He excelled in his studies at Edison Jr. High and John C. Fremont H.S. in what was considered to be one of the most high risk areas of the city (South central L.A.) during a most fragile time of the civil rights era. His father was always by his side keeping both the CRIPS and the BLOODS (local gangs) at bay and his mentoring set in motion values that laid the solid foundation for his life. Upon graduating from high school he joined the Air Force...to seek out his dream of becoming a jet fighter pilot. His initial responsibility was as an intelligence technician trained as an imagery interpreter and cartographic specialist. After serving seven and a half years in the USAF, he applied for and received a rare inter-service transfer to the U.S. Army to attend Army Flight School. Though a little short of becoming a jet fighter Pilot, he logged over 1000 hours of flight time in the HUEY, COBRA, KIOWA, and the TH- 55 (trainer) over the next six years as a combat and medical evacuation pilot. In 1987 following a Congressional Reduction in Forces, (RIF) he left the service. As an Entrepreneur he became the first minority in the country to own and operate a scrap tire and recycling facility and processed nearly 2.5 million tires over a five year period into valuable products for consumers. As a member of the Georgia Army National Guard, he was called to duty from 2006 to 2008 to support the Border Mission in the New Mexico/ El Paso sectors. The father of six girls and four boys and the proud grandfather of twenty-one grandchildren he now focuses on getting into print the legacy of his father’s magnificent works of poetry and writings.
