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What if I told you
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the fate of an entire
World War I army battalion
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rested on the wings of
an unexpected warrior?
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They take this last carrier
pigeon and send Cher Ami off.
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The Germans immediately
fire on this bird.
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He's bloody, he's battered,
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and its leg is now
hanging on by a thread.
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Or there once lived a
pig with a heart of gold
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and a strange superpower.
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Lulu waddles up to Jo Ann
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and realizes her
human needs help.
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So Lulu employs the one trick
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that she's got up her sleeve.
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How about some very
unconventional lifesavers?
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They're locked out, and
baby Dallas is inside.
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The baby is crying
harder and harder.
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Nearby, there
are a bunch of convicts
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doing road work.
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The parents were thinking
it's going from bad to worse,
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'cause now, one of the prisoners
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starts moving quickly
towards the car.
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These are the stories
of heroes so unlikely,
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they are truly unbelievable.
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In the chaos of World War
I, when all seems lost,
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one unlikely hero steps
up, defying the odds
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and charging
headfirst into danger
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to prove that even the
smallest of creatures
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can carry the
weight of a nation.
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It's late 1918 in
the Argonne Forest.
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The United States military,
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with French allies
and Siamese allies,
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have launched the
Meuse-Argonne offensive,
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the largest ground
defensive operation
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in which the American military
has ever participated.
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At this point,
the Allied soldiers,
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totaling 1.2 million troops,
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move in to try to
push the Germans back.
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The Germans have held
this forest for four years,
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and the Allies know that
they're not gonna get this back
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without a serious fight.
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On October 2nd, thousands
of troops are sent forward
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to attack the Germans.
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Among them are 554 men
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of the American 77th
Infantry Division.
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Leading them is Major
Charles Whittlesey.
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As Whittlesey leads
his troops forward
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through the dense forest,
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they suddenly get separated
from other Allied forces.
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And before long, they find
themselves behind German lines
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and surrounded on all sides.
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Things quickly
go from bad to worse
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when they're detected
by the enemy.
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So once they're spotted,
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the Germans start throwing
grenades in at them
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and shooting
flamethrowers at them.
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But then they also
have friendly fire
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coming from other Allied forces
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that are trying to shoot
those German soldiers.
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Because radio is
in its infancy and quite
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unreliable, there's no way for
them to radio back to command
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to let them know their location.
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Out of options
and under pressure,
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the military turns
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to a different kind of
communication strategy.
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So 600 carrier
pigeons were drafted
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and trained in the US
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before they were sent over
to be used in the war.
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The carrier pigeon's
job is to aid
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in battlefield communications.
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Pigeons are fairly
low-maintenance.
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They don't need to be fed much.
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They're great at remembering
physical landmarks
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and successful at
delivering a message
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from point A to point B.
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And because they're
really fast flyers,
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they can deliver a
message much faster
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than anybody on a motorbike
or on a horse, or on foot.
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Luckily, on
this particular mission,
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the Lost Battalion have with
them eight carrier pigeons.
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Whittlesey and his
men scrawl short notes on paper
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and roll them up and
put them in canisters,
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which they attach to
the pigeons' ankles.
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The pigeons are then
one after the other released,
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hoping that they will make
it back to their roost
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and pass on the message
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about the location of
the Lost Battalion.
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Unfortunately, the
Germans know that the Allies
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are using carrier
pigeons to communicate,
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and they've trained
sharpshooters to take them down.
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And so one after the other,
they release seven pigeons
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that are brought
down by German fire.
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This is to the great frustration
of Whittlesey and his men,
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who are isolated, surrounded,
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and under constant enemy
and friendly artillery fire.
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Now all hope rests
on the one carrier pigeon
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the Americans have left.
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His name is Cher Ami, which
means "dear friend" in French.
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So they take this
last carrier pigeon, Cher Ami,
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and they write a note.
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It's got their position,
the Germans' position,
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and a note that says,
"Please, for God's sake,
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stop firing on us."
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And then they send Cher Ami off.
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Almost as soon as he takes
off, the Germans spot him,
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and they immediately fire on
this bird, and they hit him.
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Cher Ami's been shot in the
breast, lost his right eye,
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and his leg, where the message
canister is being held,
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is almost completely severed
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and is now hanging
on by a thread.
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Everyone's hopes
are completely dashed by it
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because now they know,
"We can't communicate.
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We're just gonna sit here until
the enemy either overruns us
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or our own artillery kills us."
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The soldiers'
future seems dim,
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but Cher Ami is one
tough little pigeon.
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Somehow, he musters
the energy to fly again.
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He's bloody, he's battered.
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His leg is hanging
on by a thread,
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yet he still perseveres through
25 miles of enemy territory
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to successfully
deliver the message.
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Three days later,
thanks to Cher Ami,
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200 men from the Lost
Battalion are rescued.
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Now, Cher Ami was
given a prosthetic leg
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and sent home to the States,
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where it was given
a hero's welcome.
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He's awarded the
coveted oak leaf medal
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for having delivered the message
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that saved the Lost Battalion.
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And after his death,
he was stuffed
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and maintained at the post
library at Fort Monmouth.
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Cher Ami's bravery
is a testament to the belief
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that there is no such thing
as an impossible mission.
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But he's far from the first
lifesaving little soldier.
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It is May of 1861.
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Abe Lincoln calls for
volunteers to fight
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in the War of the States
against the Confederacy.
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And men all over the North
wanna be part of this effort,
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but there are also
younger people
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that try to get involved
in the war cause.
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There are no age limits to
join the Confederate Army,
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but the Union Army requires
fighting men to be at least 18
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and musicians bearing fife
and drum to be at least 16.
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In Newark, Ohio,
little Johnny Clem is nine years
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old, and he only stands
about four feet tall,
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but he really, really wants
to be part of the war effort.
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What he lacks in size, Johnny
makes up for in gumption.
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He walks right over to
the 3rd Ohio Regiment,
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tries to enlist,
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and is told, "Son, we are
not enlisting infants."
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But little Johnny Clem
won't take no for an answer.
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Next, Johnny tries to enlist
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with the 22nd Michigan Regiment,
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and they won't let him fight.
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But they do say that
they can take him on,
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kind of unofficially,
as their drummer boy.
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And he takes that deal.
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So he kind of becomes
the regiment's mascot.
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But then in September
of 1863, the regiment is sent
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to the border of the state
of Tennessee and Georgia,
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where it will participate in
the Battle of Chickamauga,
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one of the bloodiest engagements
of the entire Civil War,
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second only to Gettysburg
in terms of casualties.
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The Confederacy breaks
through the Union line,
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and there are so many losses
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that the 22nd is finally
put in a position
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where they have no
choice but to ask Johnny
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to actually step into
the role of a grown man.
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Armed with only a musket
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sawed off so he can carry it,
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little Johnny Clem
surges into battle.
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He's continuing to fight for
one of the infantry companies
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in the regiment, when he is
left behind when they withdraw.
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Because of this, he
comes face-to-face
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with a Confederate colonel.
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And the colonel
looks at Johnny,
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little 12-year-old boy
with a sawed-off musket,
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looked at him and
starts laughing.
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And he tells him,
"Aren't you a bit young?
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Why don't you put that down
and just run along home?"
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Rather than dropping
the weapon, though,
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Johnny raises it, points it
directly at the colonel, pulls
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the trigger, and hits him
in the middle of the chest.
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After that, he drops it
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and runs back to
return to the company.
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And he makes it back
to his unit unscathed.
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But a lot of men
are not this lucky.
