by DR. SHANESSA FENNER Fourth Friday is taking a historical turn on Friday, May 28, when the Headquarters Library hosts Dr. John Chandler Griffin, the author of Lt. Bill Farrow: Dolittle Raider. Griffin, who served with the 82nd Airborne Division, will be on hand to answer questions and discuss his book. The book tells the story of Lt. Bill Farrow. Farrow volunteered for a
secret mission designed to boost morale during the darkest day of World War II.
Dubbed the Doolittle Raiders after General James H. Doolittle, the com- mander of the Tokyo raid, Farrow’s crew set out to bring the war to the Japanese homeland by bombing a military target in Nagoya, Japan. Once the Mitsubishi aircraft factory was destroyed, their haven was Chuchow Air Field, 1,500 miles away in China. They never made it. Running out of fuel, Farrow had to bail out over Japan. Farrow was
captured, tortured and executed after a six-month imprisonment. “Farrow was only 23-years-old at the time,” said Griffin, author of the book. “The
16 UCW MAY 26-JUNE 1, 2010
Headquarters Library Hosts Visiting Author
Japanese cremated him after they executed him and would never admit what they had done to him.” Griffin added that the war ended before Farrow’s family found out what had happened to him. His ashes were returned to America and buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Dr. Griffin served with 82nd Airborne Division. He discovered the joy of writing and attended Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah where he majored in English. He attended the University of South Carolina-Lancaster, where he earned his doctoral degree and later became a professor, retiring in 1998. He was awarded the honorary title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus and was named to the Order of the Silver Crescent by Governor Jim Hodges. “I look forward to the public coming to the book signing,”
said Griffin. Admission is free.
Refreshments will be served. For more information call 483-7727.
Dr. Shanessa Fenner, Contributing Writer
COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
