Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys

The mine has enveloped the men so much that they are constantly thinking about the mine, and the mine comes first, even before family. But on the contrary, “‘They’ll manhandle the rock off that loader, Doc, and then they’ll tie on a cable, try to use a motor to pull it out’ ‘Why don’t they blast their way through?’ Doc wanted to know. ‘Can’t, might set the black damp off,’ the old miner said, using the colloquial term for methane. ”(Hickam, 244-245)

My favorite character in Rocket Boys is Sonny’s father, Homer Hickman. This may seem like an odd choice, given that Sonny’s father is not always kind to Sonny, and often hinders him. Other times, however, he helps Sonny greatly. For example, in the beginning of the story, he pours Sonny’s chemicals down the creek and forbids Sonny from launching rockets on company property. Afterwards, he shows Sonny an area where he is allowed to launch rockets, the place that becomes Cape Coalwood. Everything Sonny’s father does often contradicts something done or said earlier in the book, which seems at first to be very confusing.

In the book The Boys In The Boat, Coach Al Ulbrickson was the head coach of the rowing team. He is very strict and he makes the team work really hard, but I think he is a good coach. They practice for 6 days and one day for recovery. Some people may think that he isn't a good coach because they think he pushes them too much. I think Coach Al Ulbrickson is a good coach because a good coach pushes people to be better.

Employees in coal mining are more likely to be killed or get a non-fatal injury or illness and often do not see the sun for days at a time. On the other hand, Rudy would have to work at a steel mill. After high school, Ruettiger went to work at a steel mill but after his best friend died at work there, he knew it was time to get out and chase his dream of playing college football. If this did not work out for him, of course, he would have to return to work at the mill. These two men worked hard to reach their

Homer Hickam Jr, also known as Sonny, was a boy with a dream. Sonny had many supporters and fuelers for his success. Sonny Hickam had a very interesting relationship with his parents. He and his mom, Elsie Hickam, were very close and she was always encouraging him. However, Sonny’s father, Homer Hickam, was a bit less affectionate. Sonny was always seeking permission and acceptance from his father, but he only rarely received it. Sonny also had encouragement from Miss Riley, his teacher at Big Creek High School. Sonny’s idol and mentor was a German scientist named Wernher Von Braun. These relationships sparked and fueled his way into sweet success. Sonny and his Rocket Boys were unstoppable.

In the novel "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown, Al Ulbrickson was the coach of the Washington rowing team. He had certain ways of coaching and picking the right boys to take to the Olympics. Some readers and people would say he was harsh on the boys he coached and the way he found the crew he wanted, but others think he was just being strategic and reserved. Although Al Ulbrickson may look tough on the boys, he helped them improve in rowing and he was strategic with it. Al was known for his strategic mind, which he used to coach his players to find an Olympic team.

Another problem with Mines is the underground air littered with coal particles. Which brings up, Rocket Boys again. For instance many miners would begin cough up tar, inducing black spots on lungs, which Homer's dad became a victim of and possibly even several strands of cancers and numerous lung

Fearing that 'The Boys' may bail them all up at the Pinnacle public house and steal their cash and horses, two messengers set out for the Pinnacle police station three-quarters of a mile away and persuaded the sole constable in charge to accompany them back to the pub for protection. A fateful mistake, for the Pinnacle public house, was not the quarry. That night on the 7th February 1863 Patsy Daley in the company of Ben Hall robbed the Pinnacle Police station some eight miles from Sandy Creek and three-quarters of a mile away from the Pinnacle public house of weapons, saddles, ammunition and uniforms, as reported in

Marcus was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 as a part of SEAL team 10, and was a part of Operation Red Wings. Which was to kill high ranked Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, who was wanted for killing Marines in Eastern Afghanistan. Marcus was deployed with a four man Recon team to find the location of Ahmad Shah. Marcus was the medic of the team he was also a sniper along with Max Axelson. Danny Dietz was the youngest of the four men, and he was in charge of the communications, and the team leader Michael Murphy who received the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration anyone in the military can earn for his actions in Afghanistan. The men had finally found out the location of Ahmad Shah, when

1.) “If you simply kept your eyes open, it seemed, you just might find something valuable in the most unlikely of places. The trick was to recognize a good thing when you saw it, no matter how odd or worthless it might a first appear, no matter who else might walk away and leave it behind.” -The Boys in the Boat (pg. 37) by Daniel James Brown

High Noon is the tale of Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) and his new wife Amy (Grace Kelly); set on their wedding day, in classic "Western" fashion he's about to ride off into the sunset now that he has outlived his usefulness to the town when he learns that Frank Miller ( a criminal Will had previously arrested for murder) will arrive on the noon train with his gang, seeking revenge. Marshal Kane tries to round up a posse of the townspeople but none of them will stand with him, even his deputy hides at home with his wife when the Marshal comes to him for help. Only a 14-year-old, a half blind old man and the Marshal's Quaker pacifist wife make any efforts to help him. Amy urges him to flee the town with her and he refuses choosing instead to face Frank singlehandedly. Hearing the sound of gunfire from on board the train, Amy chooses her husband's life over her Quaker pacifist beliefs and shoots Pierce in the back.

Coalwood, West Virginia was originally built as a mining town due to the large amounts of coal beneath the surface. From the beginning, this company town thrived under the belief that the town was for the mine. Without the mine, the town would cease to exist as the mine provided each family, with a working man, a house. No mine, no job, no house, and consequently, no town.

Living in a Coal Mine community had its disadvantages, specifically during the earlier times when towns were first being established, as well as during the great depression. The madams of the valley, most notably, Fanny Ramsley and Mary Roper, were often referred to us the welfare providers of the valley because of their great generosity to families during difficult times. When they heard a miner was injured, a woman was widowed, or a family had become ill, they would send a taxi full of food, medical supplies including medicine and anything else that the family might need but couldn’t afford themselves.

Homer Hickam thoroughly details much of his childhood and early to late adolescents in his novel “We Are Not Afraid.” Outlined in 4 parts where Hickam details the positive aspects of surviving and making a living working the coal mines. We Are Not Afraid primarily follows working-class Caucasian men, outlining both the positive and negative aspects during this time. As a whole, the novel’s purpose is to turn a disheartening time in history into a time full of pride and happiness. Similar to the memoir Warriors Don’t cry, by Melba Beals, a strong religious atmosphere is present. Coal Miners realize their job is exceptionally dangers, and anticipate the end of their lives. In today's society death is not as prevalent, but it is essential to take death into consideration.

Homer applied, got the job and was a coal miner. For weeks all he did was get up at the crack of dawn and not come home until late at night. For once, Homer’s father was proud of Homer, and showing it. Homer’s mother, Elsie Hickam, had shown she believed in Homer, but until Homer got a chance to go to the science fair, she did not show it. She stayed out of Homer and his dad’s fights, which is almost as bad as following John blindly. But, when Homer needed her most, she was there, fought John and had John help Homer. “Homer once said you loved the mine more than your own family. I stood up for you because I didnt want to believe it. Homer has gotten a lot of help from the people in this town. They’ve helped him build his rockets. They’ve watched him fly ’em. But not you. You never showed up, not even once.” Now, Homer’s brother, Jim Hickam, on the other hand had still followed their dad but he was closer to helping and believing in Homer than their dad was. Homer’s brother had told everyone about the rocket launch and told them all to come and see it without Homer’s consent or knowledge of everyone showing up. Originally, Jim wanted to embarrass Homer in front of everyone, but it backfired and worked well for Homer in the end. Although Family doesn’t show it much, they still do love you, they may disagree with your beliefs, and your dreams, but they should still help and support you, even if they do not have the money to help.