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RRComputer Guy
April 19, 2024
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James Bond deftly piloted the Apache helicopter over the campus of Halifax Community College this morning, the mighty rotors creating a whirlwind of leaves and dust as the iconic aircraft touched down in the center of the school’s fitness trail.

The campus of HCC is familiar territory for the North Carolina National Guard major — he began his post-high school educational journey there, earning an associates of arts degree before moving on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a political science degree.

For the Roanoke Rapids native and Northwest Halifax High School graduate, who flew with his crew to Weldon from Raleigh-Durham Airport, flying wasn’t in the picture.

The military was, however.

“I wanted to give back,” he said at the college’s first U.S Military Expo. “I thought this would be a great opportunity.”

In the gallery: Photos of Bond's landing and the later landing of a Blackhawk heliciopter. Photos also include the North Carolina Vietnam Memorial Wall, military recruiters talking with students and other activities at the event

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.rrspin.com/news/5053-roanoke-rapids-native-lands-apache-on-familiar-ground.html#sigProIdbd3c26f7be

But, he had no initial interest in flying. “I didn’t think it was something possible.”

He checked into it and then fell into it and now he has logged slightly more than 2,000 hours and is considered a master aviator after going through two years of training.

“Many people instilled in me a set of values,” he said, including his late mother, Alfreda, who raised him as a single mother.

His advice to other students living in similar circumstances as he did is, “Stay focused. Don’t be afraid to make goals that seem out of reach. If you stay focused you will achieve it.”

HCC President Michael Elam talked with Bond. “It doesn’t matter where you come from. You can come from little old Weldon or little old Northeast North Carolina and go anywhere you want and do anything you put your mind to and he’s proof of that. We’re really excited that this day is going to be inspirational to many of these youth here and expand their knowledge of the world and their knowledge of the capabilities and possibilities.”

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