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Of the 455 men deployed
with the 22nd Michigan,
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389 are captured, wounded,
or killed in battle.
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Despite these heavy
losses, Johnny presses on,
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proving he's not just
lucky; he's relentless.
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Turns out little Johnny
has got a flair for fighting.
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The tween hero sees action
in places like Perryville,
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Murfreesboro,
Kennesaw, and Atlanta,
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where he's wounded twice.
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He actually turns
what people would think
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was a disadvantage
into an advantage.
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He uses his short stature
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00:10:06,917 --> 00:10:09,957
to basically sneak around
in these engagements.
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00:10:09,958 --> 00:10:13,708
He is the equivalent of a
ninja on these battlefields.
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Johnny earns the nickname
"Damn Little Yankee Devil"
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by the Confederates
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because he is a force
to be reckoned with.
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Johnny does such a great job
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that he actually earns
the rank of sergeant,
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which is not a bad
rank to achieve
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all by the tender age of 13.
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The young fighter
commits his life to serving his
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country and changes his name
to John Lincoln Clem
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in honor of the man
who was president
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when he first answered the call.
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00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:50,332
He retires in 1915
as a major general.
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00:10:50,333 --> 00:10:51,667
Most retirees spend
their golden years golfing
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00:10:51,792 --> 00:10:54,749
or binge-watching the
latest crime dramas.
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00:10:54,750 --> 00:10:58,582
But one man's peaceful life
takes an unexpected turn
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00:10:58,583 --> 00:11:00,207
when he finds
himself face to face
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00:11:00,208 --> 00:11:02,999
with a threat that's
anything but ordinary.
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00:11:06,917 --> 00:11:08,541
It is 5:00 a.m.,
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00:11:08,542 --> 00:11:12,832
and 69-year-old William Ayotte
is awakened from his slumber
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00:11:12,833 --> 00:11:17,374
by some really weird
sounds coming from outside.
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As he peers through his
curtains in the predawn light,
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he can actually make
out a horrifying scene.
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00:11:24,208 --> 00:11:27,041
Just 40 feet away
from his front steps,
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00:11:27,042 --> 00:11:30,499
his neighbor, Erin, is
being mauled by a bear.
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And not just any bear,
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a big, white, hungry polar bear.
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Now, a polar bear
might look cute in pictures,
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but in person, these
things are eight feet tall,
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up to 800 pounds
of apex predator
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with claws that would just
shred right through you.
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The bear has Erin
in its jaws by her head,
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00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:58,041
and he's swinging her back
and forth like a rag doll.
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00:11:58,042 --> 00:12:01,749
William knows that she's not
gonna last long like this.
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00:12:01,750 --> 00:12:03,332
But he's also kind of frozen
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00:12:03,333 --> 00:12:07,207
because he isn't really
prepared for an event like this.
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He doesn't have
any ready weapons.
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Now, William knows
this is a suicide mission,
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but he tells himself,
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00:12:13,833 --> 00:12:16,083
"You're either gonna do
something or you're not."
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00:12:17,375 --> 00:12:21,666
William grabs a snow
shovel, charges outside,
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00:12:21,667 --> 00:12:23,958
and stacks himself
up against the bear.
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00:12:25,042 --> 00:12:26,167
He's kind of
waiting for his moment
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00:12:26,292 --> 00:12:28,707
'cause he knows the best
place to hit this animal
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00:12:28,708 --> 00:12:30,541
is in the eye.
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When the animal
takes a look directly at him,
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00:12:33,292 --> 00:12:36,707
he swings that snow shovel
right into that bear's face.
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00:12:38,125 --> 00:12:41,083
And it's a direct hit,
right in the bear's eye.
247
00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,541
This stuns the bear.
248
00:12:43,542 --> 00:12:48,041
He actually drops Erin, who
is able to scramble to safety.
249
00:12:48,042 --> 00:12:52,333
Now, William has become the
target of this animal's ire.
250
00:12:54,708 --> 00:12:57,832
He starts mauling
William with his claws.
251
00:12:57,833 --> 00:13:01,208
So William starts playing dead.
252
00:13:01,333 --> 00:13:05,250
But the bear, he's intent
on getting his lunch today,
253
00:13:05,375 --> 00:13:08,541
and so he starts gnawing
on that man's ear,
254
00:13:08,542 --> 00:13:12,041
just like Mike Tyson bit
Evander Holyfield's ear off.
255
00:13:13,958 --> 00:13:16,707
William can feel
the hot breath
256
00:13:16,708 --> 00:13:19,166
and the tongue inside his ear.
257
00:13:19,167 --> 00:13:23,208
He can feel the polar
bear ripping his ear off.
258
00:13:24,458 --> 00:13:26,207
Just in
the nick of time,
259
00:13:26,208 --> 00:13:28,499
one of William's
neighbors rushes in
260
00:13:28,500 --> 00:13:30,875
and revs his car engine to scare
the bear away.
261
00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:34,166
When the neighbors get to him,
262
00:13:34,167 --> 00:13:37,250
he's pretty confident
that he's going to die.
263
00:13:37,375 --> 00:13:39,957
He asks his neighbors
to prop him up
264
00:13:39,958 --> 00:13:42,541
so he can die with
dignity like a man,
265
00:13:42,542 --> 00:13:45,707
rather than laying down on
his face like an animal.
266
00:13:45,708 --> 00:13:47,374
But that's not what they do.
267
00:13:47,375 --> 00:13:49,666
They pick William up, put him
in the back of a pickup truck,
268
00:13:49,667 --> 00:13:52,875
and drive him to the emergency
room of the nearest hospital.
269
00:13:54,583 --> 00:13:57,291
It takes surgeons four hours
270
00:13:57,292 --> 00:14:00,083
to attach his ear and
staple him back up.
271
00:14:01,375 --> 00:14:05,541
In an interesting twist,
when he is recuperating,
272
00:14:05,542 --> 00:14:08,582
William is actually put
in the room next to Erin's
273
00:14:08,583 --> 00:14:10,374
while she is recuperating,
274
00:14:10,375 --> 00:14:12,707
but it appears that
the two of them
275
00:14:12,708 --> 00:14:14,958
never really talk about
the bear incident.
276
00:14:17,125 --> 00:14:18,207
For his selfless act,
277
00:14:18,208 --> 00:14:20,541
William earns the
Star of Courage,
278
00:14:20,542 --> 00:14:22,958
one of the highest honors
of bravery in Canada.
279
00:14:24,042 --> 00:14:27,207
The next tale: no
medals, no press,
280
00:14:27,208 --> 00:14:29,957
just ghosts with
impeccable timing.
281
00:14:32,458 --> 00:14:36,624
Captain Bob Loft
and flight engineer Don Repo
282
00:14:36,625 --> 00:14:41,457
are at the helm of Eastern
Air Lines Flight 401 from
283
00:14:41,458 --> 00:14:45,208
JFK to sunny Miami, Florida.
284
00:14:46,250 --> 00:14:50,249
They're
transporting 163 passengers
285
00:14:50,250 --> 00:14:55,374
and 13 crew when a light
goes off in the cockpit,
286
00:14:55,375 --> 00:14:58,541
telling them that
something is gravely wrong.
287
00:14:58,542 --> 00:15:02,124
There's a malfunction
somewhere in the landing gear.
288
00:15:02,125 --> 00:15:05,791
They don't panic; they
just engage the autopilot
289
00:15:05,792 --> 00:15:07,541
while they try and
fix the problem.
290
00:15:09,042 --> 00:15:12,541
Suddenly,
the autopilot turns off
291
00:15:12,542 --> 00:15:15,416
and the plane starts
to descend rapidly.
