The Youngest American Hero

Dan Bullock was born on December 21, 1953, in Goldsboro, NC to Brother Bullock and Alma Floyd Bullock, being the only boy with three sisters, Lois, Porter and Gloria.

Being a member of the E. A. House Boys Club at the age of 10 years old, Dan got to go on a field trip to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, located on the outskirts of Goldsboro. While on this field trip, Dan was one of the few who got to sit inside the cockpit of a B-52 airplane. Which sparked his obsession with the military move than ever in his young life; moreover, thus enhancing his dreams to enlist into the military once he becomes of age.

Ever since Dan was little, he would play war games in the back yard on Griffin Street with his nephew, after becoming bored with playing Cowboys and Indians. His favorite war game was World War II.

Upon learning of the Buffalo Soldiers from his father and other adults, Dan became even more obsessed with becoming a soldier. His desire to fly an airplane was enhanced when he learned about the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of primary African American military pilots, and airmen who fought in World War ll for the United States Army.

Dan's whole world was turned upside down on July 17, 1965, when his mother Alma passed away just 37-days shy of her 45th birthday, when he was only 11-years old.

His father moved to Brooklyn, New York. He took the youngest sister with him. Dan would continue to live with an aunt, before staying with his sisters. Eventually he went to Brooklyn, because he wanted to make sure his baby sister Gloria was safe and in school, doing well.

During the summer of 1968, at a time when grown were fleeing to Canada and other places, or enrolling in Colleges and Universities to avoid being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Dan decided to enlist and fight for his Country at the tender age of just 14-years old.

While looking for a summer job, and having altered his birth certificate from 1953 to 1949, showing that he was 18-years old, instead of 14-years old, while at the foot of Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn, when came upon a Recruiting Station, he decided to try and enlist into the Marine Corps.

To Dan's amazement, he was accepted into the United States Marine Corps at the tender age of 14-years old, not knowing that it was the beginning of his legacy.

-- Nathan Bullock