William Foege Epidemiologist
Mass vaccinations didn’t work to stop smallpox. Foege came up with the idea that did work.
From This is True for 1 February 2026
hero
Selfless humans who chose to risk their own safety or lives to improve the human condition or save others.
Joseph McNeil Quiet protestor
McNeil was a protestor, but was far from a radical anarchist.
From This is True for 7 September 2025
Traute Lafrenz The righteous
“She is a heroine of freedom and humanity.”
From This is True for 20 March 2023
Kenneth Rowe The former No Kum-sok
Rowe said he never second-guessed his decision to defect and live in the United States.
From This is True for 1 January 2023
Joseph Kittinger The fearless
“There’s no way you can visualize the speed,” Kittinger said later. “I could only hear myself breathing in the helmet.”
From This is True for 11 December 2022
Hiroshi Miyamura American
For the first time ever, the existence of a Congressional Medal of Honor for valor was made Top Secret, for a good reason.
From This is True for 4 December 2022
Johnnie Jones War hero
“Wanting to be dressed appropriately that many years later [shows] he is still thinking like a Soldier.”
From This is True for 1 May 2022
Mel Mermelstein Testifier
Mermelstein sued a Holocaust denier, and won.
From This is True for 6 February 2022
Justus Rosenberg Resistance operative
How did he do it? “I was very lovable in those days,” he laughed.
From This is True for 31 October 2021
Shuping Wang Whistleblower
Wang exposed a terrible problem in China that was widely spreading AIDS and hepatitis.
From This is True for 29 September 2019