Title: Hard Head City
Author: Calvin Kerr Jr.
Publisher: GoldTouch Press LLC
ISBN: 978-1951461614
Pages: 122
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Synopsis
“Hard Head City” contains the following eight different short stories:
1. Black Mondays is a story of a boy’s journey of seeing signs stating, ” For Whites Only”, while growing up in Memphis to seeing both inaugurations of President Obama and Martin Luther King’s memorial dedication.
2. “Chained 2 Da’ Porch”, tells of a woman’s demise from a child to an adult.
3. “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?”, portrays the rigors of being an Army drill instructor training male and female privates while facing discrimination.
4. “Hard Head City”, describes an Army instructor who helps create of an Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at an alternative school in an inner-city.
Moreover, he becomes the basketball coach.
5. “2 Dans”, is a split family situation.
6. “3 Hots and a Cot”, highlights the cavalier attitude of an inmate at Leavenworth and why he was there. It also details the atmosphere of the prisoner cell and displays racism due to the influx of black soldiers from Mannheim Germany.
7. “Who’s Loving Katie”, is a heart touching story of an abused child.
8. “X-cape from Panama, talks about a soldier’s escape from Panama.
About the Author
Throughout my military and civilian careers, I have had opportunities to work numerous diverse occupations and positions. Some of the jobs include: First Sergeant (Army), Drill Instructor, Army Instructor (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps), High School Basketball Coach, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Real Estate Consultant, Financial Advisor (Securities 6 and 63 certifications, Calvary Scout, Infantryman, Track Commander, Machine Gunner, Grenadier and Rifleman. Sometimes the aforementioned jobs entailed being placed in many unpleasant situations. The Demilitarized Zone in Korea and the jungles of Panama were two of those places. Although I had to overcome daring obstacles, I must admit that one of the biggest disappointments occurred when I was released by an Air force Colonel from my assignment as a RDH at the Pentagon. Although, I felt empty at the time without a job, it turned into a blessing. It allotted me time to finish this book, moreover, I was baptized. Anyway, I thank God for giving me the ability and skills to write this book and others. All stories written in this book are based on true events. The stories you are about to engage upon were witnessed by me (the author) or told to me by one of the main characters in the story. In most cases, names are changed as well as locations to protect the identity and right, of people who were actually involved.