Today we mark Remembrance Day with the story of American World War II veteran Frank Macon. Frank is one of the original Tuskegee airmen, a group of African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in WWII, disproving the belief that African Americans were not fit for military combat.
As a child he struggled with reading caused by undiagnosed dyslexia; however, he had an aptitude for mechanics and design and went on to achieve a 23-year career as head of aircraft maintenance at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, USA. In 2007, Macon and the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest civilian recognition given by American Congress.
“…my teachers would be rolling in their graves…In the early days, I could barely get an ‘F’ in recess… Back then I had no idea I was dyslexic. I just knew I couldn’t read or do math. But I could tear anything apart and rebuild it…The mischief is how I learned stuff, because book learning was not for me.” ~WWII veteran Frank Macon, Colorado Springs, USA
In October, he fulfulled his wish to help “all kids to live with purpose and conquer their challenges.” He held a video chat with a school for diverse learners where he answered questions about his Tuskegee service and the challenges he faced with dyslexia.
Thank you Frank Macon for your inspiring story and for your service.
- Read the article: 97-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Gets Wish to Help Dyslexic Students
Decoding Dyslexia Ontario 