This story is about the social evolution of America during the past seventy-five years, as lived and seen through the experiences and eyes of a black man. Colonel Henri is a veteran of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Civil Rights Movement.Author Biography: Axel W. Henri was born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands on October 27, 1914. His mother was illiterate, but a strong-willed woman with a passionate faith in God. She never accepted defeat and believed that there was no obstacle which could not be overcome. She passed these traits on to her son, and they became the foundation upon which he built his life. Axel migrated to the U.S. in 1936, attended Hampton Institute in Virginia and received a BS degree. He received a Master's degree from George Mason University, and studied law at Howard University. He enlisted in the Army in March, 1942. Within six months, he appeared before an Officer's Candidate Board, completed OCS training, and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. His military career covered twenty-nine years, where he advanced from private to the rank of colonel. During his military service, Axel received many citations and honors. What he cherishes most, however, are the contributions that he, and other black soldiers, made in changing the Armed Forces from a bastion of racism into a model for tolerance. After retiring from the Army, Axel joined Xerox Corp. Continuing his fight for Civil Rights, he and 12 other black employees, brought a Class Action Suit against the corporation demanding fair and equal treatment. Although Xerox never admitted guilt, it agreed to carry out substantive changes in its operations and race relations, with positive results. As he relates the past, and looks towards the future, Axel sees America blooming into a land truly of "liberty and justice for all." He asserts that thousands of today's young adult blacks are well prepared, dynamic and dedicated. He concludes that they will climb great, high mountains of which we, their parents, could only dream.
