The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose

The beloved Emmy Award–winning face of ABC News and New York Times bestselling author Martha Raddatz shares ten stories of American warriors and their families, whose superhuman sacrifice and resilience—on and off the battlefield—show that true courage comes in many forms.

Martha Raddatz has seen the uncommon courage of service members and their families and watched—in war zones and on the home front—as they have faced daunting odds and come out stronger. She asked veterans whose character and actions have impacted her deeply to relive their most challenging moments, so that others will know who they are and what they have done.

We meet an air force rescue parajumper who put his life on the line to save a man whose fate would become entwined with his; a marine ambushed in Helmand whose life—changing injury forced him to take on a different kind of fight; a trailblazing F—18 fighter pilot flying missions over Syria; a combat surgeon who pioneered a new way of saving people with traumatic brain injuries and turned his world upside down to train doctors in Ukraine; an intelligence officer who forged a lifetime friendship with the man who saved him on 9/11; two mothers whose love and sacrifices embody the ideal of selfless service.

Some were inspired to join the military by parents who served and some left abusive families, determined to do better. Some joined when everyone was against it. They were there because they wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves. Raddatz shows how the qualities that made them shine on the battlefield gave them the strength to conceive of transformative second acts. The focus, mental resilience, and emotional fortitude kept them going through physical and emotional setbacks. They started companies to fill a need, created nimble nonprofits, and hunted for humor wherever they could find it.

Most Americans don’t know these people. They’ve shown real courage, and yet they would say they don’t deserve the accolades. There is no sure way to spot a hero, but we should do more to honor and celebrate the heroes next door.