From the early years of Western Expansion to the present day, our history is marked by the heroic exploits of the rescuer and the rescued in some of the most daunting geographic, meteorological, and otherwise life-threatening challenges. "First responders" have variously been members of law enforcement to ordinary good samaritans who couldn't look the other way in the face of their brethren in peril. This book collects the most compelling search-and-rescue accounts of the last two hundred years. Regardless of the outcome, this book honors those who put others' lives before their own in the face of peril.

Tom McCarthy is an award-winning editor and writer who lives in Guilford, Connecticut.