As a young boy, Hugh Montague Trenchard was probably considered to be a failure by many of his teachers and perhaps even some of his family because of his very poor school performance. But Trenchard showed the courage and determination of an indomitable spirit early on as he refused to give up, and later on became one of the most successful and recognized men in the Britain armed forces.

Trenchard was born in 1873 at Windsor Lodge in Taunton, England. His father was a solicitor and his mother was the daughter of the Royal Navy Captain, John McDowall Skene. Although his mother wanted Trenchard to follow her father’s example and join the Navy, Trenchard couldn’t get in and failed the examinations. He finally was admitted to the army in 1893 and went to India for his first posting as a Lieutenant.

During the Boer War, Trenchard went to fight for Britain in South Africa and was critically injured whilst in battle, an injury that caused him partial paralysis and a missing lung. However, when Trenchard went to Switzerland later to recuperate, he crashed on a bobsleigh ride and miraculously his paralysis vanished and he was able to walk again. He was able to return to active service in South Africa.

Trenchard also fought in Nigeria and then learned to fly in 1912 and showed great talent for aviation. During World War I he was placed as the commander of Royal Flying Corps in France and has been called the Father of the Royal Air Force, known throughout the world today as one of the most elite and talented flying forces in the world.

After hostilities had broken out in World War I, an aviator by the name of T.F. Dodd was having some troubles with his plane, and had to make an emergency landing. He got the help of a local racecar enthusiast and mechanic, and was soon back up and running. The mechanic expressed an interest in the war effort, and later, when Dodd became an aviation officer under General "Black Jack" Pershing, he remembered the young mechanic and offered him a position, and in doing so, brought one of the best pilots the Allies would ever see into the war. Eddie Rickenbacker might never have found his ultimate destiny but for that chance encounter.

Rickenbacker was originally brought on as a mechanic, but his love for speed soon saw him taking as much practice time in the birds as working on them. His superiors, fearing the loss of such a talented mechanic, initially tried to stop him, but once he trained a replacement he was able to talk his way into active flight duty. On April 29, 1918, he shot down his first German plane, and within a month was a decorated ace with five kills.

Rickenbacker would prove to be the most successful Allied pilot of the war, chalking up twenty-six kills and earning the Medal of Honor, which was bestowed upon him in 1931. More important than his own tally, however, he developed the technique of the aerial dogfight, paving the way for pilots throughout the rest of the century and beyond. Rickenbacker will always be remembered as one of the true pioneers of air combat.

Frank Luke was American pilot, and he was also the second highest scoring Ace during World War One. He took down fourteen German balloons and four German aircraft in just seventeen days. Although Rickenbacker has more victories to his name, no one matched Frank Luke for a courage that bordered on madness.

Frank Luke was born in Arizona on May 19, 1897, the fifth child of German immigrants. He was a strong, active and competitive boy who loved to play sports. He enlisted in the Aviation service in 1917 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1918. He was then assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron in France.

He wasn't well-liked by the others in his Squadron, with the exception of another outcast named Joe Wehner. When Luke announced his first air victory, the others brushed him off as a liar. That's when Luke started securing written and signed eyewitness accounts of his victories. Unfortunately, his tendency to break away from formation, go on solo missions, and blow up German balloons sparked jealousy and dislike in his fellow pilots. Luke wasn't entirely a loner, though: His friend Wehner would often fly along with him and cover his back.

Joe Wehner died in action while flying with Frank Luke, as did Ivan Roberts shortly afterward. The deaths of the few people Luke counted as friends drove him into a suicidal depression. He started going on unauthorized missions until he was nearly arrested for going AWOL. His final act was shooting down three more observation balloons before he was forced to land in German territory. His body was discovered with an empty gun, a bullet hole in his chest, and several dead Germans surrounding him.

Frank Luke, easily one of the most daring Flying Aces that ever lived, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1921.

The first hero of Nottingham was Robin Hood of Sherwood forest fame. The second hero was Albert Ball, World War I flying ace. At age 18, Albert Ball joined the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). At Hendon, a London suburb, he paid for his own private flying lessons. After this he was sent to the Royal Flying Corps' Central Flying School. He received his wings in early 1916 and was sent to France.

Albert Ball was a lone wolf in the sky and on the ground. Off duty he would tend his garden and practice his violin. He has been quoted as saying, "Won't it be nice when all this beastly killing is over, and we can enjoy ourselves and not hurt anyone? I hate this game." Still, Albert Ball had 44 victories at the time of his death and was the Allied Forces leading ace. Only the Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen) had more victories at that time.

