The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, Georgia, will host author J. Ross Greene on Thursday, Aug. 20, for the latest installment of its Mighty Talk series, featuring a presentation on his book A Fortress and a Legacy. The program begins at 11 a.m. and will explore the wartime story behind Greene’s book, which draws heavily on letters exchanged between Knoxville native Bud Perrin, a B-17 bombardier, and his wife, a former Miss America contestant. Set against the backdrop of WWII, the book follows Perrin’s experiences from enlistment and training through bombing missions over continental Europe, while also examining the personal relationships affected by his service.
Greene was inspired to tell his uncle’s story and spent years researching the material that became A Fortress and a Legacy. With an engineering background, Greene also founded a financial consulting firm and has worked in the investment field for more than 40 years. The book is particularly personal for Greene, who describes it as a tribute to his cousin Perrin’s daughter, whom he never had the opportunity to know, as well as to those who sacrificed during the war. Greene and his wife, Lynne, live near Atlanta, Georgia, and have three children and eight grandchildren. The Aug. 20 Mighty Talk is free and open to the public, although registration is required. Click HERE to register. An optional lunch will follow the presentation. Lunch costs $10 or $12 for museum members, depending on payment method, and $15 or $17 for non-members. For more information and to support the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, click on this link: www.mightyeighth.org.
