Homer Hickam

Homer Hickam a Hero

Homer Hickam has proven he is multi-talented because he is a published author, an aerospace engineer, and continues to learn new trades even today. People would likely be surprised to hear what Homer has accomplished over the years. In 1999, the governor of the state of West Virginia issued a proclamation in honor of Mr. Hickam for his support of his home state and his distinguished career as both an engineer and author.  He also declared an annual "Rocket Boys Day" (Hickam). It takes many years to become an engineer, and for most people, it is a great accomplishment. However, to be multi-talented, one must have abilities in several areas.  Hickam has done this by becoming an accomplished author following his career an engineer.  Surprisingly, this is not the extent of Mr. Hickam's talents.  "Mr. Hickam still loves to SCUBA dive. He also jogs nearly every day. A new avocation is amateur paleontology. He works with Dr. Jack Horner in Montana every summer. Most of all, however, he loves to write" (Hickam). Hickam clearly has a love of learning, and shows talent in the areas he follows.  This curiosity and talent has lied within Homer since he was a young boy.  While experimenting with one of his rockets, he broke the 1-mile barrier.  This became the catalyst which launched his future career in aerospace engineering. "Hickam spent the next ten years working as an engineer at the United States Missile Command in Huntsville, Alabama, and in Germany. In 1981, Hickam reached a childhood goal of working directly on space-related projects. He was hired by NASA as an aerospace engineer based at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Though a self-described grunt, Hickam worked in diverse areas, including spacecraft design, propulsion, and crew training. He trained astronauts and astronaut crews in several capacities, including those responsible for the original deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope and the first two repair missions, as well as Spacelab and space shuttle mission crews. Hickam spent his last five years at NASA as the payload training manager for the International Space Station Program" (Homer Hadley Hickam, Jr.). Even within his chosen career path he was able to diversify and serve in many capacities. Homer must have been quite the worker for NASA. It is clear Homer has many talents.  He has fulfilled his dreams and conquered every career path he has followed including engineering, military service, and writing.  He continues to show his talents even later in life by choosing to become a knowledgeable about other unfamiliar areas.   

Homer's determination for sticking with his dream of becoming an aerospace engineer is another quality that makes him a hero. When Homer was a young boy and member of The Rocket Boys, they were taunted by the townspeople for their frivolous, and potentially dangerous hobby.  "The rocket club suffered the jeers of the townspeople and the taunting of Hickam's older brother Jim and his gang of friends. But the whole town took notice when a launch broke the one-mile barrier" (Homer Hickam). Homer relied on his inner strength to prove that what he believed in was not a waste of time. He was very persistent in trying to launch rockets, and tried several ways to do so until he found one that worked.  Several people started helping Hickam and took notice of his launches. As an adult, Homer served in the United States military.  During his time of service, he demonstrated examples of his incredible determination to stick with a challenge and never give up. "Hickam served in the United States Army for six years. During that time, he spent a year, 1967-68, in an infantry unit in Vietnam, where he earned several commendations. By the time Hickam left active duty in 1971, he had reached the rank of captain" (Homer Hadley Hickam, Jr.).   "In 1984, Mr. Hickam was presented with Alabama's Distinguished Service Award for heroism shown during a rescue effort of the crew and passengers of a sunken paddleboat in the Tennessee River" (Hickam). The Tennessee River is a huge river that in places runs very fast. Hickam showed great courage and determination jumping into that river, and rescuing both the crew and passengers. This was undoubtedly a difficult task, and one that required a great deal of determination and to accomplish. Battling the tides of a river while saving a boat of crew and passengers shows incredible determination and heroism.  Hickam has shown that he is not intimidated and has accomplished goals even when he faced with adversity; either from a river or his family.  Hickam clearly has the heart and qualities of a hero. 

A hero is one who shows that a person can do whatever they want if they have the right qualities, such as determination.  Being a hero means persevering to accomplish goals and achieving dreams even when it may seem impossible. Young Homer was interested in rockets, yet, was told that he would have to work in the mines like his dad. He however had dreams of a different career, and was able to make that dream a reality by overcoming the odds, and earning a degree in Industrial Engineering and eventually working for NASA.   He served in the military, and was honored for his accomplishments.  He then became a published author and wrote a book about The Rocket Boys, a group of youngsters once criticized for their activities and later commended for their accomplishments.  As an adult, Homer continues to expand his talents and has become a scuba diver and paleontologist. He persevered when others did not believe in his dream, and has consistently accomplished his short-term and long-term goals. 

Like rockets go up and down, so does life at times.  Homer Hickam inspires me to take chances and turn a passion into a reality despite any ups and downs I may face along the way. I can relate to Homer's passion for rockets because, thanks to him, I have spent many, many hours launching model rockets with my Dad, who also shares that passion.  I can relate to the excitement of building a rocket, and then seeing where it will go and what it will do. He's inspirational because when I launch rockets I want do be just as good as Homer. Homer Hickam inspires me because he never stopped trying to make his life take flight, regardless of any adversity he may have faced. With that kind of determination and perseverance, anything can be accomplished.  That's a hero.  When a person believes in their dreams and sticks with them, anything is possible. Hickam was very determined in trying to launch rockets, and tried several ways to do so until he found one that worked.  I'm sure he also had to try several methods to pull the boat passengers and crew out of the Tennessee River.  I'd believe that when writing his books, they required several revisions.  In each situation, he could have given up, but he didn't.  He was determined.  It's because of that determination, and talents, his career "took off".