While leaders like D.A. Henderson are celebrated, the eradication of smallpox was ultimately achieved by an army of lesser-known health workers whose stories are equally vital. For instance, in India and Bangladesh, thousands of local health inspectors and village health workers—often young men and women—would walk for miles to reach remote communities. They carried freeze-dried vaccine and bifurcated needles, identifying cases by showing people photos of the rash and then vaccinating every contact in a "ring." Many female health workers were particularly effective at gaining entry into homes to reach women and children who might otherwise have been hidden from male vaccinators due to cultural norms. Nurses in isolation units risked their own health daily, providing comfort and care in incredibly challenging conditions. These unsung heroes faced suspicion, harsh terrain, and even violence, yet their perseverance at the grassroots level—building trust, house by house—was the practical engine that drove the virus to extinction. Their collective effort proved that a global goal could only be won through local action.