There is uncertainty surrounding the death of Albert Ball. He and 11 other British aircraft encountered German aircraft on the evening of May 7, 1917. The visibility was poor due to gathering darkness and rainy weather. Both Ball and the Red Baron's younger brother, Lothar von Richthofen crashed in Germany. German propagandists claim that von Richthofen shot Ball down. Some believe that poor visibility caused Ball to become disoriented and crash. Another version is that German gunners in a church clock tower shot down Ball as he flew past to check the time. There are also claims that Lothar von Richthofen was not in that particular battle because he was on sick leave.

Hugh Trenchard had great things ahead of him, although no one would have guessed it when he was a lad. As a child, he neglected his studies. He failed the British Army entry exams twice. In 1883, he barely got into the army at age 20. Trenchard had almost no social graces, no financial independence, and didn't fit in with his regiment. However, he managed to earn their respect by being an excellent sportsman and polo player.

Trenchard was injured in the war against the Boers in Africa. A bullet punctured his lung and grazed his spine, leaving him partially paralyzed. At the advice of a doctor, he spent several months in Switzerland for his health and took up bobsleighing. A violent crash jolted his spine into alignment, and he was able to walk again. He resumed his service as soon as he could.

At age 39, Trenchard decided to take flying lessons. His commanding officer tried to discourage him, since Trenchard was too tall and nearly too old to be accepted by the Royal Flying Corps. Trenchard took the course anyway and earned his wings after spending 64 minutes in the air.

Trenchard wasn't a good pilot, but he realized the potential of air attacks. He knew the Royal Flying Corps needed better training and discipline if it was going to be a military asset. He set forth the curriculum and pioneered the techniques necessary for successful air attacks. He was even the first to come up with formation flying.

After a lackluster career and many failures, Trenchard had finally found his calling. He laid out the foundation for the Royal Air Force, trained it, disciplined it, and affected the outcome of two world wars. Against the odds, he played a pivotal role in history.

Alfred Graf von Schlieffenn is one of the more famous field marshals in German history, particularly because he lent his name to the Schlieffenn Plan, conceived in 1905, which carefully plotted out the means to defeating the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire.

Schlieffenn was born on February 28, 1833. He was given the opportunity to serve as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff in 1891, a position which he held until 1905. His military career was given its start when he enlisted in the army at the age of 20 years old. He was a part of the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War from 1870- 1871. He was considered to be one of the best modern military strategists of his day by creating a method for keeping Germany's military battles in manageable size. His 1905 Schlieffenn Plan kept the German army from having to fight a war on two sides, by focusing attention on the French in an intensified battle and then pounding on the Russian forces.

Schlieffenn retired from military in 1906, following a 53 year-long period of service. His death on January 4, 1913 came just 19 months before the outbreak of World War I. However, his theories on military strategy were continually studied throughout the 20th century, particularly in the arena of maneuver warfare. Schlieffenn's intellect has been respected for decades following his life of service. Even United States General Dwight D. Eisenhower commented to the impact of Schlieffenn's military mind.

Sergeant Larry Mike, a career Army man, raised his two sons to get out of bed at zero six-hundred hours on Saturday mornings to do chores. In high school, Jason Mike was a great football player. He earned All-District, All-State and All-American honors. He entered college with dreams of playing professional football, but September 11, 2001 changed those plans. After finishing his college football season, he stepped into combat boots.

Mike trained to be a combat medic. He became assigned to Staff Sergeant Timothy Nein's 617th Military Police Company. The unit first headed to Kuwait, but soon was sent to Iraq. Things were quiet at first for the unit, and Staff Sergeant Nein continued training them for every possible contingency. This constant training is what Sergeant Mike and others in the unit credit for getting them through Palm Sunday, March 20, 2005.

Nein's unit was using the call sign of Raven 42. They had been patrolling a road about 20 miles south of Baghdad when they encountered two huge US supply convoys. They began shadowing the convoys from the rear in case of enemy attack. Between 45-50 insurgents did attack. Nein's unit positioned themselves between the insurgents and the convoys. With three Humvees of MPs, Nein's unit was able to defeat the attacking insurgents. Sergeant Mike at one point was firing an M249 light machine gun in his left hand and an M4 rifle in his right. He was not just spraying bullets but making shots that counted. Near the end of the battle, Sergeant Mike noticed muzzle flashes coming from a farmhouse in a nearby orchard. Using an AT4 tank rocket launcher, Sergeant Mike stopped the sniper fire with one shot. Sergeant Jason Mike also attended his wounded comrades during and after the battle. He was awarded the Silver Star.

