The Leaves of Autumn

The story of two boys from the Deep South - one black, the other white - who form an unlikely alliance during the post-Depression era. They survive racial prejudice at home and fight side-by-side during the war in Southeast Asia. They return home heroes, still best friends, and end up depending upon one another until their deaths. The black returns as an ace combat fighter pilot with the stars of a general officer. His friend retires as a senior enlisted man. The story also chronicles the close relationship of the boys' parents at a time when it was unusual and dangerous for the races to coexist like good neighbors.