Description

Retired Lt. Colonel Harold Brown and his wife, Dr. Marsha Bordner, will talk about his new autobiography, KEEP YOUR AIRSPEED UP, the story of a TUSKEGEE AIRMAN at the Gaston College Dallas Campus. The book chronicles Brown's life, particularly the three years he spent as a fighter pilot in the 332nd Fighter Group. This group, known as "the Tuskegee Airmen," battled the enemy abroad during WWII and racism at home in America. His story runs from the first great migration to the civil rights era and into the 21st century. During his presentation, Brown will reflect on completing the rigorous Tuskegee Army Flying School exam in 1942, straight out of high school. He will talk about the pride that being a combat pilot in North Africa and Sicily gave him, as well as his youthful arrogance, which caused him to get shot down over Austria and becoming a POW. Brown and fellow prisoners of war were liberated by General George Patton's Forces. After stints at Air Force bases in the U.S. and Japan, he ended up at the Strategic Air Command, from which he retired in 1965. Later, Brown worked as an educator and college administrator at several colleges including Gaston College. In 1994, Dr. Brown was assigned as an interim Vice President for Academic Affairs when Dr. Patricia Skinner accepted her position as president of Gaston College. A question and answer session and book signing will follow their presentation. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.