Tuskegee Airman, German POW Survivor to Give Free, Public Presentation

Lt. Col. Harold Brown with his co-author and wife, Dr. Marsha S. Bordner.

One of the famed Tuskegee Airman, retired Lt. Col. Harold Brown, will tell his extraordinary story of World War II heroism during a free, public presentation at Winebrenner Theological Seminary’s TLB Auditorium on Monday, April 23 from 6-8 p.m.
Lt. Col. Brown’s book, “Keep Your Airspeed Up: The Story of a Tuskegee Airman,” could likely be the last autobiography an original Tuskegee Airman will write. He and co-author Dr. Marsha S. Bordner will sign copies, which will be for sale.
The presentation will begin with a brief film showcasing Lt. Col. Brown’s story, followed by a question-and-answer session with audience members.
Lt. Col. Brown graduated from Tuskegee in May 1944, and was assigned to the 332^nd Fighter Group. He flew 30 missions as a bomber-escort fighter pilot before being shot down on a strafing mission. He was then captured and became a German prisoner of war – all before he was 21 years old.
Lt. Col. Brown was liberated by General George Patton’s forces in 1945. After the war ended, he continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel, with 23 years of active duty service.

Lt. Col. Brown’s military identification photo.

Building a new career after his retirement, Lt. Col. Brown joined a small technical college in Columbus, Ohio. While a teacher and educator, he earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in vocational-technical education from The Ohio State University. He eventually became vice president of the technical college, and over the two decades he worked there, helped it grow from 500 students to close to 9,000.
The book covers his early years in Minnesota, his service during World War II and the Strategic Air Command, and his experiences as a respected and beloved Ohio educator.
At 93, Lt. Col. Brown has not slowed down. He keeps active by traveling and speaking to audiences of all ages about how he overcame adversity in a segregated America. He encourages young students to make wise decisions about their future, to study hard, and to take subjects leading to interesting, well paying careers.
Lt. Col. Brown remains a Tuskegee Airman and an American patriot, and now serves as a living role model and mentor for young Americans of all ages, colors and ethnicities.
“Keep Your Airspeed Up: The Story of a Tuskegee Airman” also is available from the University of Alabama Press’ website, on Amazon, and at most retailers in the U.S. and internationally. There are electronic versions available for Kindle, Nook and all major e-book platforms.