More than 6,000 people have received the Navy Cross.

On Monday night, James Wise told the tales of the distinguished recipients of one of the U.S. Navy’s highest honors.

Wise, a retired Navy captain, and U.S. Army veteran Scott Baron are the authors of “The Navy Cross: Extraordinary Heroism in Iraq, Afghanistan and Other Conflicts.”

The two spoke to a full house of about 100 people in the Simons Media Room at the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University.

The speakers displayed a slide show of photographs, many black and white, revealing the faces of the men and women who have served the country in the Armed Forces over the decades.

It’s such stories – including those from the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq – that people do not always hear about, Wise said.

Wise flashed photos of women fighters. He told stories of female nurses during the world wars, the female combat pilots of World War II, known as the Night Witches, and the story of Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the National Guard’s 617th Military Police Company, who in 2005 became the first female soldier awarded the Silver Star since World War II.

Baron chronicled such Navy Cross winners as Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, who won the Navy Cross five times.

Both speakers attempted to define valor as displayed by the men and women they spoke about.

Wise said he has found that their actions were spurred by necessity.

“In the end, it’s the guy next to you,” Wise said. “Heroism is born to save your brother. That’s what they all say.”

Baron listed the number of Navy Crosses awarded for various wars and conflicts. The list included more than 1,800 for service during World War I, nearly 4,000 for World War II, nearly 500 for Vietnam and 22 for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“You have to ask yourself: ‘Are our servicemen and servicewomen less heroic?'” Baron said. “They are every bit as heroic, every bit as courageous as any man or woman who has worn the uniform.”

Wise’s career included service aboard the aircraft carrier USS America in 1967 and service in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. He has written and co-authored more than a dozen books.

Baron, an author and history teacher in Salinas, Calif., has collaborated with Wise on several books.

Don Forsyth, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War I, Korea, and Vietnam who attended Monday’s lecture, said he believes servicemen and servicewomen are treated better today than during his years of service, particularly during Vietnam.

“I’m glad that veterans are finally getting some recognition,” he said.