True Comics #11

During wartime, ordinary citizens discover that even small, everyday actions can play a vital role in supporting the war effort. Written by George J. Hecht, this story reminds readers that patriotic contribution isn't limited to the battlefield—everyone at home has a part to play in securing victory.

In this 1942 profile, follow the extraordinary career of General Douglas MacArthur from his childhood at a frontier army post through his rise as the youngest major-general and Chief of Staff in U.S. Army history. From daring reconnaissance in Mexico to fearless leadership on the battlefields of France, MacArthur earns his reputation as a commander who leads from the front—and by 1941, President Roosevelt appoints him to the crucial post of commanding all U.S. military forces in the Far East, where he works to strengthen Filipino defenses against the mounting threat from Japan. A compelling portrait of the man tasked with being the key to American cooperation and military readiness across the Pacific.

In 1759, French General Montcalm defends Quebec against English General Wolfe's assault, but France's indifferent court has left the colony poorly supported. Wolfe devises a daring nighttime plan to scale the cliffs and attack from the Plains of Abraham, catching the French off guard in a decisive battle that will determine the fate of Canada.

Thomas A. Edison's relentless drive to innovate takes center stage in this biographical account of the young inventor's early years. From his resourceful days selling newspapers and candy on trains to his work as a telegrapher, Edison faces setback after setback—a factory job lost, his first invention rejected by legislators—yet each failure only sharpens his determination to perfect the next invention. Watch as he claws his way from janitor's helper to the engineer who will transform communication and power.

Father Hubbard, the "Glacier Priest," teams up with aviator Frank Dorbandt and his mechanic Herb to explore Aniakchak, one of the world's largest active volcanoes in Alaska. What begins as a daring expedition to film inside the volcanic crater becomes a desperate fight for survival when the plane runs dangerously low on fuel while still trapped inside. Frank's quick thinking in the face of catastrophe may be their only way out.

While Paul Revere's midnight ride has captured America's imagination, William Dawes undertook an equally crucial mission that same April night in 1775—carrying word of the British troop movement along a different route to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexington. When Dawes reaches the town, he and Revere must not only persuade the colonial leaders to flee, but also race to Concord to alert the militia before the Redcoats arrive. His ride culminates in sounding the alarm that brings out the Minute Men and sets the stage for the opening shots of the American Revolution.

Captain Colin P. Kelly trained at West Point and rose through the Army Air Corps to become one of America's first combat pilots, flying the new B-17 Flying Fortress. When Japan attacked in December 1941, Kelly took to the skies from Manila to intercept a Japanese battleship—an encounter that would define his legacy as a hero of the early war. His courage and sacrifice earned him recognition from the highest levels of government and inspired a nation at the start of its greatest struggle.

In 1804, U.S. General William Eaton sets out across the Libyan desert with a ragtag force of soldiers, Greeks, and Arab allies to strike a deal with Hamet, the rightful ruler of Tripoli—and secure the freedom of three hundred American prisoners held by the pirate chief Yussuf. Facing starvation, desertion, and treachery, Eaton must push his exhausted men and dying camels across the wasteland to reach the city of Derna before Yussuf's army can stop them. This true account captures a bold chapter from America's early military history, when a handful of determined fighters challenged tyranny on foreign soil.

Raymond Gooch was a football hero in Evansville, Indiana, but his real test of courage came on November 3, 1940, when a boating accident on the Ohio River put him and his teammates in dire straits. Battling icy water and physical exhaustion, Gooch refused to give up, fighting to reach shore and summon help for his struggling companion. His bravery that day earned him recognition far beyond the gridiron—a true hero both on and off the field.

At twenty-one, Adam Gimbel leaves Europe for America with little more than ambition, working his way up from dock labor to peddling goods across the Mississippi Valley frontier. Settling in Vincennes, Indiana, he builds a small store on radical principles—fixed prices, honest dealings, and fair treatment for all customers—that slowly win over a skeptical frontier community. This is the true story of how one immigrant's commitment to integrity and hard work laid the foundation for a retail empire that would span a century.

Peggy Lennox, a former model turned pilot, trades the fashion world for a calling she finds far more meaningful—training young men as flying instructors at Rhode Island State Airport during America's defense buildup in 1942. Though her male students initially doubt a woman can teach them to fly, Peggy proves she's more than capable, helping each recruit master the skills they'll need to serve their country. It's a true story of an exceptional woman stepping up when her nation needed experienced fliers in the cockpit and in the classroom.

Theodore Roosevelt, the former U.S. President nicknamed "the Lion" by his children, embarks on a thrilling African hunting expedition across plains, lakes, and elephant country alongside his son Kermit and seasoned guides. From stalking lions and hippopotami to pursuing elephants near Mount Kenya, Roosevelt faces the continent's most formidable game in a journey that tests both his marksmanship and nerve. This true account captures a legendary sportsman pursuing the wilderness adventures he cherished most.