Instead, they stood their ground in the face of approaching enemy, risked their lives, and carried me to safety.

CNN: VA assistant secretary: 'My crew thought I was dead'

In the midst of the financial crisis, Ms. Drew attended the regular morning huddle with traders and forced them to defend positions and outline the risks they would face during the approaching trading day.

FORBES: The Perfect Storm At JPMorgan Chase

While Illinois and most of New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island) all face pension under-funding approaching 50%, America's largest states, California, Florida, New York and Texas, went into the recession better prepared, with funding levels of roughly 85% or more.

FORBES: Debt Crisis