Inventing FedEx: The Cruel Ordeal

Fred Smith grew up as an unusual rich kid in Memphis. Haunted by personal ghosts, he volunteered for Vietnam with a death wish. At Yale, he dreamed up his wild idea -- overnight mail! He spent his family's millions, but it was no go. He struggled through a cruel ordeal and became desperate and reckless. He jiggled a $2 million bank loan that caused the FBI to scream fraud and try to send him to prison. His personal behavior became outrageous; even talk of suicide. But as the world knows he fought courageously with hidden strength that enabled him to amaze the world with Federal Express! This is the bare-knuckle story of the remarkable entrepreneurial success.