American history is full of heroes: individuals who went above and beyond to ensure the safety and freedom of others. In some cases, they paid the ultimate price.

This is the story of one such forgotten warrior, a World War II US Navy fighter pilot charged with defending Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, and other lands against Japanese air attacks with the Cactus Air Force.

He was Lieutenant Francis Register, also known as "Pinky"-and while he did not survive to speak of his actions during the war, this navy ace fought for his country to the point of exhaustion and beyond. His bravery...