Nearly 45 years after his last flight, retired Lt. Col. James R. Schrum received his long-awaited master aviator wings in a special ceremony at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, on May 28, 2024. The coveted wings recognize Schrum's distinguished 20-year aviation career spanning from 1960 to 1980, including three tours in Vietnam with over 2,900 flight hours logged.
The ceremony marked a full-circle moment for Schrum, who began his military journey at the very same Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in 1960.
*Photo by Calvin Reimold