With the sort of gumption that can only be found laced through fictitious character make-ups, General Robert Lawrence Eichelberger was the true definition of “military man.” From the start, Eichelberger had a penchant for all things military, which is why he wound up at the U.S. Military Academy at a young age. Working his way through Panama and the U.S. Mexico border, he was eventually sent to serve his time in World War II.

Eichelberger made it a point to become one of the top scholars on Japanese military tactics from the time he began his military career. As such, he was also one of the best generals that WWII had ever seen. He knew how to counter any sort of Japanese strategy, and he also knew how to please the likes of such fierce commanders as General Douglas Macarthur. In fact, MacArthur had such faith in Eichelberger that he once told him “take Buna, or don’t come back alive” – he took Buna. Additionally, he had many victories at Hollandia and Biak. Once he proved his worth, Eichelberger led his Eighth Army into the Philippines successfully taking over the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay, Negros, Cebu, and Bohol.

Though Eichelberger lived out most of his life in the military, he retired from service in September of 1948. Haunted by images of the war that he was such a large part of, he wrote the book “Our Jungle Road to Tokyo,” which became a best seller. On September 26, 1961, General Eichelberger passed away inside of his Asheville, North Carolina home.

Albert Ball was one of the most distinguished and talented pilots in the world during World War I, and was one of Britain’s most valuable fighters during the war. Although Ball did not excel much in any other scholastic areas, as shown by his poor marks throughout school, he naturally gravitated towards and excelled in that which he was clearly meant to pursue: aviation.

Ball was born in 1896 in Lenton, Nottingham. He had the good fortune to be born into a good family; his father was a successful businessman who could afford to give Ball a good education. After his schooling, Ball joined the 7th Battalion, and took private flying lessons. He quickly showed his talent in this area and was awarded his wings in 1916 and began fighting in the war.

Ball showed a lot of spirit and courage in the air, very often attacking multiple enemy planes at once, and if he didn’t shoot them all down the first time, he would leave for more ammunition and return and finish the job. He was ruthless and fearless, but patient enough to wait for the right moment to get a good shot at an enemy plane.

While on ground, however, Ball was more mild. He wasn’t your traditional hero with the crowds, preferring instead to be alone most of the time. He liked to garden and play the violin. He also is quoted as saying that he would be glad when all the killing was over because he hated it.

Ball received multiple awards and decorations for his successes in the air: the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross, and two Distinguished Service Order Bars. He died in the air battle of Douai, when British aircraft met up with German fighters. He was only 21 years old.

Benjamin Davis Jr., born December 18th, 1912, was one of those extraordinary military heroes that don't come along often enough. He was the first African American to be promoted to the rank of General in the United States Air Force. However, this is not the most noticeable of his achievements.

Gen. Davis was born into a military family where his father, Davis Sr. had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. This was certainly an honor for his father, whose military career was fraught with prejudice, segregation and plenty of disrespect. Davis Jr. entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1932 and was the first African American to complete 4 years at the elite school. During his time at West Point, Davis endured much the same ridicule as his father had in the Air Force, as segregation was still the running theme in the country.

Davis Jr. intended to continue with his military career goals, having become interested in flight at the age of 14. There was very little he would allow to stop him from proving that a black man can accomplish every bit as much as a white man when it came to protecting and defending the country he loved. After his application to the Army Air Corps was rejected due to the color of his skin, one could say that it only added to his determination to prove himself. In 1941, Davis enlisted in an all black flying unit training program and because it was thought that black men could not lead white soldiers, he stayed with this unit and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He worked endlessly during the integration of black and white troops and was awarded the Silver Star and a Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts.

In war there are heroes on both sides of the conflict, and Adolf Galland was a hero during the Second World War for the Germans. Galland was a highly decorated pilot whose dedication and incredible talent for leadership and aviation proved to be a valuable asset for the Germans during WWII.

Galland was born in Westerholt, Wetphalia into a family of boys who all enjoyed aviation as well. He was the second of four sons. Galland suffered the loss of two of his brothers when they were shot down during WWII by Allied fire. His brother Paul had already scored 17 victories by the time he was shot down by the RAF in 1942, however. His other brother Wilhelm-Ferdinand was a 54 victory ace when he was shot down a year later.

