- Seated (L to R): John Martin and author John W. Gibson. Standing (L to R): Committee Chair Dick Peasley, Mike Martin and Dave Lenz.
Last week, the residents of Frisco Lakes, Texas received a special treat – an evening with acclaimed author John W. Gibson! Gibson’s books, A Sparrow Has Wings and Higher Heights tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen in novel form. The movie Red Tails was based on his books. Frisco Lakes residents joined Gibson in discovering who these airmen were and how they helped shaped the United States military, as we know it today.
So who was this illusive group of airmen? The first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. Following World War II, the official records of the airmen were classified as “top secret”. After years of secrecy, the Tuskegee Airmen have finally received recognition for their heroic service to their country. Though they trained in segregation at Tuskegee, they flew with honor and distinction. Gibson felt compelled to share their stories, after discovering information pertaining to the airmen.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Gibson served as an Army paratrooper for six years during World War II. He later received a bachelor’s degree in English. An author of varied talents, Gibson has also written screenplays, a musical and a soap opera for radio.