292
00:15:15,417 --> 00:15:18,791
And it's only after they hear
the scream from the passengers
293
00:15:18,792 --> 00:15:21,208
do they rush back
to the cockpit.
294
00:15:21,333 --> 00:15:23,875
The ground
is fast approaching,
295
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,916
and no matter what they do,
296
00:15:25,917 --> 00:15:28,166
the pilots cannot
course-correct in time.
297
00:15:29,708 --> 00:15:32,166
Flight 401 crashes
into the Florida Everglades,
298
00:15:33,625 --> 00:15:37,499
19 miles from Miami,
going 227 miles an hour.
299
00:15:40,708 --> 00:15:45,624
101 of the 176 people
on board are killed,
300
00:15:45,625 --> 00:15:50,082
including Captain Bob Loft
and flight engineer Don Repo.
301
00:15:50,083 --> 00:15:53,375
At the time, Flight 401
302
00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:57,042
is the second-deadliest
air crash in US history.
303
00:15:58,292 --> 00:16:00,916
After investigations of
the crash were complete,
304
00:16:00,917 --> 00:16:02,999
it was discovered
that Captain Loft
305
00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,541
incidentally bumped
into the yoke,
306
00:16:05,542 --> 00:16:08,042
which caused the
autopilot to disengage.
307
00:16:09,250 --> 00:16:11,582
The crash was
no longer a mystery,
308
00:16:11,583 --> 00:16:16,207
but what started happening
on other flights sure was.
309
00:16:16,208 --> 00:16:19,707
On subsequent
Eastern Airlines flights,
310
00:16:19,708 --> 00:16:24,124
people report receiving
visits from the deceased crew.
311
00:16:24,125 --> 00:16:27,124
These reports come
from passengers
312
00:16:27,125 --> 00:16:29,832
and flight crew members alike.
313
00:16:29,833 --> 00:16:34,958
The two ghosts reported most
often, Bob Loft and Don Repo.
314
00:16:36,208 --> 00:16:38,124
Don't worry,
they're not here to haunt.
315
00:16:38,125 --> 00:16:39,375
They're here to help.
316
00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:43,249
Prior to takeoff,
one pilot reports
317
00:16:43,250 --> 00:16:47,499
the ghostly apparition of
Don Repo in the cockpit,
318
00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:51,124
warning him of an impending
mechanical failure
319
00:16:51,125 --> 00:16:53,541
relating to the autopilot.
320
00:16:53,542 --> 00:16:58,457
The pilot checks,
and they do in fact discover
321
00:16:58,458 --> 00:17:01,582
a problem with the
autopilot function.
322
00:17:01,583 --> 00:17:04,207
They fix it, and the flight
continues as planned.
323
00:17:05,875 --> 00:17:08,541
Another pilot reports
that while going through
324
00:17:08,542 --> 00:17:10,082
incredible turbulence,
325
00:17:10,083 --> 00:17:12,666
when the plane is
bucking like a bronco,
326
00:17:12,667 --> 00:17:15,500
he suddenly gets this
very reassuring feeling.
327
00:17:16,792 --> 00:17:20,417
The pilot manages
to land the aircraft safely,
328
00:17:21,708 --> 00:17:26,625
and he credits this calm
feeling that descended over him
329
00:17:27,167 --> 00:17:29,166
just when it was needed most.
330
00:17:29,167 --> 00:17:31,957
And who does he give
the credit to for that?
331
00:17:31,958 --> 00:17:33,125
Bob Loft.
332
00:17:34,042 --> 00:17:35,541
One flight attendant reported
333
00:17:35,542 --> 00:17:38,416
having an extended
conversation with Don Repo
334
00:17:38,417 --> 00:17:41,500
when he suddenly just vanished
right before her eyes.
335
00:17:42,750 --> 00:17:45,792
She is so unnerved
that she quits the field,
336
00:17:46,917 --> 00:17:49,999
but later she is
able to recognize
337
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,667
Don Repo from a photograph.
338
00:17:54,083 --> 00:17:55,832
What may be
more unbelievable
339
00:17:55,833 --> 00:17:59,249
is that all of these sightings
have one thing in common.
340
00:17:59,250 --> 00:18:02,541
The strange sightings
only occur on aircraft
341
00:18:02,542 --> 00:18:05,917
that were using the salvaged
parts from Flight 401.
342
00:18:07,750 --> 00:18:10,291
Finally, Eastern
Airlines removes all the parts
343
00:18:10,292 --> 00:18:13,457
from all the planes that
401 was incorporated in,
344
00:18:13,458 --> 00:18:15,833
and at that point,
the sightings stop.
345
00:18:17,542 --> 00:18:21,207
Eastern Airlines ceases
operations in 1991.
346
00:18:21,208 --> 00:18:23,917
Yet stories of the
heroic ghost pilots
347
00:18:24,042 --> 00:18:26,749
of Flight 401 live on.
348
00:18:30,292 --> 00:18:31,874
Traditionally, parents
are meant to look after
349
00:18:31,875 --> 00:18:33,207
and protect their children,
350
00:18:33,208 --> 00:18:36,041
but when a tornado blows
through an Oklahoma town,
351
00:18:36,042 --> 00:18:39,041
one heroic nine-year-old
flips the script.
352
00:18:41,167 --> 00:18:43,416
It's a Saturday in May 2024
353
00:18:43,417 --> 00:18:45,749
in the small town
of Dixon, Oklahoma,
354
00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:48,874
right in the middle of what
is known as Tornado Alley.
355
00:18:50,458 --> 00:18:54,249
This particular day sees a
outbreak of many tornadoes,
356
00:18:54,250 --> 00:18:56,916
and they're bad,
some as bad as F4.
357
00:18:58,833 --> 00:19:03,707
The winds in a single F4
tornado are catastrophic,
358
00:19:03,708 --> 00:19:08,332
strong enough to destroy
major steel structures
359
00:19:08,333 --> 00:19:10,500
and uproot big trees.
360
00:19:11,833 --> 00:19:14,207
Local residents
Linda and Wayne Baker
361
00:19:14,208 --> 00:19:15,832
know they cannot stay home,
362
00:19:15,833 --> 00:19:18,041
so they grab their
nine-year-old son, Branson,
363
00:19:18,042 --> 00:19:18,957
and head for safety.
364
00:19:21,083 --> 00:19:24,832
A family friend has a storm
cellar in nearby Marietta,
365
00:19:24,833 --> 00:19:26,624
so that's where they're headed.
366
00:19:26,625 --> 00:19:29,458
Parents are in the front seat,
and Branson is in the back.
367
00:19:30,792 --> 00:19:33,666
Through the windshield,
Wayne, Lindy, and Branson
368
00:19:33,667 --> 00:19:36,333
can see several
tornadoes ahead of them.
369
00:19:37,583 --> 00:19:40,667
They turn, but the
tornadoes turn with them,
370
00:19:42,208 --> 00:19:44,625
and now they're barreling
right towards them.
371
00:19:46,167 --> 00:19:48,249
They start to hear the truck
372
00:19:48,250 --> 00:19:49,916
actually be pelted with debris.
373
00:19:49,917 --> 00:19:52,750
It sounds like glass shards
or pebbles are hitting them,
374
00:19:52,875 --> 00:19:54,583
and Wayne floors it.
375
00:19:56,458 --> 00:20:00,167
But the bottom line is you
cannot really outrun a tornado,
376
00:20:01,375 --> 00:20:04,541
and soon this vehicle
is picked up like a toy.
