The Forgotten Heroes Of World War II

The Unsung Heroes Of Conflict

They once thought that WWI would be the war to end all wars. Today, we know that it was only a precursor to more. WWII was a long battle that was filled with success and suffering. Here are a few of the little-known heroes who brought success.

Lyle Bouck

It is not often that you make a mark for yourself at the age of 21; Lyle Bouck, however, is one of the few exceptions. He showed the determination of a man twice his age.

U.S. Army, Wikimedia Commons

Lyle Bouck

Bouck commanded an intelligence and reconnaissance unit that followed his orders with valor and determination. He also faced consequences for it.

When a Soldier Completely Changed WW2 Without Realizing It, Dark Docs

Lyle Bouck

Bouck followed his orders to “hold at all costs”. His efforts landed him in a POW camp. However, they were also essential in changing the course of the famous Battle of the Bulge.

National Archives and Records Administration, Wikimedia Commons

Virginia Hall

During WWII, Virginia Hall was a giant pain in the German’s side. However, at that time, they only knew her by her code name: “the Limping Lady”.

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Virginia Hall

Spies were a constant during WWII. Their roles were essential in moving information around—and few were as talented at it as Virginia Hall.

SMT Pictures, A Call to Spy (2019)

Virginia Hall

Hall was the best of the best. She was responsible for more sabotage, leaks, jailbreaks, and missions than any spy in France.

SMT Pictures, A Call to Spy (2019)

Bob Sales

D-Day is one of the most iconic moments during WWII. Without the valor shown on that day, the outcome of the conflict could have been much different. Among the men there that day was Bob Sales.

Interview with Bob Sales, D-Day veteran, BlueRidgePBS

Bob Sales

Sales was only 18 years old when he set foot on the famed Omaha Beach. The tragedy that he saw that day would remain with him for the rest of his life.

MIckStephenson, Wikimedia Commons

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Bob Sales

Sales was forced to use the bodies of the fallen in front of him to remain alive. He fought until he was wounded. He was a hero.

DVIDSHUB, Flickr

Bill Leibold

Bill Leibold was a member of the USS Tang. The Tang was one of the United States’ most successful submarines—though it met a watery end.

Naval History & Heritage Command, Wikimedia Commons

Bill Leibold

In October 1944, the USS Tang was sunk off the coast of China. Of the 87 men on board, only nine survived, including Leibold. Though it wasn’t the rescue Leibold may have hoped for.

USN, Wikimedia Commons

Bill Leibold

Following the sinking, the nine surviving members of the Tang were fished out of the water by the Japanese. Leibold then went on to survive their notorious POW camps as well.

USN, Wikimedia Commons

Carl Lutz

Not every hero needed something with force to get the better of the Germans during WWII. For Carl Lutz, his power was in paper.

AGNES HIRSCHI, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Carl Lutz

Lutz was a Swiss diplomat living in Hungary when the Germans took power. Lutz did not wait, but instead immediately got to work. He did not have much power, but he welded it with confidence.

Unknown Author, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Carl Lutz

Lutz petitioned the Swiss, gaining permission to extradite 8,000 Jews under their protection. Lutz was not satisfied with that and used his wit and judgment to save even more—all with a simple piece of paper.

Agnes Hirschi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Abraham Baum

Abraham Baum was in charge of one of the biggest failures for the Americans during WWII. Despite this, he led his men with passion and determination.

Joseph A. Bowen, Wikimedia Commons

Abraham Baum

In March 1945, Baum was ordered to lead a group of men to free a group of Americans from a POW camp. The mission was ill advised. Rumor was that General Patton wanted to save his son-in-law. Unfortunately, Baum had no choice but to take it.

Robert F. Cranston, Wikimedia Commons

Abraham Baum

Baum was outnumbered. The mission was a failure. However, Baum behaved with honor, fighting until the very last moment. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross.

Scheurebe2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bob Slaughter

Another hero of D-Day, Bob Slaughter was one of the first men to break out from Omaha Beach. He was only 19 years old at the time.

National Archives and Records Administration, Wikimedia Commons

Bob Slaughter

Despite his youth, Slaughter was an imposing figure. He was well over six feet and a capable fighter. It was no wonder he was put in charge of a squadron that fateful day.

Wall. ARC-Identifier: SC189902., Wikimedia Commons

Bob Slaughter

Slaughter had one memento from his fighting days: a paper with the signature of 75 fellow fighters in his company. 22 would not survive the fight. It was Slaughter's most valued memento.

The Teenagers Who Fought In World War II, Our History

Freddie Oversteegen

Freddie Oversteegen was just a young teen when her world changed forever, and she chose to fight for her country. At the age of 14, she joined up with the Dutch resistance along with her sister, Truus.

