Unsung HeroDefining the word hero is difficult. The dictionary states that a hero is anyone admired for their courage, nobility, or exploits, especially in times of war. For most people, the definition of hero is left up to interpretation. Some think a hero is an exceptional athlete, but others think it's the local cop who made headlines for a job well done. It all depends on the individual who defines what a hero is. Jan Karski is a hero for many reasons; he was brave, intelligent, and lived to tell his story. It is often said that Karski tried to stop the war himself and failed (O'Keefe). His attempt to stop the war failed but his voice was heard. Through his efforts, other countries became more involved and opened their eyes to what was happening. Although he failed, he played an important role that helped end the war. Jan Karski was born in 1914 in Lodz in Poland (block 170). He was the youngest of a family of eight children. Karski's father died when he was young and never knowing his father left him unable to love him. On the other hand, he had great respect for his mother, he loved her (Block 170). At school he was a good student. His strong subjects were history, poetry and literature. According to Karski, "Jews have always been strong in science" and, throughout his school years, he was good friends with a group of Jewish boys. This group of young men, including Karski, helped each other with their studies. Karski finished his studies in 1931, his mother did not want him to join the army, so he went to college. He specialized in law and diplomatic sciences and obtained his master's degree in 1935 (block 170). After graduating from college, Karski began working...... middle of paper...... during the war and throughout his life and thanks to him we have the books to remind us of what that he lived to help save the world. Bibliography: Works cited Block, Gay and Drucker. Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust. New York - London: Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc., 1992 Cavanah, Frances (ed.). We wanted to be free: refugees' own stories. Philadelphia: Macrae Smith Company., 1971 Lewin, Zofia and Wladyslaw Bartoszewski. “Story by Jan Karski.” University of Pennsylvania: Department of English home page. 1999. October 1, 2000. O'Keefe, Theodore J. "A Secret Report from Jan Karski." The Journal for Historical Review (www.irh.org.). 1986. October 1, 2000. Wood, E. Thomas and Stanislaw M. Jankowski. Karski: How one man tried to stop the Holocaust. city: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.., 1994