377
00:20:06,125 --> 00:20:07,916
They hear a massive boom,
378
00:20:09,458 --> 00:20:11,833
and then all falls silent.
379
00:20:14,583 --> 00:20:18,625
Lindy and Wayne are
trapped and badly hurt.
380
00:20:19,708 --> 00:20:21,916
Lindy, who's in
the passenger seat,
381
00:20:21,917 --> 00:20:23,500
she's even got a punctured lung.
382
00:20:24,792 --> 00:20:27,750
Of course, they're still
concerned about Branson,
383
00:20:27,875 --> 00:20:30,082
and they're calling out to him.
384
00:20:30,083 --> 00:20:31,833
Miraculously,
Branson is okay.
385
00:20:33,250 --> 00:20:35,750
He's able to crawl
through the mangled truck
386
00:20:35,875 --> 00:20:39,124
to reach his parents, and
he can see out the window
387
00:20:39,125 --> 00:20:40,333
the predicament they're in.
388
00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:45,791
Branson says to his
parents, "I'll be back.
389
00:20:45,792 --> 00:20:47,333
Please don't die."
390
00:20:48,583 --> 00:20:51,207
The kid is
scared out of his mind,
391
00:20:51,208 --> 00:20:53,083
but somehow he musters
up the courage,
392
00:20:53,208 --> 00:20:54,750
and he just takes off.
393
00:20:56,208 --> 00:20:57,707
Branson is running through
394
00:20:57,708 --> 00:21:00,083
essentially a natural
disaster war zone.
395
00:21:00,208 --> 00:21:01,541
There are downed power lines.
396
00:21:01,542 --> 00:21:03,707
There's debris everywhere,
397
00:21:03,708 --> 00:21:07,667
but he is absolutely focused
on getting some help.
398
00:21:09,542 --> 00:21:12,041
Branson runs a
mile in under 10 minutes,
399
00:21:12,042 --> 00:21:13,582
finds a nearby neighbor,
400
00:21:13,583 --> 00:21:16,707
and brings them back to
the mangled truck on foot.
401
00:21:16,708 --> 00:21:18,624
When the
rescue crews get there,
402
00:21:18,625 --> 00:21:21,874
thankfully, Lindy and
Wayne are still alive,
403
00:21:21,875 --> 00:21:24,708
and they owe their survival
to their son, Branson.
404
00:21:26,917 --> 00:21:30,374
But Branson's not
done saving the day yet.
405
00:21:30,375 --> 00:21:33,666
Turns out he has one more
rescue mission in him.
406
00:21:33,667 --> 00:21:35,624
Wayne and Lindy are
taken to the hospital
407
00:21:35,625 --> 00:21:38,875
and are given treatment, but
they're both contractors,
408
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,208
which means that they
can't work to earn money
409
00:21:42,333 --> 00:21:45,124
while they're in the
hospital recovering.
410
00:21:45,125 --> 00:21:48,624
Branson persuades his
baseball team to hold an event,
411
00:21:48,625 --> 00:21:53,207
and they raise over $10,000
to cover his parents' expenses
412
00:21:53,208 --> 00:21:54,916
while they recuperate.
413
00:21:58,375 --> 00:21:59,707
At the charity game,
414
00:21:59,708 --> 00:22:02,124
the small but mighty
Branson hits a home run
415
00:22:02,125 --> 00:22:04,333
and dedicates it to his parents.
416
00:22:04,458 --> 00:22:06,666
It's that kind of
undying devotion
417
00:22:06,667 --> 00:22:09,417
that drives our next
improbable hero.
418
00:22:11,542 --> 00:22:15,707
For her 40th birthday, Jo
Ann Altman gifts her daughter
419
00:22:15,708 --> 00:22:20,708
this adorable Vietnamese
pot-bellied piglet
420
00:22:21,708 --> 00:22:23,416
named Lulu.
421
00:22:23,417 --> 00:22:25,416
The mom thinks this is
gonna be a great gift,
422
00:22:25,417 --> 00:22:26,625
but the daughter,
423
00:22:27,833 --> 00:22:28,958
not so much.
424
00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:33,875
One weekend, she asks
her mom to babysit the pig
425
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,624
while she goes out of town,
426
00:22:35,625 --> 00:22:39,166
and then she never comes back
to claim the pig.
427
00:22:40,792 --> 00:22:44,167
So Jo Ann and her
husband gladly take Lulu in
428
00:22:44,292 --> 00:22:46,417
because, I mean, she's family.
429
00:22:47,792 --> 00:22:50,457
Life with Lulu settles
into a comfortable rhythm
430
00:22:50,458 --> 00:22:53,666
until a quiet getaway
in August 1998
431
00:22:53,667 --> 00:22:56,166
takes an unexpected turn.
432
00:22:56,167 --> 00:22:59,083
The family's on vacation
at a lakefront trailer park.
433
00:22:59,208 --> 00:23:01,707
Jo Ann rises early
to see her husband
434
00:23:01,708 --> 00:23:03,416
go off to go
fishing for the day,
435
00:23:03,417 --> 00:23:05,499
so she starts making
breakfast for herself
436
00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:08,625
when all of a sudden, she starts
437
00:23:09,375 --> 00:23:11,124
not feeling all that well.
438
00:23:14,375 --> 00:23:15,667
Jo Ann gets really dizzy
439
00:23:15,792 --> 00:23:17,708
and ends up collapsing
to the floor.
440
00:23:17,833 --> 00:23:19,749
She has this terrible
pain in her chest,
441
00:23:19,750 --> 00:23:21,875
and it's obvious she's
having a heart attack.
442
00:23:23,458 --> 00:23:25,167
She can't move,
and the closest phone
443
00:23:25,333 --> 00:23:27,541
that she has available to her
is in the trailer park office,
444
00:23:27,542 --> 00:23:29,041
which is a few
hundred yards away.
445
00:23:30,583 --> 00:23:33,249
As Jo Ann's thinking,
"I'm gonna die alone,"
446
00:23:33,250 --> 00:23:35,500
Lulu the pig
springs into action.
447
00:23:36,583 --> 00:23:39,208
Lulu waddles up to
Jo Ann, sniffs her,
448
00:23:39,333 --> 00:23:41,166
and realizes something is wrong.
449
00:23:41,167 --> 00:23:43,250
Her human needs help.
450
00:23:43,375 --> 00:23:45,707
She needs human help.
451
00:23:45,708 --> 00:23:48,416
So Lulu is trying to figure
out, "Well, where can I go
452
00:23:48,417 --> 00:23:50,374
to find humans?"
453
00:23:50,375 --> 00:23:53,166
And she figures out,
"I gotta get outside."
454
00:23:53,167 --> 00:23:57,458
So Lulu looks at the door and
assesses the doggy door flap.
455
00:23:57,583 --> 00:23:59,499
Knowing Jo Ann's
life is at stake,
456
00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:02,583
Lulu squeezes herself
through the doggy door,
457
00:24:02,708 --> 00:24:05,083
and even though it's tight,
she struggles and gets out.
458
00:24:06,208 --> 00:24:07,500
Gathering her courage,
459
00:24:07,625 --> 00:24:09,957
she then walks out to
the middle of the road.
460
00:24:09,958 --> 00:24:13,249
And when she's out there,
Lulu employs the one trick
461
00:24:13,250 --> 00:24:14,666
that she's got up her sleeve.
462
00:24:14,667 --> 00:24:18,542
Lulu lays down and plays dead.
463
00:24:20,792 --> 00:24:23,250
Lulu's in
this dead piggy position,
464
00:24:23,375 --> 00:24:24,791
but the cars, they don't stop.
