Like many early astronauts, Columbusonian (or is it Columbuser?), Donn F. Eisele was a test pilot for the U.S. Air Force. That alone should get him immediate entry into the Badass Hall of Fame, but consider his 11 days piloting Apollo VII. 

He was part of the backup crew for Apollo I the previous year, when a cabin fire killed all three astronauts inside. Apollo VII was the first manned space flight after that, but Eisele stayed on to pilot. Just think about that. It’s the first manned Apollo mission. The crew who should have been first were killed and he still stayed on!

The mission was a success and he went on to retired and become the director of the U.S. Peace Corps in Thailand, before entering the private sector.