New Heroic Comics #45

When a woman becomes trapped on a burning building's ledge seven stories above the street, New York fireman Anthony Riccardi faces an impossible choice: attempt a daring rescue from a ladder that may not reach, or watch helplessly from below. This gripping account of a real September 1946 rescue showcases the split-second courage and quick thinking that separate everyday heroism from legend.

When a devastating flood sweeps through Homer, Nebraska, telephone operator Mildred Lothrop refuses to abandon her post at the switchboard, staying on the job to coordinate rescue efforts even as rising water threatens the very building around her. Based on this true story, witness how one woman's dedication and quick thinking help save lives during a natural disaster that tests the community to its limits.

Robert A. Mason, a poor swimmer himself, makes a split-second decision to jump into the treacherous waters between a ship and dock at Norfolk, Virginia, when a boy on a bicycle plunges in and can't swim. As dangerous currents pull at both rescuer and victim, Mason fights to keep the boy above water until help arrives. This true story celebrates an ordinary man's extraordinary act of courage in the face of real danger.

When a companion breaks through thin ice on Smith's Pond in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Girl Scout Patricia Anna Smith springs into action, drawing on her Scout training to organize a rescue chain before tragedy can strike. With quick thinking and steady nerves, Patricia works to pull her struggling companion to safety as the ice continues to crack beneath them. Her bravery that winter day earns her recognition from the Girl Scouts of America.

When telephone repairman Frederick R. Hoffman spots a man trapped on a live high-tension wire in Richmond, Virginia, he sets aside protocol and springs into action with nothing but rubber gloves and an extension ladder. Racing against electrocution, Hoffman executes a perilous rescue that earns him the prestigious Vail Medal for Lifesaving—a true account of quick thinking and courage on the job.

Henry Bongers, a member of the St. Augustine School Safety Patrol, springs into action when a boy on a bicycle gets trapped in a dangerous intersection with an oncoming truck. In a split-second moment of courage, Bongers races to pull the boy to safety before tragedy can strike. This true story of quick thinking and heroism earned Bongers a well-deserved medal from the Automobile Club of Michigan.

When a defenseless shop owner receives a threatening extortion note from the Black Hand Society, Detective George Patton goes undercover to run the man's store and draw out the criminals before they can make good on their deadly demands. As the gangsters escalate their threats and violence, Patton devises a trap to catch them red-handed. A hard-won battle of courage and determination unfolds to reclaim what was nearly lost.

When Archibald Speyer, president of the Curtis Furniture Company, is suddenly attacked during a late-night stroll, his ten-month-old mongrel Junior springs into action with fearless determination—chasing the assailant through the city streets and refusing to let go. This true-life heroic tale captures one dog's unwavering loyalty and courage in the face of danger.

A crossing watchman named Joseph Mustafa faces a moment of crisis when a frightened child freezes on the railroad tracks as two trains approach from opposite directions. Racing against time and his own fear, Mustafa must act decisively to save the girl's life in this harrowing true story from the files of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

When an eleven-year-old boy named Edward Green finds himself trapped in a burning home with others, he must act fast to lead them to safety—including children in a back bedroom. Days later, his brave actions earn him official recognition when Post 77 presents him with a medal for his heroism. A straightforward tale of a young person stepping up when danger strikes.

When an oil stove explodes in a Niagara Falls home, Mike Bonaccorso rushes into the inferno to rescue a trapped boy—unaware that the same malfunctioning stove is about to pose a deadly threat to him as well. Racing against spreading flames and choking smoke, Mike fights through the blaze in this gripping true-life account of courage under fire.

Eagle Scout Francis H. Lang of Troop 202 in the Bronx doesn't hesitate when he hears gas fumes pouring from a nearby house—he rushes in to rescue the woman trapped inside, racing against time and toxic air. With quick thinking and Scout training, Lang fights to turn off the source of the danger and pull his neighbor to safety, but the real test comes in those desperate moments when her life hangs by a thread. This true-life story celebrates the everyday heroism of a young man whose preparedness and courage turn a tragedy into a second chance.

Marshall Mabey, a Gloucestershire miner who immigrated to America in 1912, became a legend among sandhogs when a catastrophic tunnel collapse under the East River sucked him into a deadly maelstrom of water and mud. Surviving what should have been fatal, Mabey returned to work just days later, eventually rising to foreman and sharing his legendary status only with fellow "blowout" survivor Dick Greedon. This is the true story of how one man's extraordinary resilience made him a name whispered wherever tunnel workers dig.

When a woman struggling in the cold St. Lawrence River catches the attention of Mrs. Violet Wiser, a Red Cross executive from Syracuse, quick thinking and decisive action become the difference between life and death. As Wiser and her companion spot the desperate swimmer fighting the current, they must navigate treacherous waters and act with precision to pull her to safety before it's too late.

When a boy wanders onto the railroad tracks in Trenton, New Jersey, a quick-thinking man named E. Carver Tettemer makes a split-second decision to push him to safety—even if it means putting himself directly in the path of the oncoming locomotive. This true story from the files of the Pennsylvania R.R. captures a moment of genuine courage and the price one person pays to save another's life.

When a friend falls into the turbulent waters of the Trinity River, tenderfoot scout Billy Ray Ruth of Troop 149 must summon every ounce of courage to attempt a daring rescue in the rushing current. This true-life Boy Scout adventure captures the quick thinking and bravery that define the scouting spirit when it matters most.

Patrolman Philip L. Clarius is on traffic duty at a New York City school crossing when a child witnesses armed robbers emerging from a nearby store. As the gunmen spot the officer and open fire, Clarius shields the frightened children from harm, sacrificing himself to keep them safe from the crossfire.