465
00:24:24,792 --> 00:24:26,707
They just slow down a
little bit, look at it,
466
00:24:26,708 --> 00:24:28,833
wonder what's going
on, and keep going.
467
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,374
After no one stops
468
00:24:32,375 --> 00:24:34,542
for what feels like
forever in pig minutes,
469
00:24:34,667 --> 00:24:36,541
she ends up going back to Jo Ann
470
00:24:36,542 --> 00:24:38,707
to check on her in the trailer.
471
00:24:38,708 --> 00:24:40,541
For 45 minutes,
472
00:24:40,542 --> 00:24:43,207
Lulu pushes herself through
the tiny dog door,
473
00:24:43,208 --> 00:24:45,749
back and forth from the
trailer to the road,
474
00:24:45,750 --> 00:24:48,707
desperate to find someone
who will stop and help.
475
00:24:48,708 --> 00:24:51,416
Lulu is just frantic,
doesn't know what to do.
476
00:24:51,417 --> 00:24:53,707
She knows that Jo
Ann is getting worse,
477
00:24:53,708 --> 00:24:56,374
and she's like, "I gotta
go out one last time
478
00:24:56,375 --> 00:24:57,749
and find somebody."
479
00:24:57,750 --> 00:25:01,291
But this time, she
scrapes her potbelly
480
00:25:01,292 --> 00:25:04,083
so bad on the doggy door
that it opens a wound,
481
00:25:04,208 --> 00:25:05,957
and she starts to bleed.
482
00:25:05,958 --> 00:25:08,457
When Lulu sees a
pickup approaching,
483
00:25:08,458 --> 00:25:10,541
she lays on the
ground and plays dead
484
00:25:10,542 --> 00:25:12,416
right in front of
that moving vehicle.
485
00:25:12,417 --> 00:25:15,458
She's bleeding from her
belly all over the asphalt.
486
00:25:17,750 --> 00:25:19,541
Amazingly, the
bleeding is enough
487
00:25:19,542 --> 00:25:22,374
to finally get this
driver to stop.
488
00:25:22,375 --> 00:25:23,750
She springs up,
489
00:25:23,875 --> 00:25:25,874
and she leads the guy
over back to the trailer.
490
00:25:25,875 --> 00:25:27,916
All the while, the
man is screaming,
491
00:25:27,917 --> 00:25:29,707
"I think there's something
wrong with your pig!
492
00:25:29,708 --> 00:25:32,374
I think your pig
is in distress!"
493
00:25:32,375 --> 00:25:34,416
Still conscious,
Jo Ann calls back
494
00:25:34,417 --> 00:25:35,874
that she's in huge trouble
495
00:25:35,875 --> 00:25:37,999
and they need to get to
the trailer park phone
496
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:38,666
and call for help.
497
00:25:40,250 --> 00:25:41,832
Paramedics are able to arrive
498
00:25:41,833 --> 00:25:44,791
and get Jo Ann to
a nearby hospital.
499
00:25:44,792 --> 00:25:46,332
Jo Ann has open-heart surgery,
500
00:25:46,333 --> 00:25:49,457
and thankfully, she pulls
through with flying colors.
501
00:25:49,458 --> 00:25:52,207
Lulu is awarded the Tiffany
and Company Angel Medal
502
00:25:52,208 --> 00:25:55,749
by the ASPCA and gets awarded
with all sorts of sweet treats
503
00:25:55,750 --> 00:25:57,207
and jelly donuts.
504
00:25:59,292 --> 00:26:02,374
From unwanted piggy
to neighborhood hero,
505
00:26:02,375 --> 00:26:05,416
her name should be spoken
along with all the greats:
506
00:26:05,417 --> 00:26:08,249
Babe, Wilbur, Miss Piggy,
507
00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:09,625
and Lulu.
508
00:26:13,458 --> 00:26:15,916
We all have hidden talents,
maybe a couple of magic tricks,
509
00:26:15,917 --> 00:26:17,957
shadow puppetry, even parkour.
510
00:26:17,958 --> 00:26:21,624
For one unlikely hero,
his special skill
511
00:26:21,625 --> 00:26:23,874
is called on to save a life,
512
00:26:23,875 --> 00:26:26,207
even though it's
technically a felony.
513
00:26:27,875 --> 00:26:31,832
In 2019, a couple is
driving through Florida
514
00:26:31,833 --> 00:26:34,374
with a crying baby
in the back seat.
515
00:26:34,375 --> 00:26:37,082
The wife tells the husband to
pull over so they can get out
516
00:26:37,083 --> 00:26:40,542
and attend to Baby Dallas,
who's inconsolable.
517
00:26:42,042 --> 00:26:44,291
The parents
open up the front door,
518
00:26:44,292 --> 00:26:48,041
close the front door, and go
to open up the back door,
519
00:26:48,042 --> 00:26:51,707
and realize that
the keys are inside.
520
00:26:51,708 --> 00:26:54,333
They're locked out, and
Baby Dallas is inside.
521
00:26:56,833 --> 00:26:59,041
It's getting hot in the car.
522
00:26:59,042 --> 00:27:01,957
The baby is crying
harder and harder,
523
00:27:01,958 --> 00:27:04,125
and the parents really
don't know what to do.
524
00:27:05,542 --> 00:27:08,541
This is a bad situation
for Baby Dallas.
525
00:27:08,542 --> 00:27:10,749
Temperatures being
too high in the body
526
00:27:10,750 --> 00:27:13,416
can end up leading to some
really serious outcomes,
527
00:27:13,417 --> 00:27:15,250
including heatstroke and death.
528
00:27:16,792 --> 00:27:17,916
When police arrive,
529
00:27:17,917 --> 00:27:20,207
they can't get the
door open either.
530
00:27:20,208 --> 00:27:23,291
That's when help comes from
the most unexpected place.
531
00:27:24,875 --> 00:27:28,041
Nearby, there are a number
of workers in uniform,
532
00:27:28,042 --> 00:27:31,166
black and white
striped uniforms,
533
00:27:31,167 --> 00:27:34,624
because they're actually
convicts outside doing labor.
534
00:27:34,625 --> 00:27:35,916
During the commotion,
535
00:27:35,917 --> 00:27:37,666
one of the inmates
goes up to a nearby car
536
00:27:37,667 --> 00:27:39,124
and talks to the driver,
537
00:27:39,125 --> 00:27:41,833
and is given, of all
things, a wire hanger.
538
00:27:43,208 --> 00:27:44,583
I'm sure the
parents were thinking
539
00:27:44,708 --> 00:27:46,874
it's going from bad
to worse because now,
540
00:27:46,875 --> 00:27:49,167
these convicts are
walking up to the car.
541
00:27:50,417 --> 00:27:52,374
But he shapes up
the coat hanger,
542
00:27:52,375 --> 00:27:55,916
and he goes to work to
try to break into the car.
543
00:27:55,917 --> 00:27:57,624
Meanwhile, the other convicts
544
00:27:57,625 --> 00:28:00,666
are chiming in with
their own advice.
545
00:28:00,667 --> 00:28:02,416
But he doesn't
need their help
546
00:28:02,417 --> 00:28:06,249
because he has his own
checkered past as a carjacker.
547
00:28:09,667 --> 00:28:11,624
There, after
about five minutes,
548
00:28:11,625 --> 00:28:14,582
that noise that everyone was
waiting to hear, that click
549
00:28:14,583 --> 00:28:16,541
of the doors being
unlocked, happens.
