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Originally published on: Mar 17,
Raised in Coalwood, West Virginia, Homer Hickam Jr. began his love of space at an early age. Along with his friends, they named themselves the “Big Creek Missile Agency.” Yet to the town, they were known as “The Rocket Boys,” which became the title of one of Hickam’s best sellers. Although building rockets was a childhood pastime, the excitement of space exploration never left Hickam’s heart.
After going to college at Virginia Tech for an industrial engineering degree, Hickam volunteered to travel to Vietnam as an army engineer. Once his six years with the army were up, Hickam started working with the military’s Aviation and Missile department as an army civilian. It was during this time that he began to learn programming for computers. NASA hired Hickam in not for his engineering degree, but because he knew how to program computers. As an employee located in their Space Lab corporate office, Hickam automated their laboratory’s systems while learning about the lab in general.
As he started working with the astronauts, Hickam spent the rest of his career training them. This included spending a year in Japan! During his
Homer Hickam
Who is Homer Hickam?
Homer Hadley Hickam, Jr. is an American author, Vietnam veteran, and a formerNASA engineer. His autobiographicalnovelRocket Boys: A Memoir, was a No. 1 New York Times Best Seller, is studied in many American and internationalschool systems, and was the basis for the film October Sky. Hickam has also written a number of best-selling memoirs and novelsincluding the "Josh Thurlow" historicalfiction novels. His books have been translated into several languages.
- Born
- Feb 19,
Coalwood - Also known as
- Parents
- Spouses
- Nationality
- Profession
- Education
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Big Creek High School
- Lived in
Submitted
on July 23,
Homer Hickam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Homer Hickam | |
|---|---|
Hickam Jr. in | |
| Born | Homer Hadley Hickam Jr. () February 19, (age 82) Coalwood, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author, Aerospace Engineer |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech (BS) |
| Genre | Memoirs, historical fiction |
| Notable works | Rocket Boys: A Memoir Torpedo Junction Back to the Moon The Josh Thurlow series The Coalwood Way Sky of Stone Red Helmet We Are Not Afraid |
| Spouse | Linda Terry Hickam Paula Morgan (div. ) |
| Relatives | Homer Hickam Sr. (father) Elsie Hickam (mother) Jim Hickam (brother) |
| Military career | |
| Service/branch | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | – |
| Rank | Captain (US) |
| Unit | Fourth Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal Army Commendation Medal |
Homer Hadley Hickam Jr. (born February 19, ) is an American author, Vietnam War veteran, and a former NASA engineer who trained the first Japanese astronauts. His memoirRocket Boys (also published as October Sky) was a New York Times Best Seller and was the basis for the film October Sky. Hickam's body of written work also includes several additional best-selling memoirs a
Early Life And Education of Homer Hickam
Homer Hadley Hickam, an American author, former NASA engineer and Vietnam Veteran was born on 19th February . His parents Homer Sr. and Elsie Gardener Hickam, raised Homer and his elder brother Jim Hickam in Coalwood, West Virginia.
Homer Hickam Jr., talks to father Homer Sr. on the phone,
SOURCE: Homer Hickam
Father Homer Sr. worked as a coal mine superintendent.
Learn more: Nina Burleigh
Homer graduated from Big Creek High School in Later in the same year, he attended Virginia Tech and joined the School's Corps of Cadets. In , Hickam graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial engineering from Virginia Tech.
Homer Hickam's Career; Authored Several Books
Prior to starting his career as an author, Hickam served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Division during the Vietnam war. Subsequently, he got honorably discharged in , after six years of active duty with a rank of Captain.
See More: Tim Shoemaker
Not only did he serve in the army, but Hickam also worked as an aerospace engineer at Marshall Space Flight Center after getting hired b
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