American military history is replete with inspiring tales—times when ordinary citizens found themselves in extraordinary circumstances and decided to act heroically. These instances of heroism weren’t simply about bravery under fire—they tended to alter the course of battles and leave a lasting legacy that continues to inspire today. Here are five of the greatest examples of valor, each serving a different era in the American military experience.
5. The Silent Heroes of World War II
Whereas so many great acts are done by an individual, occasionally it is the unassuming, collective resolve of a population that rings most strongly. In World War II, over 350,000 American women came forward to serve their nation in ways that were, at the time, revolutionary. They served in more than 200 different fields—serving as mechanics, nurses, pilots, codebreakers, translators, and clerks. They fought in every theater, frequently under hazardous circumstances, and 432 of them never returned. Another 88 were taken prisoner and imprisoned as prisoners of war.
These women were not only fighting enemies overseas, but challenging deeply ingrained barriers at home. They encountered skepticism, opposition, and, for women of color, the added obstacle of racial prejudice. And yet, they persisted. Their work paved the way for change, building to the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, which enabled women to officially serve as permanent members of the military. Their legacy reminds us heroism isn’t always loud—it’s also in resilience, in commitment, and in the quiet choice to show up and serve.
4. Major Billy Hall – A Veteran of Three Wars
Few people have witnessed the scope of American military history quite like Major Billy Hall. He joined the Marine Corps at just 15 years old—long before he was even old enough to vote—and went on to serve in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. As a teenager, Hall flew over 100 combat missions as a radioman and tail gunner. Later, he retrained as a helicopter pilot and again went to combat in Vietnam, and on with the tradition of serving.
Hall’s life is one of incredible stamina. By the time he was 97, he was one of the last remaining vets known to serve in all three of those significant wars. In a moving tribute on Veterans Day, he was honored with a helicopter flight over Camp Pendleton—more than 80 years after graduating from Marine Corps boot camp. His service was decorated with the Bronze Star and numerous campaign medals. When questioned regarding his experience, Hall had a straightforward comment: “When people thank me for my service, I tell them, ‘You were worth it.'” For him, there was never anything about the accolades—it was concerning himself with doing the right thing, time and time again.
3. Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Ambrose Walsh – Ace of the Skies
Before becoming one of the Marine Corps’ highest-scoring fighter aces, Kenneth Walsh was merely a Brooklyn kid working as an aircraft mechanic. But soon the skies would beckon. Walsh worked his way up the ranks to become the fourth-highest scoring ace in Marine Corps history, earning credit for 21 enemy aircraft shot down during World War II.
His most legendary fight occurred in the Solomon Islands in 1943. Against incredible odds, Walsh flew headfirst into peril repeatedly, leading his squadron with nerves of steel and unmatched ability. It was this leadership and bravery that got him the Medal of Honor. He then went back home to train the next batch of pilots and continued serving during the Korean War, earning even more commendations on his already impressive tally. Walsh’s legacy is not about the number of wins—it’s about the cool, steady leadership he introduced to the devastation of war, and the benchmark he set for others to emulate.
2. Captain Henry T. Elrod – The Last Stand on Wake Island
When the Japanese invaded Wake Island in December 1941, Captain Henry Elrod and his men were outgunned and outnumbered. As the executive officer of Marine Fighter Squadron 211, Elrod started by flying into the air, successfully sending the Japanese destroyer Kisaragi to the bottom—a feat not often accomplished by a fighter pilot employing only a modest bomb load.
But when all American planes were finally wrecked, Elrod didn’t retreat. He grabbed a rifle and fought with the Marines defending the island on the ground. He led from the front and held the line in ferocious conditions. He was ultimately killed attempting to toss a grenade after already having repelled a large-scale Japanese attack armed only with a submachine gun. For his unflinching courage, Elrod was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. His valor at Wake Island reversed the slide in morale in one of the darkest early hours of the war and validated the Marine Corps’ eternal slogan: Every Marine is a rifleman.
1. Franklin Nash – The Fearless Coastwatcher
Franklin Nash wasn’t born a soldier. He was a Colorado rancher, accustomed to life on open ranges and peaceful routines. But once at Pearl Harbor, he shelved it all to enlist—r, rejecting deferments because, as he explained, “If we don’t fight, there won’t be anything left to defend.” Nash served as a radio operator in the 410th Signal Company and had a crucial role during the Guadalcanal campaign. But his most audacious chapter happened later, when he volunteered for a mysterious and vastly perilous job: Coastwatcher.
Operating deep within enemy territory in the Solomon Islands’ jungles, Nash teamed up with Australian officer Arthur Evans to follow Japanese troop movements, lead Allied pilots to safety, and coordinate guerrilla resistance. His efforts even intersected with the rescue of stranded sailors after John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 incident. Australian Lt. Gen. Stanley Savige commended Nash’s “forest craft, courage, initiative, and leadership”—qualities that had saved lives but never earned headlines. Nash never spoke much about his war service. To his daughter, he merely said, “The question was, how do we win this war? The Coastwatchers were the answer—and I wanted to be part of that answer.” Both in peace and war, Nas lived with quiet, persistent courage.