550
00:28:16,542 --> 00:28:17,749
Oh, yes!
551
00:28:17,750 --> 00:28:19,082
Thank God!
552
00:28:19,083 --> 00:28:20,250
Whoo!
553
00:28:20,375 --> 00:28:21,499
Thank you so much.
554
00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:23,707
- Nice job, boys.
- Appreciate it.
555
00:28:23,708 --> 00:28:26,375
The carjacker has
been able to utilize
556
00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:28,541
his illicit knowledge for good.
557
00:28:28,542 --> 00:28:29,582
Unlock them damn doors.
558
00:28:29,583 --> 00:28:30,916
Don't ever lock them again.
559
00:28:30,917 --> 00:28:32,874
The parents and
baby are reunited,
560
00:28:32,875 --> 00:28:35,541
and they're back on the
road in short order.
561
00:28:35,542 --> 00:28:37,207
Honey,
was that stressful?
562
00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:41,833
Mom is so grateful
that she ends up donating
563
00:28:41,958 --> 00:28:44,667
to the convicts'
commissary funds.
564
00:28:44,792 --> 00:28:45,582
Thank you.
565
00:28:45,583 --> 00:28:47,832
You guys have a great day.
566
00:28:47,833 --> 00:28:49,833
Hey, it's not every day
your baby gets rescued
567
00:28:49,958 --> 00:28:52,207
by the best car
thieves in Florida.
568
00:28:52,208 --> 00:28:55,291
Here's another tale of
being in the right place
569
00:28:55,292 --> 00:28:56,291
at the right time.
570
00:28:57,792 --> 00:28:59,874
It's London, 1966.
571
00:28:59,875 --> 00:29:01,957
Just four months
before the World Cup
572
00:29:01,958 --> 00:29:03,500
is set to be held in England.
573
00:29:03,625 --> 00:29:06,957
People are flocking to get a
glimpse of the World Cup trophy
574
00:29:06,958 --> 00:29:10,083
that's on display at
Westminster Exhibition Hall.
575
00:29:10,208 --> 00:29:13,666
On March 20th, just the
second day of the exhibition,
576
00:29:13,667 --> 00:29:15,791
the cup suddenly goes missing.
577
00:29:15,792 --> 00:29:17,917
The cup was stolen from
this case between 11:00
578
00:29:18,042 --> 00:29:19,374
and 12:00 o'clock this morning.
579
00:29:19,375 --> 00:29:22,082
The thieves broke in
by forcing the padlock
580
00:29:22,083 --> 00:29:23,417
on the back of the building
581
00:29:23,542 --> 00:29:25,875
without attracting the
attention of two security guards
582
00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:27,874
who were on duty
in the building.
583
00:29:27,875 --> 00:29:31,291
Naturally, the World Cup
organization, a.k.a. FIFA,
584
00:29:31,292 --> 00:29:32,875
is livid.
585
00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,999
How are you gonna let
the World Cup get stolen
586
00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,125
only two days after
you put it on display?
587
00:29:39,667 --> 00:29:41,207
With no solid leads,
588
00:29:41,208 --> 00:29:43,291
police are running
out of options
589
00:29:43,292 --> 00:29:46,417
until a break in the case
comes from a surprising source.
590
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,499
Dave Corbett is about to
take his dog out for a walk
591
00:29:50,500 --> 00:29:52,041
in South London.
592
00:29:52,042 --> 00:29:55,582
His dog is a very excited
Border Collie named Pickles.
593
00:29:57,250 --> 00:30:00,249
Dave opens the front door,
and Pickles just takes off.
594
00:30:00,250 --> 00:30:02,666
So Dave's running after
him with his leash,
595
00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:05,416
wondering where
this dog is off to.
596
00:30:05,417 --> 00:30:06,957
Pickles is going crazy.
597
00:30:06,958 --> 00:30:08,874
Something by his neighbor's car
598
00:30:08,875 --> 00:30:10,875
has really caught
Pickles' attention.
599
00:30:12,292 --> 00:30:15,207
Dave approaches the car to
see what Pickles is on about,
600
00:30:15,208 --> 00:30:19,041
and he sees something
rather peculiar.
601
00:30:19,042 --> 00:30:21,874
Lying there, right next
to his neighbor's tire,
602
00:30:21,875 --> 00:30:24,791
is a package that is
tightly wrapped in newspaper
603
00:30:24,792 --> 00:30:26,292
with string around it.
604
00:30:27,542 --> 00:30:29,707
Dave tears off a piece
of the newspaper wrapping,
605
00:30:29,708 --> 00:30:34,374
and when he sees what's inside,
he can't believe his eyes.
606
00:30:34,375 --> 00:30:37,458
It is the World Cup,
found in the most unlikely way,
607
00:30:38,708 --> 00:30:40,792
courtesy of a determined
Border Collie.
608
00:30:42,292 --> 00:30:43,707
Dave grabs the statue,
609
00:30:43,708 --> 00:30:45,167
runs to the nearest
police station,
610
00:30:45,292 --> 00:30:47,416
slams the World Cup trophy
on the sergeant's desk,
611
00:30:47,417 --> 00:30:50,082
and goes, "I think I
found the World Cup."
612
00:30:52,708 --> 00:30:57,249
Clearly, the police are very
curious as to how he got it.
613
00:30:57,250 --> 00:30:58,957
They question him extensively
614
00:30:58,958 --> 00:31:01,791
and eventually rule
him out as a suspect.
615
00:31:01,792 --> 00:31:03,624
When Dave arrives
back to his home,
616
00:31:03,625 --> 00:31:08,082
there is a massive media
frenzy outside of his door.
617
00:31:08,083 --> 00:31:09,833
But the press
is not there for Dave.
618
00:31:11,833 --> 00:31:13,250
They're
interested in Pickles.
619
00:31:16,542 --> 00:31:19,124
Everyone wants a
picture of the hero pooch
620
00:31:19,125 --> 00:31:20,999
who saved the day.
621
00:31:23,333 --> 00:31:25,916
Pickles turned out to be
a source of good luck too,
622
00:31:25,917 --> 00:31:28,082
because somehow, England goes on
623
00:31:28,083 --> 00:31:30,749
to win the World Cup that year.
624
00:31:30,750 --> 00:31:34,166
As for the thief, that
stayed a mystery for decades
625
00:31:34,167 --> 00:31:37,916
until a long-buried family
secret comes to light.
626
00:31:37,917 --> 00:31:41,333
Finally, in 2017, the
nephew of a London gangster
627
00:31:41,458 --> 00:31:44,250
named Sidney Cugullere
confirms to the newspapers
628
00:31:44,375 --> 00:31:46,875
his uncle took the
World Cup on a lark.
629
00:31:48,042 --> 00:31:51,082
Dave may have
claimed the $5,000 reward,
630
00:31:51,083 --> 00:31:53,667
but it's Pickles who
steals the spotlight,
631
00:31:53,792 --> 00:31:56,291
earning a year's
supply of dog food
632
00:31:56,292 --> 00:32:00,125
and a starring role in the
film "Spy with a Cold Nose."
633
00:32:03,917 --> 00:32:05,583
They came to see the
animals of the zoo,
634
00:32:05,708 --> 00:32:08,832
but what this family witnessed
was something wild all right,
635
00:32:08,833 --> 00:32:10,916
just not in the
way they expected.
636
00:32:14,375 --> 00:32:17,541
It's a sunny day
in 1996 in Chicago.
637
00:32:17,542 --> 00:32:19,874
Families were out
enjoying a lovely day
638
00:32:19,875 --> 00:32:21,832
at the Brookfield Zoo.
