Real Heroes #5

The legendary engineer Casey Jones takes the throttle of the Illinois Central's "Cannonball" Express for what will be his final run, racing to make up lost time on the night of April 29, 1900. When a freight train's cars block the main line near Vaughn, Mississippi, a desperate attempt to warn the speeding mail train sets in motion the events that will define Casey Jones's legacy forever.

Rear Admiral Russell B. Waesche's rise through the ranks of the U.S. Coast Guard traces a remarkable journey from his academy days through decades of service—from icebreaker patrols in Alaska to directing the nation's communications network during the First World War. This biography spans the Coast Guard's evolution from its founding as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790 through Waesche's pivotal role in consolidating its various bureaus into a unified maritime force. Under his command as Commandant, the Coast Guard has grown to meet the demands of a second global conflict, protecting American waters and shores with unwavering dedication.

When Governor Berkeley's greed leaves the Virginia colonists defenseless against Indian attacks, Nathaniel Bacon takes matters into his own hands—defying the governor's orders and rallying the people to protect their homes. His bold stand earns him a place in the House of Burgesses and the rank of general, but it also makes him a target for Berkeley's vengeance, setting off a dramatic clash between a young man's fight for justice and a corrupt ruler's grip on power.

A visiting nurse in the remote Australian bush, Sister Elizabeth Kenny encounters a mysterious illness striking down children in her parish. When a doctor 40 miles away diagnoses it as polio with no known cure, she relies on her own judgment—applying hot bandages and gentle muscle work—to treat her patients where medicine has failed. Her unconventional methods spark fierce criticism from established doctors, but her determination to help carries her from the Australian outback to America, where she continues her groundbreaking work.

The Northwest Mounted Police brought law and order to Canada's untamed frontier, from their legendary 1873 formation through their relentless patrols of the wilderness and their steady hand during conflicts with Indigenous nations and American forces alike. When the Klondike Gold Rush drew prospectors and criminals alike to the Arctic, the Mounties faced their greatest test yet—keeping the peace in a lawless boom town where gold fever threatened to overwhelm justice. This is the true story of how a handful of red-coated officers earned the respect of the West and became the world's most spectacular police force.

Simon Kenton becomes a trusted scout for Daniel Boone and is sent on a dangerous mission with George Rogers Clark to spy on an Indian encampment at Chillicothe—but when they attempt to steal horses, things quickly unravel into capture, torture, and a desperate fight for survival. Caught between warring factions and facing repeated threats of death, Kenton must use his wits and the help of unexpected allies to escape his captors and return with vital intelligence about enemy positions.

Frank Luke went from Arizona ranches to the skies above France in World War I, determined to prove himself as a pursuit pilot with the 27th Squadron—and his relentless drive to down enemy observation balloons and aircraft earned him a fearless reputation among his fellow fliers. With art by Jim Ray, this account follows Luke's rise from a doubted newcomer to a decorated aerial combatant, even as the human cost of his valor becomes impossible to ignore.

Around 1200 B.C. in Canaan, Gideon rallies his people to stand against the Midianite raiders who have been destroying their crops and forcing them to flee. Leading a small band of followers into the enemy camp under cover of darkness, Gideon devises a daring strategy using torches and trumpets to turn the tide of battle. This tale of courage and faith shows how one man's conviction can inspire a people to reclaim their freedom.

Born in a Tennessee log cabin, Cordell Hull rose from farm work and self-study to become a lawyer, congressman, and eventually Secretary of State under President Roosevelt. This biographical account follows Hull's tireless advocacy for fair trade agreements and strengthened relations with Latin America, showing how his belief in breaking down trade barriers and ending "dollar diplomacy" transformed America's standing in the Western Hemisphere.

A stray cat finds refuge in Soviet Army trenches during the fight against Nazi Germany, and the soldiers see an unexpected opportunity in her travels between the front lines and a nearby German village. They enlist her to carry propaganda leaflets to the occupied territory, turning a hungry stray into an unlikely courier for their cause. By her twelfth mission, Puss's work has begun to bear fruit in ways even her Soviet friends didn't anticipate.

During the Battle of Bull Run in 1861, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson commands Confederate artillery with unwavering resolve, standing firm under heavy Union fire and inspiring his retreating comrades to hold the line—earning him the legendary nickname that would follow him through the war. Nearly two years later at Chancellorsville, Jackson leads a daring cavalry assault that scatters Union forces, only to be tragically struck by friendly fire in the chaos of dusk, a final act of sacrifice that cemented his place in American military history.