Galland showed his talent and love for aviation early on as a child when he flew home-built gliders in fields near his hometown. He was one of only 20 students who were accepted to the prestigious aviation school hosted by Germany’s internationally famous airline, Lufthansa.

Despite several injuries from crashes, Galland persevered in his aviation career and fought in the Spanish Civil War. He came to be known for flying in nothing but swimming trunks and a cigar in his mouth. During World War II, Galland was already nationally recognized as one of Germany’s best pilots. Galland, however, butted heads with many of the Nazi leaders, disagreeing with how to run the war, especially as Germany began to lose.

After the war, Galland actually became friends with many of his former enemies he’d fought against and managed an aviation firm and consultancy.

Known as the Father of the Royal Air Force, Hugh Montague Trenchard was instrumental in establishing Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF). He served as the commander of the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and was a pioneering advocate of strategic bombing.

Born in Taunton, England, in 1873, Trenchard hardly seemed like a promising military leader during his formative years, as he failed many academic evaluations and only met the bare minimum requirements for entry into the British Army. Once enlisted, Trenchard served with tremendous courage and valor, volunteering for duty in South Africa during the Boer War. In the conflict, he commanded a mounted infantry company. Sadly, he was critically wounded in battle, with the injuries leading to him losing a lung and being partially paralyzed.

Trenchard went to Switzerland to recuperate and took up bobsleighing as a hobby only to suffer a horrific crash. Yet miraculously, the incident had a healing effect, relieving his paralysis. After a few more months of rehabilitation, Trenchard returned to active service in the military.

In 1912, Trenchard learned to fly and took a prominent position within the military's flying school. When World War I broke out, he became the lead commander of the Royal Flying Corps in France, remaining in place from 1915 to 1917. Under Trenchard's guidance, the British unleashed a strategic bombing campaign that severely weakened the German industry and infrastructure. Following the War, Trenchard entered the House of Lords and was appointed the Metropolitan Police commissioner, continuing to serve Great Britain with dignity.

The Battle of the Somme, which occurred during the First World War, might have looked entirely different if it hadn't been for the efforts of Douglas Haig, who was in large part responsible for the efforts of the British troops during the conflict. The battle was officially fought over a period of several months, from July to November of 1915, and as such as one of the largest conflicts during the entire war. With 1.5 million losses, it also has the distinction of being one of the bloodiest battles ever fought in recorded history.

Somme was originally meant to significantly weaken the German Army, however a German offensive at Verdun meant that the French had to focus on defending that area and the efforts of the battle became more focused on helping the French to withstand the German onslaught. Haig felt that the best option was to launch an intense battle effort to crush the German forces with a strong motion. However, other British officers felt that a prolonged effort where the Germans were simply held at bay stood a better chance of success. The hope was that the British and French forces could simply outlast the Germans.

Haig was eventually given control of the operations, and his decisions were not without controversy. Haig's troops did suffer extensive losses in his more aggressive approach. It is estimated that the British troops under Haig lost as many as 420,000. Many people felt that Haig's choices cost many lives without gaining much success. However, Haig's efforts were able to reach a level of success that earned him a position as one of the war heroes of World War I.

One of the most notable commanders of the second World War, Sir Bernard Law Montgomery is most famous for his defeat of the German commander in North Africa, Erwin Rommel. His leadership techniques, focusing on direct contact with his troops, coordinated effort, and a refusal to consider retreat or surrender led to some of the most successful actions in the theater, and strongly contributed to the success of the Allied war effort. Though some have criticized him over the years for being overly cautious, the results of his campaigns speak for themselves.

Montgomery was brought into the North African theater in 1942, and as a lieutenant general took command of the British Eighth Army. He immediately made himself accessible to his troops, visiting them wearing his trademark black beret, and set about improving the army's logistics and coordination. After repulsing a strong German attack at the end of August, he took his time preparing for a major offensive, and on October 23rd met Rommel's forces in the twelve-day Battle of El Alamein. The decisive victory earned him a promotion to full general and a knighthood.

Allied commanders wanted Montgomery to follow up quickly, but he chose a more careful advance against the Germans; this prevented his forces from becoming overextended and vulnerable to counterattack. The campaign was noted for its clear command, logistics, and extremely high morale - sickness and absenteeism virtually vanished under Montgomery's command.

During the invasion of Sicily, however, Montgomery began to clash with other Allied generals, especially the Americans. Though he attempted to refine and streamline the plans for attack, it turned into an uncoordinated mess and he was relieved to leave Italy to help plan Operation Overlord. He continued his controversial but highly effective leadership throughout the rest of the war, and continued to be a British fixture until his death in 1976.