639
00:32:25,042 --> 00:32:28,082
One mom in particular
is hoping that the zoo
640
00:32:28,083 --> 00:32:31,207
will keep her own wild
child entertained,
641
00:32:31,208 --> 00:32:33,082
and it seems to be
doing the trick.
642
00:32:34,708 --> 00:32:37,917
The pair wander to and from
many different animal exhibits
643
00:32:38,042 --> 00:32:39,541
while the child points
644
00:32:39,542 --> 00:32:42,416
and talks excitedly
about what he's seeing.
645
00:32:44,042 --> 00:32:46,541
This kid is getting
as close to the animals
646
00:32:46,542 --> 00:32:49,374
as he possibly can,
and the mom is thankful
647
00:32:49,375 --> 00:32:52,167
for the guardrails that
are keeping him safe.
648
00:32:53,542 --> 00:32:55,707
As they approach
a popular exhibit,
649
00:32:55,708 --> 00:32:57,250
the Western Lowland gorilla pit,
650
00:32:58,542 --> 00:33:00,874
one great ape in particular
catches the boy's eye.
651
00:33:02,542 --> 00:33:04,874
Her name is Binti Jua,
652
00:33:04,875 --> 00:33:08,374
and she is a full-grown
eight-year-old female gorilla,
653
00:33:08,375 --> 00:33:13,374
very powerful and arguably
the star of the exhibit.
654
00:33:13,375 --> 00:33:15,917
Lowland gorillas
are known to be really strong.
655
00:33:16,042 --> 00:33:17,457
They're usually a
couple hundred pounds
656
00:33:17,458 --> 00:33:20,916
and very protective
of their surroundings.
657
00:33:20,917 --> 00:33:24,083
Now, this goes double for Binti
because she just had a baby.
658
00:33:25,208 --> 00:33:27,374
The boy is
spellbound by Binti,
659
00:33:27,375 --> 00:33:29,707
so he leans over to get
a closer look at her.
660
00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:33,957
In seconds, the
boy goes from standing
661
00:33:33,958 --> 00:33:35,416
on the outside of the barrier
662
00:33:35,417 --> 00:33:38,541
to falling inside the
20-foot gorilla pit.
663
00:33:44,208 --> 00:33:45,625
The mom
goes into a panic.
664
00:33:46,833 --> 00:33:50,749
She's looking down, and
her baby is unconscious
665
00:33:50,750 --> 00:33:52,249
in the bottom of a gorilla pit!
666
00:33:53,875 --> 00:33:55,374
To make matters worse,
667
00:33:55,375 --> 00:33:56,957
there are seven massive primates
668
00:33:56,958 --> 00:34:01,582
in the pit with him, and
they might not be very happy
669
00:34:01,583 --> 00:34:05,333
about this unexpected
guest dropping in.
670
00:34:06,375 --> 00:34:07,749
The mom is screaming,
671
00:34:07,750 --> 00:34:09,207
the crowd is screaming.
672
00:34:09,208 --> 00:34:11,207
Everybody's trying to
get one of the zoo employees
673
00:34:11,208 --> 00:34:14,166
to do something to help.
674
00:34:14,167 --> 00:34:15,541
Hey! Over here!
675
00:34:17,375 --> 00:34:19,500
Just as the
gorillas begin to process
676
00:34:19,625 --> 00:34:22,250
that a human child has
entered their enclosure,
677
00:34:23,250 --> 00:34:25,125
Binti makes her
way over to the boy
678
00:34:26,292 --> 00:34:28,041
and begins to shout
loudly and aggressively.
679
00:34:33,250 --> 00:34:35,624
The terrified mom and
all the folks watching
680
00:34:35,625 --> 00:34:37,374
are bracing themselves
681
00:34:37,375 --> 00:34:40,708
as Binti edges closer
and closer to the child.
682
00:34:42,292 --> 00:34:44,667
And her mind is going to
the worst possible scenario,
683
00:34:44,792 --> 00:34:49,082
where Binti rips her son
to shreds before her eyes.
684
00:34:52,042 --> 00:34:53,582
But that
isn't what happens.
685
00:34:53,583 --> 00:34:56,582
Binti appears to be yelling
at the other gorillas
686
00:34:56,583 --> 00:34:57,333
to stay away.
687
00:34:58,875 --> 00:35:01,541
Binti then takes the boy,
who is still unconscious,
688
00:35:01,542 --> 00:35:04,374
and puts him under her
shoulder like a ragdoll,
689
00:35:04,375 --> 00:35:06,957
and then runs toward
the enclosure door
690
00:35:06,958 --> 00:35:08,749
and sets him down
right next to it
691
00:35:08,750 --> 00:35:10,833
so the zookeepers can
get him out of there.
692
00:35:12,625 --> 00:35:15,708
Amazingly, the boy
not only survives,
693
00:35:15,833 --> 00:35:18,707
he comes through with only
a couple of cuts to his face
694
00:35:18,708 --> 00:35:19,542
and a broken hand.
695
00:35:20,667 --> 00:35:22,999
The zoo officials suggest
that one of the reasons
696
00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,457
Binti might have been so gentle
697
00:35:26,458 --> 00:35:29,332
with the boy during this
incident was the fact that Binti
698
00:35:29,333 --> 00:35:33,291
was actually hand-fed and
raised by human zookeepers.
699
00:35:33,292 --> 00:35:35,957
So there is a possibility that
there's a little soft spot
700
00:35:35,958 --> 00:35:37,374
in her heart for humans.
701
00:35:40,417 --> 00:35:46,207
Not the
babysitter she expected,
702
00:35:46,208 --> 00:35:47,457
Wanna talk about heroes?
703
00:35:47,458 --> 00:35:50,166
Raising kids is not
easy for a single mom,
704
00:35:50,167 --> 00:35:51,749
especially if you're
raising children
705
00:35:51,750 --> 00:35:55,291
who may one day grow
up and try to eat you.
706
00:35:55,292 --> 00:35:58,542
It's August 2008, and
rural Kansas might seem like
707
00:35:58,667 --> 00:36:00,541
a strange place
for Bengal tigers,
708
00:36:00,542 --> 00:36:03,207
but at the Safari
Zoological Park,
709
00:36:03,208 --> 00:36:06,541
three beautiful female
tigers are born.
710
00:36:06,542 --> 00:36:11,083
Their names are Nasira,
Anjika, and Sidani.
711
00:36:11,208 --> 00:36:13,207
Sadly, though,
within 15 hours,
712
00:36:14,500 --> 00:36:17,374
the tiger mother
abandons her triplets.
713
00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:21,082
She has the tiger equivalent
of postpartum depression
714
00:36:21,083 --> 00:36:23,250
and can't be made to care.
715
00:36:24,875 --> 00:36:26,082
The cubs need a mother,
716
00:36:26,083 --> 00:36:28,000
but unfortunately, the zoo is on
717
00:36:28,125 --> 00:36:30,207
the brink of financial collapse,
718
00:36:30,208 --> 00:36:31,917
and they can't
afford to bring in
719
00:36:32,042 --> 00:36:34,292
another Bengal
tiger to nurse them.
720
00:36:35,542 --> 00:36:37,541
Then, as
all hope seems lost,
721
00:36:37,542 --> 00:36:41,582
a golden hero emerges to
save the day, the cubs,
722
00:36:41,583 --> 00:36:42,750
and the park.
723
00:36:43,833 --> 00:36:46,292
Enter Isabella for the win.
