Patton from WWII. Even though he was not a nice guy he got what he needed to done. He was a military genius and without him the Axis would have had a better chance of winning the war.
Titus Lucretius Carus. was a roman poet, his work, on the nature of things, or De rerum natura, is as the title suggests a discussion on the nature of the universe, what makes it exceptional is that it includes concepts such as atomism, that stars are balls of burning gas, or that all matter is basely immutable and will exist forever.
Some would say otherwise... but that is for another time. Thought I'd come back and say Sun-Tzu was pretty freaking amazing, making one of, if not the most influential military strategy books of all time - The art of war.
I don't have any inspirations really because there is always the unheard story and so many people who are heroes in the publics eye are often really ******** but if I had to choose one it would be william wallace well the way hes portrayed as a hero who fought for his country and didn't back down against the english even though they were a force to reckon with.
Daniel Inouye. I had to read an article for my US history class this year. I was like 'Oh great, another story about a guy who was all pumped up for war, got shot, and cried his way to the field hospital.' Not this time. While leading a charge on a fortification, he was shot through the abdomen. His platoon sergent told him to get to a medic. He kept fighting. His arm was blown apart by a rifle grenade. He kept fighting. He was shot in the leg while eliminating the last of the enemy soldiers and collapsed. He has been serving in the US congress representing Hawaii since it became a state.