The history of the Royal British Air Force lies in large part with the actions and person of Hugh Montague Trenchard, who played a significant role in establishing the Royal Air Force and served extensively throughout the First World War and into the 1920s. He also served as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner during the 1930s. Trenchard's expertise and impact have earned him the title "The Father of the Royal Air Force." He was also one of the first proponents of the use of strategic bombing in warfare.

Trenchard's military abilities may well have been genetic, as he was a direct descendant from a knight that was a close friend of William the Conqueror's. This ancestor was a large part of the Battle of Hastings. His mother, the daughter of a Royal Navy captain, had picked out the military life for her son and enlisted him following his less-than stellar career at a boarding school. Trenchard spent the early part of his career serving in both India and South Africa. He was critically wounded during a confrontation with Boers, when he was shot in the chest. After rehabilitation, with the aide of a generous benefactress, Trenchard was able to then return to South Africa.

He did not begin to fly until he was nearly 40 years old and just managed to fall under the maximum age limit for students in flight school. His abilities earned him the position of Officer Commanding the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps when World War I began. His efforts left such a mark that the British air power would never be the same again.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor given by the Army. In the words of the Department of the Army, the medal is given to "...a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States..." Only 3,465 people have been given this particular medal, with 19 of those receiving it twice.

The Silver Star is one of the third highest award for gallantry given by the United States military. It can be awarded to a member of any branch of the military, and is only given for acts performed in the face of violent opposition. The medal was instituted in 1932 to replace the citation star, a similar award given in previous eras. The award is given quite infrequently, and often posthumously.

Since the end of the Vietnam War, only seven Medals of Honor have been given out, all of them after death. In earlier conflicts, it was given out far more frequently - 1,522 during the Civil War, and 464 during World War II. The survivors and recipients of the award are given substantial monetary awards along with a greater amount of retirement pay, special flags and the medal itself. Children of the recipients are given automatic admission to highly exclusive military academies of all branches.

While some of the world’s greatest military minds were also superb scholars, others that fought various wars from the front lines had very little interest in scholastic activities. This is precisely the case when it comes to one Albert Ball. Ball was born in Lenton, Nottingham, to a prestigious business man, though he would live out his life within the cockpit of a fighter plane.

Always a loner, Ball preferred to sleep by himself, fight by himself, and keep to himself. Whether he was meditating during his time apart from other troops, or whether he was simply going over certain attack maneuvers has yet to be discovered. However, we do know that without Ball’s skill and expertise, the war would have been entirely different. Albert Ball was a master of his craft, which is why he earned numerous honors throughout his lifetime. Ball received the Victoria Cross when he was twenty years old, the Military Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and many other awards during his time with the military. Even though he was (and still is) considered one of the best fighter pilots of his time, Ball did not make it out of the war alive.

On May 7, Albert Ball met his fate when he decided to fight off a flock of German fighter pilots. Though Ball fought bravely, his plane crashed beyond German lines. Though nobody saw what happened to Ball after his plane crashed, the Germans made it known that they shot down the great Albert Ball that very evening. At the time of his death, Ball had 1 balloon, 27 aircraft destroyed, 6 ‘out of control’, and 9 ‘forced to land’ victories. Today, you can view Ball’s Victoria Cross at the Sherwood Foresters Museum in Nottingham, England.

Not all important military figures were men who actively served in the armed forces. Some of the people who had the biggest impact on military history were not those doing the fighting, but where the ones who designed the tools that they were fighting with. This was certainly true of Willy Emil Messerschmitt, who was a German engineer who built some of the most savage fighter planes during World War II.

Messerschmitt was responsible for the best weapon that the Luftwaffe had to offer: the Messerschmitt Bf 109. It was designed in 1934 and was mass produced as Germany began to rearmor itself during the years between the first and second World Wars. It was also the most produced fighter plane in the history of military aviation, as over 35,000 planes were assembled to help the German army take to the skies for victory. Besides this remarkable plane, Messerschmitt was also responsible for the Messerschmitt Bf 209, which was one of the fastest planes ever built and was able to break the global air-speed record. His company also went on to introduce jet-powered fighters into military service in later years.