724
00:36:47,708 --> 00:36:51,332
She is the zoo owner's
one-year-old Golden Retriever,
725
00:36:51,333 --> 00:36:55,832
and she obviously doesn't
care about the species divide.
726
00:36:55,833 --> 00:36:58,249
Isabella begins
taking care of the tigers
727
00:36:58,250 --> 00:36:59,707
just like they're her own.
728
00:36:59,708 --> 00:37:03,124
She licks them and even
nurses them with her own milk.
729
00:37:03,125 --> 00:37:05,207
They start out at
about 11 pounds,
730
00:37:05,208 --> 00:37:07,541
but that won't last long.
731
00:37:07,542 --> 00:37:09,291
Under the care of
their adopted mom,
732
00:37:09,292 --> 00:37:12,542
they quickly become
about 140 pounds apiece.
733
00:37:13,667 --> 00:37:16,207
As for the
Safari Zoological Park,
734
00:37:16,208 --> 00:37:18,999
the unusual adoption
is a major draw.
735
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:22,500
Ticket sales skyrocket,
bringing in much-needed cash,
736
00:37:22,625 --> 00:37:25,832
but as the tigers grow,
so do some concerns.
737
00:37:27,083 --> 00:37:29,999
As the Bengal cubs'
first birthday approaches,
738
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,374
experts warn the zookeepers
739
00:37:33,375 --> 00:37:36,666
that the tigers still
have predatory instincts,
740
00:37:36,667 --> 00:37:39,624
and the older and
larger they get,
741
00:37:39,625 --> 00:37:42,583
the more dangerous things
will become for Isabella.
742
00:37:43,958 --> 00:37:47,041
Though the tigers never raise
a paw to their adopted mom,
743
00:37:47,042 --> 00:37:49,750
the zoo feels it's better
to be safe than sorry.
744
00:37:51,708 --> 00:37:55,707
On June 25th, 2009,
the large, furry family
745
00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:57,791
celebrates one last day together
746
00:37:57,792 --> 00:38:01,374
as a huge crowd watches
them romp and play,
747
00:38:01,375 --> 00:38:02,917
having one last hurrah.
748
00:38:04,708 --> 00:38:07,666
Isabella's maternal
instinct single-handedly saves
749
00:38:07,667 --> 00:38:09,499
the zoo from financial ruin,
750
00:38:09,500 --> 00:38:11,582
along with the lives
of 150 animals,
751
00:38:11,583 --> 00:38:14,374
who are able to thrive
for years to come.
752
00:38:14,375 --> 00:38:16,874
Our final hero, also of
the four-legged variety,
753
00:38:16,875 --> 00:38:21,166
faces a big disaster that
will test its enormous heart.
754
00:38:22,708 --> 00:38:25,207
It's 2004 in Phuket, Thailand,
755
00:38:25,208 --> 00:38:28,082
and a little girl
named Amber Owen
756
00:38:28,083 --> 00:38:30,207
is there on holiday
for Christmas
757
00:38:30,208 --> 00:38:32,082
from England with her family,
758
00:38:32,083 --> 00:38:36,417
and the resort they're in has a
really cool extra attraction.
759
00:38:36,542 --> 00:38:37,957
For the kids' amusement,
760
00:38:37,958 --> 00:38:40,332
there's a four-year-old
elephant named Ning Nong,
761
00:38:40,333 --> 00:38:42,332
and her young
handler allows folks
762
00:38:42,333 --> 00:38:44,332
to take pictures with Ning Nong.
763
00:38:44,333 --> 00:38:46,207
The kids can take
rides on her back,
764
00:38:46,208 --> 00:38:48,541
and of course,
everyone loves it.
765
00:38:48,542 --> 00:38:51,249
Amber's never seen a real
elephant in real life before,
766
00:38:51,250 --> 00:38:52,582
but when she sees Ning Nong,
767
00:38:52,583 --> 00:38:54,374
it's like they
connect instantly.
768
00:38:54,375 --> 00:38:57,874
The two become inseparable,
and Amber's thinking,
769
00:38:57,875 --> 00:39:01,707
"This is like the
best Christmas ever."
770
00:39:01,708 --> 00:39:04,082
However, what
begins as a dream vacation
771
00:39:04,083 --> 00:39:08,791
for Amber's family is about
to spiral into a nightmare.
772
00:39:08,792 --> 00:39:13,833
At 7:58 a.m., 249
miles southwest of Phuket,
773
00:39:14,875 --> 00:39:18,791
an earthquake registering
9.1 on the Richter scale
774
00:39:18,792 --> 00:39:21,957
begins about 30,000
meters under the ocean.
775
00:39:24,917 --> 00:39:28,457
At 9:15 a.m., while Amber's
sitting atop Ning Nong,
776
00:39:28,458 --> 00:39:30,749
she notices that the
sea has pulled out
777
00:39:30,750 --> 00:39:33,167
really far back from the shore.
778
00:39:33,292 --> 00:39:34,874
Oh,
my God! Look at that!
779
00:39:34,875 --> 00:39:36,499
I know.
I can see it coming.
780
00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:39,332
When water pulls back
from the beach like that,
781
00:39:39,333 --> 00:39:41,624
that's a sign that
a really bad tsunami
782
00:39:41,625 --> 00:39:43,332
is about to come your way.
783
00:39:44,208 --> 00:39:45,707
Tsunami!
784
00:39:45,708 --> 00:39:47,042
Just look at that!
785
00:39:47,167 --> 00:39:49,207
In just a matter of minutes,
786
00:39:49,208 --> 00:39:52,041
Phuket is completely
engulfed in water.
787
00:39:53,042 --> 00:39:54,500
Get
in, get in, get in!
788
00:39:57,417 --> 00:40:01,625
They get hit with a
100-foot rolling wall of water
789
00:40:02,917 --> 00:40:06,667
that collapses buildings,
destroys the city,
790
00:40:06,792 --> 00:40:10,167
and kills around 100,000
people instantly.
791
00:40:12,458 --> 00:40:14,166
As the water recedes,
792
00:40:14,167 --> 00:40:16,166
the destruction is catastrophic,
793
00:40:16,167 --> 00:40:18,832
and Amber's mom fears the worst.
794
00:40:18,833 --> 00:40:22,582
She goes running through
the hotel, screaming her name.
795
00:40:22,583 --> 00:40:25,207
As she is
yelling, getting no answer,
796
00:40:25,208 --> 00:40:26,416
her fear heightens,
797
00:40:26,417 --> 00:40:28,541
but then suddenly
she hears the sound
798
00:40:28,542 --> 00:40:31,666
any mother in that
situation would yearn for:
799
00:40:31,667 --> 00:40:34,541
it's Amber, and she's okay.
800
00:40:34,542 --> 00:40:36,749
Amber tells her mom
that as that water
801
00:40:36,750 --> 00:40:39,249
was being pulled out to sea,
802
00:40:39,250 --> 00:40:41,916
Ning Nong started
acting really weird.
803
00:40:41,917 --> 00:40:45,666
She suddenly turned and
ran with Amber on her back
804
00:40:45,667 --> 00:40:48,541
as far away from the beach
as she possibly could.
805
00:40:48,542 --> 00:40:51,124
She got Amber to safety
and saved her life.
806
00:40:53,708 --> 00:40:55,291
Whether it's a
bird with a mission,
807
00:40:55,292 --> 00:41:00,082
a convict with a cause, or a
ghost with unfinished business,
808
00:41:00,083 --> 00:41:03,374
these are the stories
of heroes so unlikely
809
00:41:03,375 --> 00:41:06,417
they can only be
called unbelievable.