As ubiquitous as the yellow “We Can Do It!” poster is in today’s culture, it was actually Norman Rockwell’s rougher Rosie that initially gained popularity in the 1940s.

Longing to fly, but lacking the education to join the USAAF, Duane Beeson joined the Canadian RAF Eagle Squadron in WWII.

After a bombing mission in Italy took a bad turn, William Torske spent months in Stalag Luft 1, emerging a changed man.

Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Oberst joined the Red Cross in 1943 and had many adventures while setting up and running clubs in China.

Rescued from the ocean after his plane was hit by debris from a bombed Japanese ship, Nat Adams repaid the favor to another downed pilot–Lt. (j.g.) George H.W. Bush.

Born to a hard life in Oklahoma during the dust bowl and unable to find work, Archie Mull joined the US Army Air Corps, where his gunnery career ended with a stay in a German prisoner of war camp until the end of WWII.