However, Messerschmitt's rise to the top of the German aircraft industry was not an easy path. In fact, prior to the outbreak of World War II, his company had to go as far as to declare bankruptcy in 1931, following a couple of plane crashes of Messerschmitt's M20s. Still, when the German army began to reconvene, Messerschmitt's services were called on to design fighter planes for the Nazi army. His services to the party would come back to haunt him in later years, though, when he was tried in a post-war court for his wartime activity. He was sentenced to two years in prison for being an accomplice to the Nazi party. He returned to his company, which was no longer permitted to manufacture aircraft and turned his attention to making sewing machines and small cars. When the ban was lifted in 1955, Messerschmitt once again began to design improved aircraft with designs that continue to have influence on the industry today.

Major Jason Amerine won both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Medal with a "V" device for his combat heroism Afghanistan. He and his US Army 5th Special Forces Unit and the Afghan freedom fighters led by Hamid Karzai, (who would become the first freely elected president of Afghanistan) kept a Taliban convoy of more than 100 vehicles from reaching the town of Tarin Kot in November of 2001.

Amerine and nine other Green Berets where on a plateau which was great for designating aircraft targets as the Taliban came through the mountain pass. As the Taliban approached Tarin Kot, Amerine gave orders to the combat controller to let the Air Force and Navy aircraft know that it was time to " ...smoke em." The air strikes so startled the fifty Afghan freedom fighters with them that they took off in their trucks and headed back to town. Amerine and his men had to jump back in the trucks with the Afghans, surrendering their prime defensive position. Back in town, Karzai was able to get his men organized and they headed back out to the pass. The Taliban had advanced past the first defensive position, so Amerine and Karzai took up position at the last line of defense for the town. With air cover and light weapons they were able to destroy the convoy to the point that the few remaining Taliban trucks were not able to retreat to Kandahar.

Later Major Amerine was injured, receiving shrapnel wounds to his leg and a ruptured ear drum. He was teaching Arabic at his alma mater, West Point, as of 2006. He was also selected to be a model for both an action figure and a video character for a game being used as a recruiting tool for the Army.

Alfred von Schlieffen may not be a name that many recall when they think about great military strategists, but this German field marshal was, and still is, one of the most respected military strategists within the world. Thanks to his clever ideas and great manoeuvres, von Schlieffen turned out to be one of the finest military thinkers that the world has ever seen.

Though his seminal treatise “Cannae” was criticized by many, there is no denying that this text holds many of the best strategies that warfare has ever seen. In fact, the American military regarding his theories so highly that they had the text translated in its entirety from German to English, so that American troops could read it. According to von Schlieffen, “a man is born, and not made, a strategist,” which seems to be the one thing that he lived by throughout his lifetime. Always calculating, always thinking, von Schlieffen was a brilliant man, and many of his theories are still used today.

Somehow, many North Americans tend to forget those great German minds that once fought some of the most memorable battles within the confines of military history. However, this is a grave mistake. Germany produced many fine minds during the world wars, and Alfred von Schlieffen is one example of this production. It’s possible that you may not know much about him, but you can bet that some of von Schlieffen’s words and thoughts helped to shape the world as we know it today. You can still view copies of his text throughout the country – worth a peek if you are investigating military history.

Young Eddie Rickenbacker quit school to work after his father died in 1904 when Eddie was only fourteen. He soon became a mechanic, and then a race car driver. Rickenbacker raced in the very first Indianapolis 500 in 19ll. He continued to race until 1916 when Major Lewis Burgess asked Eddie if he would like to become one of General John Pershing's chauffeurs. Rickenbacker entered the Army and soon was driving for Pershing with the rank of first class sergeant. But Eddie wanted to fly, and soon enough he was training to become a fighter pilot. He was assigned to the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, the first all-American air unit to see combat. They became the famous "Hat-in-the-Ring Squadron" and Eddie Rickenbacker ended the war as their commander. By the end of World War I he had shot down twenty-six German planes, despite the fact that an old corneal injury made him only an average shot. Eddie came home in 1919 as the "Ace of Aces."

During World War II, Rickenbacker toured many bases around the world at the request of General H. H. "Hap" Arnold. The public reason was to boost morale. However, the secret reason was to advise the General about the condition of the bases and the adequacy of the training. He was also to look for signs of espionage on the bases. On one such mission, Rickenbacker's pilot ditched a B-17 into the Pacific Ocean. Eddie and seven other men were lost at sea for twenty-four days. After being rescued, with one man dead, Rickenbacker took a few days to rest and then completed the mission. He also went on to conduct a successful espionage mission to the Soviet Union. Eddie Rickenbacker spent the years after World War II as a successful businessman in aviation. He died in 1973 from a stroke.