Professional speaker and author Ezell Ware Jr.'s first book By
Duty Bound – Survival And Redemption in Vietnam is a memoir of
growing up in Jim Crow Mississippi, becoming a military pilot
and being shot down in Vietnam with his pilot, and former member
of the Ku Klux Klan.
Ezell rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He assisted in the
command and control of 22,000 National Guard personnel and more
than a billion dollars in funds.
Awards received include the Army's Legion of Merit, which is
awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance
of outstanding services and achievements. Among the more than
twenty additional medals are the combat Air Medal with three oak
leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with twelve oak leaf
clusters, the combat "V" Device for valor while facing enemy
forces.
Ezell is a graduate of the prestigious US Air Force War College,
US Army Command and General Staff College, US Army Helicopter
Flight School, San Diego Police Academy and holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Government, Master of Science Degree in Human
Resource Management and An Honorary Doctorate degree in
Humanities.
Ezell is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, United
States Army Black Aviation Association, US Marine Corp League
and numerous other military organizations. He is also a member
of the greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and The Capitol City
Black Chamber of Commerce.
In April, 2007 the governor of Texas appointed Ezell to the
esteemed Texas Veterans Commission. He also currently serves as
Commanding General of the United States Volunteers and is a
member of the board of directors of the Vietnam Veterans
Assistance Fund.
