Real Heroes #6

Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley commands a daring PT boat raid against Japanese forces in the Philippines, scoring the first major victory for U.S. surface craft in the Pacific—but his most dangerous mission comes when General MacArthur orders him to pilot a torpedo boat convoy across waters swarming with enemy warships to reach Australia. Racing through the night at top speed, dodging Japanese destroyers and navigating minefields, Bulkeley must shepherd his precious cargo through a gauntlet of peril across the open sea.

During the American Revolution, Major Francis Marion defends Charleston Harbor from Sullivan's Island with a makeshift palmetto fort—armed with only 31 guns and limited powder against a massive British fleet of 260 cannon. When the British launch a coordinated assault from sea and land, Marion's determination and resourcefulness are tested as his outnumbered "Swampcats" hold their position. This true account captures how a bold military gamble and precise marksmanship helped save Charleston in 1776.

When Nazi forces conquered Yugoslavia in 1941, General Draja Mihailovich refused to surrender—instead, he vanished into the mountains to build a guerrilla army known as the "Chetniks," eventually growing to over 150,000 fighters pledged to resist Hitler's occupation at any cost. This non-fiction account follows Mihailovich from his youth through his rise as a military officer to his transformation into the leader of one of occupied Europe's boldest resistance movements, orchestrating sabotage across railways, power stations, and occupied territory while the Nazis pursue him with a bounty on his head. His defiance becomes a symbol of hope across the continent, proving that even against overwhelming odds, an occupied nation can strike back.

Lou Gehrig's remarkable journey from a young prospect signed by the Yankees in 1923 to one of baseball's greatest hitters unfolds across his record-breaking career, including his 1927 MVP season alongside Babe Ruth and his legendary streak of 2,130 consecutive games played despite numerous injuries. When illness finally forces him to step away from the game in 1939, Gehrig channels his dedication into helping troubled youth, proving that his iron will extended far beyond the baseball diamond.

When an R.A.F. Beaufort Bomber goes down in the North Sea during a patrol off Norway, the crew escapes to a rubber dinghy—but their real hope for rescue is Winkie, a carrier pigeon who manages to survive the crash. Flying oil-soaked and exhausted across the North Sea, Winkie makes her desperate journey home to Scotland, where her arrival and condition give rescuers the crucial clues they need to locate the downed crew.

During the Nazi occupation of Russia, a young guerrilla fighter known as Tanya volunteers for a dangerous solo mission to sabotage Nazi supply lines and keep enemy forces pinned down in town so her comrades can destroy a vital supply train. Captured after her explosive attack succeeds, Tanya endures brutal interrogation and torture rather than reveal her fellow fighters—a choice that costs her everything but ensures the mission's victory. This true account celebrates the quiet heroism of an anonymous resistance fighter whose real name and family remain unknown, sacrificed to protect those she fought beside.

Lieutenant T. H. Moorer, a U.S. Navy aviator stationed in Northern Australia during wartime, must use his wits to save his crew after their seaplane is damaged in combat and forced down on a remote island. Facing hunger and isolation with Japanese forces still a threat, Moorer devises a daring plan to signal for rescue. This true account shows how quick thinking and resourcefulness can mean the difference between life and death in the Pacific theater.

Morris Frank lost his sight, but he refused to accept the dependency that blindness seemed to demand—until a magazine article about dog guides trained in Switzerland sparked a bold vision. Traveling to Europe to train with his first guide dog, Buddy, Morris discovered not just personal independence but a path to freedom for thousands of blind Americans who yearned to live without constant assistance. With determination and an unforgettable demonstration of trust crossing New York's treacherous traffic, Morris and Buddy proved that the dream was possible.

When the submarine S-51 sinks in a collision at sea in 1925, Commander Ellsberg mounts a desperate deep-water salvage operation to raise her from the ocean floor—a feat that demands constant innovation, nerve-testing dives, and an unshakeable refusal to quit despite mounting obstacles. From inventing new cutting torches to digging underwater tunnels and fighting off storms, Ellsberg and his crew push through months of grueling, life-threatening challenges to bring the lost vessel home. This is the true account of a Navy commander's extraordinary determination and the heroic effort that earned him and his men the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal.

Young Chinese boys, ages five to ten, organize into guerrilla units to harass Japanese forces occupying their homeland, undertaking tasks ranging from cutting communication lines to gathering intelligence and warning resistance fighters of enemy movements. Through coordinated efforts—from serving as lookouts and messengers to spreading false alarms—these children prove their worth as both practical assets and morale boosters in the struggle for their country's freedom. Their resourcefulness and courage transform everyday opportunities into acts of sabotage and resistance.

General George Custer's temperament and fearlessness make him a rising star in the Union Army during the Civil War, earning him rapid promotion and a reputation for bold leadership. After the war, when tensions flare on the frontier between settlers and Native Americans, Custer is dispatched with the 7th Regiment to maintain order—but when he encounters a massive encampment near the Little Horn in South Dakota, his confidence in a swift decisive strike leads him to split his forces and attack without waiting for reinforcements. Outnumbered and isolated, Custer and his men face their final stand against overwhelming odds.

Squadron Leader L.J. Birchall leads a Catalina flying boat on patrol over the Indian Ocean when he spots enemy naval forces—destroyers, aircraft carriers, and waves of bombers heading toward Ceylon. His urgent radio warning gives the R.C.A.F. and allied forces precious time to scramble their fighters and intercept the Japanese attack, turning what might have been a devastating surprise assault into a defeat the enemy is forced to abandon.