Earl Baumgart (Milwaukee), a submariner who survived an island-to-island swim through enemy waters in the Pacific before being rescued by Philippino guerilla fighters.
Marion Dorfmeister (Oconomowoc), an Army nurse who waged war on heat and mosquitoes to save the wounded in New Guinea.
George "Dutch" Durnford (Monona), a B-17 navigator who nearly lost his arm on a bombing run to Berlin.
Marie Fredrick (Oconomowoc), an Army nurse who cared for injured American boys from the deserts of Africa to the hills of Italy.
Martin Gutekunst (Oconomowoc), a "land sailor" who fought on two D-day beaches.
Jeannette Kapus (Germantown), a lady pilot who tested bombers and military tradition.
Marvin Langeteig (Evansville), a tech sergeant with Wisconsin's 32nd Red Arrow Division who fought to retake New Guinea and the Philippines.
Lavern Meyer (Madison), a Merchant Marine who sailed dangerous waters to supply the war effort.
Virgil Murphy (Bowler), a Native American brother who radioed communications across Europe.
Art Orlwoski (Wis. Dells), a 16-year-old Milwaukee boy turned U.S. Marine in the Pacific.
George Watson (Monona), a Navy corpsman who helped prove a ship and its crew could be unsinkable.
Among the Wisconsin heroes featured in Kristin Gilpatrick's second book The Hero Next Door® Returns are:
Norton Hubbard (Middleton) an Army signalman who kept Allied communications flowing along a thin line across Africa and Italy.
Gus Boerner (Clinton), a U.S. Marine who fought from Okinawa to China.
Dave Brenzel (Oregon), soldier who survived 3 ½ years as a Japanese prisoner of war.
