In the 1957 biographical film The Wings of Eagles, John Wayne plays the adventurous Frank “Spig” Wead, a U.S. Navy pilot with an intense passion for bolstering the Navy aviation program. Spig is eventually promoted to fighter squadron commander, but before he can step into the new role, he falls down a flight of stairs and becomes paralyzed from the neck down, effectively keeping him from ever flying a plane again. However, Spig realizes there is still a lot left to live for. After months of telling himself, “I’m going to move that toe,” he regains movement in his arms and hands and can even walk with braces and canes. Once his body is able and his spirits are renewed, the Navy asks Spig to write military-related film scripts for Hollywood, a task he excels at. And after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Spig reenters the service and has the brilliant idea to use “jeep” carriers so downed planes can quickly be replaced. Though Spig had undoubtedly dreamed of flying those planes hims...