3 minute read
NOMINEES - CARRIE L BARNHILL & EDGAR WILSON
Veteran | 14 years in the u.s. Air force
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Carrie L Barnhill
What did you do in service?
Administrative Clerk, Stenographer, Stenographer Technician; Office Manager and an Administrative Superintendent. During my time of service being a Stenographer was a very prestigious position since there were only 78 of us in the whole Air Force.
What was the biggest reason that led you to join the military?
I graduated from Bernice Negro High School, Bernice LA, at the age of 15 and graduated from Robinson Business College at the age of 18 and worked at Mississippi Valley University, Itta Bena, MS, and lived in the faulty building. I couldn’t date the students, and too young to date the faculty knew that I had to make a change. I had a Cousin in the Army that I adore, so it was either Nursing or the military. Had an opportunity to be an Officer or Enlisted - to active to be an officer. God chose the right one for me.
I saw an opportunity to fulfill my childhood dreams to dance all night, go to Paris, buy fashionable outfit and see all of the places I studied in my History classes. God fulfilled all of my wishes!!!
What advice would you give to others transitioning into civilian life?
-Carrie L Barnhill
Stay active. My advice is to find a Church family find a way to utilize your learned skills for profit. Remember, we are to use what we have been blessed with until we die!
God has provided me everything here on earth to enjoy, so this is my Heaven here on earth, the good, bad, and the ugly because there will be a different Heaven with the Lord.
Read Full Interview at
myblackcolorado.com/military
Edgar Wilson
What can we celebrate this nominee for?
Submitted by Lynne Wilson
Edgar Wilson, my dad, served 22 years in the U.S. military with 20 in the Air Force and 2 years in the Army. He retired honorably as a Technical Sergeant. My dad grew up on the mean streets of the lower east side of Chicago in the 40’s and 50’s. For an African-American man, there were not going to be a lot of legitimate options for him to succeed.
He says he saw many of the people in his community end up dead, drug addicts, or in jail. Most before they were even adults. He started reading comic books and science fiction very young to escape the realities of poverty, violence, and crime that surrounded him. Books helped him visualize exotic lands far away, and this planted the seeds of his dreams about seeing the world for himself. Fortunately for me and my family, Edgar chose a different destiny because of his zest for exploration.
Joining the Air force at 17 was the start of his great adventure. He says he was happy to see the world and through the good and bad, it satisfied his curiosity. This included doing a year fighting in the Vietnam War. Surprisingly, he said it didn’t bother him.
He said every place he visited had something unique or interesting to offer. His favorite places he visited were in the Far East. He has affectionate memories of his time in Japan & the Philippines. He also visited a few countries in Europe, and even did a one year stint near the North pole at Hopedale Air Station where the average temperature was -7 degrees Celsius!
Read Full Interview at
myblackcolorado.com/military
Veteran | 22 years in the u.s. Air force & Army
