fortune, dreams of the sea from childhood and rises through the ranks of maritime adventure—eventually fleeing to America after a mutiny crisis forces him to assume a new identity. When the Revolutionary War begins, Jones advocates fiercely for the Continental Congress to build a navy, and soon finds himself commanding vessels in daring raids against British shipping, capturing supplies and vessels that aid the colonial cause. Though frustrated by political rivalries that limit his rank, Jones pushes Congress to authorize bold operations across the Atlantic, setting his sights on striking the enemy where they least expect it.

Prince Llewelyn of Wales treasures his greyhound Gellert above all his hunting dogs—a gift from the English King himself—but when the hound goes missing during a hunt, the Prince's unease grows. Upon returning home, Llewelyn finds Gellert bloodied and a terrible scene that seems to point to the worst, forcing him to make a choice he will come to deeply regret. This Welsh legend, set in 1205 A.D., reveals the true heroism of a faithful dog and the power of a master's remorse.

Major Raoul Lufbery's path from wandering adventurer to legendary fighter pilot unfolds as he transforms from a young man seeking his fortune into a fearless aerial combatant. After learning to fly under the mentorship of Marc Pourpe and joining the legendary Lafayette Escadrille, Lufbery becomes obsessed with avenging his fallen friend and proving himself in the sky. His daring dogfights and relentless pursuit of German aircraft earn him fame across two nations, cementing his place among the greatest aces of the First World War.

The son of a slave in French-ruled Haiti, Francois Dominique Toussaint rose from caretaker to general, inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution to fight for his people's freedom. Earning the name "Louverture" for opening the way to liberty, he united the enslaved population, defeated colonial forces, and refused a crown to establish Haiti as a republic with equal rights for all. This is the remarkable true story of the man who became the founder of the world's first Negro republic.

John D. Craig trades a quiet life for relentless adventure—from oil-field fortune hunter to big-game photographer willing to chase tigers through Indian jungles, dive with sharks off Mexico, and broadcast from the bottom of Lake Michigan. This is the true story of a man whose hunger for danger turned ordinary work into the stuff of legend, one wild expedition at a time.

Sitting Bull rose from a Teton Sioux boy called "Slow" to become the greatest war chief of his people, devoted to defending Indian rights against white encroachment and broken treaties. This biography traces his early courage—from his first buffalo hunt to earning his legendary name—through his leadership of the combined tribes and the pivotal battles of the 1870s, showing how he fought a doomed but noble cause to protect his nation's lands and way of life.

On December 30, 1903, a fire breaks out at Chicago's Iroquois Theatre during a matinee performance of "Mr. Bluebeard," with nearly two thousand people—mostly women and children—packed into the house. As panic threatens to turn catastrophic, Eddie Foy makes a crucial decision to remain on stage, using his calm presence and quick thinking to help prevent the crowd from stampeding to their deaths. This is the story of how one man's steady nerve in the face of disaster became an act of genuine heroism.

During a training exercise at the San Diego Navy Base, a parachutist becomes dangerously tangled in his lines—and Lieutenant William W. Lowrey springs into action, maneuvering his bomber in a daring mid-air rescue. With split-second timing and nerves of steel, Lowrey and his crew work to free the trapped man before tragedy strikes. Based on a true incident from May 1941, this story showcases the real heroism that earned Lowrey and Machinist's Mate John R. McCants the Distinguished Flying Cross.

When Iroquois raiders threaten Fort Verchères in 1692, fourteen-year-old Madeleine de Verchères must take command while her father is away in Montreal—rallying frightened soldiers, organizing a daring rescue, and orchestrating an elaborate bluff to convince the attackers that the fort is heavily defended. Over eight tense days and nights, she holds her ground against overwhelming odds with nothing but courage, quick thinking, and the loyalty of those around her.

When a schoolhouse stove explosion leaves young Glenn Cunningham severely burned and doctors declaring he'll never walk again, the Kansas farm boy refuses to accept their verdict—vowing instead to run. Watch as determined effort and family support transform a tragedy into an extraordinary athletic journey, as Cunningham works his way from crutches to becoming one of the world's greatest milers, setting record after record in competition.

"Super-Strategist" traces the military rise of General Sir Archibald Wavell from his birth in 1883 through his training at Sandhurst and service across multiple theaters of war—from South Africa to the Western Front, where he lost an eye but refused to leave the service, to Palestine under General Allenby, and finally to his command in the Near East during World War II. As Italy threatens the Suez Canal and Egypt, Wavell faces seemingly impossible odds, but his years of unconventional thinking and studied strategy position him to meet the challenge head-on. This biography celebrates a commander who refused to follow routine and proved that military vision and courage could reshape the course of nations.