Dutch Minister of Defense, Wikimedia Commons

Freddie Oversteegen

Neither Freddie nor her sister sat by idly. Freddie was around 16 years old when she armed herself in the name of the resistance. She ended the lives of many Germans.

Central Intelligence Agency employee, Wikimedia Commons

Freddie Oversteegen

Despite the danger, Freddie and her sister felt they owed it to fight. Their mother had taught them that it was essential to fight injustice. So, they did.

Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Bill Edwards

Bill Edwards did not wait for America to join the conflict. He heard the call immediately and flew with the RAF. He would put in many flights before the USA joined the fray.

Royal Air Force official photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Bill Edwards

Once America joined the conflict, Edwards began flying for the Eagle Squadron. He flew 27 combat missions before he was caught.

Daventry B J (Mr), Wikimedia Commons

Bill Edwards

Despite having flown for two years before the US joined the conflict, Edwards was not invincible. He became a POW before the end of the conflict, but that never stopped his passion for the fight.

Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Phillip Jackson

Phillip Jackson was a child of many nations. His father was an American. His mother was Swiss. They both worked at the American Hospital in Paris. Jackson was 15 years old when the Germans invaded France.

Donald I. Grant, Department of National Defence, Wikimedia Commons

Phillip Jackson

While Jackson was too young to fight, his parents joined the French resistance in 1943. He watched as they fought for their freedom—and he paid the same price that they did.

NM Productions, World War II in Colour (2009)

Phillip Jackson

Fighting for freedom in France was a dangerous game. Jackson and his parents were caught and sent to camps. Jackson and his mother survived. His father did not.

MandyM, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons

Johan Van Hulst

Johan van Hulst was the deputy principal of a Teacher’s Training college in 1940 when Germany invaded the Netherlands. He turned the school into a sanctuary for Dutch teachers who refused to give loyalty to Germany. However, a bigger opportunity soon came up.

Harry Pot, Wikimedia Commons

Johan Van Hulst

Across from the school was a theater that the Germans turned into a center for holding and removing Jews. Van Hulst and his colleagues would not stand for it.

Joost Evers, Commons

Johan Van Hulst

They would use baskets, bags, and bicycles to hide the Jewish children as they snuck them to safety. It is estimated that van Hulst saved 600 Jewish children by the end of the conflict.

Rob Croes, Wikimedia Commons

Charles Shay

As of March 2024, Charles Shay is the last living medic from Omaha Beach. While he was once one of many, he now stands as a reminder of the heroism of those who did not fight but saved.

Romain Bréget, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Charles Shay

Despite the chaos that existed around him, Shay made it his mission to save as many lives as he could. He spent hours pulling wounded from the waves, seeking to save their lives. Many would not have survived without Shay’s help.

NM Productions, World War II in Colour (2009)

Alice Breuer

Alice Breuer was one of the lucky few who survived the Holocaust. Although she and her husband are no longer together, their love was something that drove them during those dark days.

Sinsk, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Alice Breuer

Following the conflict, Breuer and her husband both became psychiatrists. They attempted to help heal the wounds that were caused by not just this trauma but those of everyone who had suffered trauma in their lives.

HBO, The Survivor (2021)

Oskar Schindler

Thanks to Steven Spielberg, Oskar Schindler and his famous list have become known by nearly everyone in the Western world. However, Schindler’s heroics were not just fiction, but very true.

Yad Vashem, Wikimedia Commons

Oskar Schindler

Schindler was an industrial businessman. He was also a member of the ruling party in Germany during the time. He used these two things to save approximately 800 men and women from a darker fate.

Universal, Schindler's List (1993)

Oskar Schindler

Schindler purchased a formerly Jewish factory. He lobbied and was granted permission to be classified as a “subcamp”. He spared many Jews a darker fate by getting them on his famous “list”.

Universal, Schindler's List (1993)

Felix Sparks

Felix Sparks was Texas-born and raised. He was also a force to be reckoned with. This may be why he rose from a young captain to Lt Colonel in only 500 days. He had a lot on his shoulders.

U.S. Army Office of Public Affairs, Wikimedia Commons

Felix Sparks

As Sparks moved up through the ranks, he earned more responsibility. By the time he was Lt Colonel, he was in charge of a task force meant to hunt Adolf himself.

Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1990-048-29A, CC-BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Felix Sparks

However, Sparks ended up doing something far more impactful. He was among the team that liberated Dachau on 29 April 1945.

You May Also Like:

The Forgotten Heroes Of World War I

The Untold Story Of The “Night Witches”, WWII’s Forgotten Flying Aces

The Incredible Story Of “The White Death”, The World’s Deadliest Sniper

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5