Joshua Chamberlain is my go-to guy when looking at historical figures who lived awesome lives. The guy was a college professor from Maine when he joined the Union army and was put in charge of the 20th Maine just before the battle of Gettysburg. His regiment was assigned to the far left flank of the Union position. While getting in position, he noticed a hill even further left that commanded the Union line. On his own orders, he pushed his line to the hill, Little Round Top, where his regiment repulsed numerous attacks. He was wounded during the battle and eventually ordered a bayonet charge that beat off the last attack and secured the union flank. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions. Not bad for a college professor.

He continued a successful Army career throughout the war, was wounded several more times because he led from the front, and was tapped by General Grant to accept the confederate surrender at Appomattox. At the surrender, General Chamberlain ordered his men to attention and to render a salute as a show of respect to the soldiers who were once again fellow Americans. Chamberlain left the Army following the war and eventually became the Governor of Maine for several years, then returned to Bowdin College as the president of the college.

I have him as my obscure hero because here is a dude from a decidedly non-military background who figures out what combat and leading soldier is all about, lead from the front, was honorable in his dealings with friend and foe, continued his service to country and state following the war, and resumed his life of academia. This guy had an amazing life.

I've always felt that Thomas Paine got the shaft, given his immense contributions to the spread of enlightenment ideals, iconoclasm (Religion, Church, State), and his role in pushing the colonies toward revolution and inspiring them on the eve of Washington's Crossing.

Outside of government only Franklin is considered a Founding Father. I've always considered Paine the Forgotten Founder. My oldest son bears Paine's last name as his middle; my little contribution to honoring the man whom John Adams once called "..a mongrel between pig and puppy, begotten by a wild boar on a bitch wolf," everything short of "son of a motherless goat!"