Check Out Bernard N Lee, Jr’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernard N Lee, Jr.

Hi Bernard N, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Bernard, but my friends call me Bernie. I grew up in the fifties and sixties, following World War II and the Korean Conflict. That historical period shaped many of the perceptions that military kids still hold today of shared sacrifice and love for our country. Those times had a profound impact on my family, and my father’s career in the US Army. They also shaped the personal perspective I have of my childhood.

I kept a mental diary of people and places, during my father’s tours of duty, at various military posts throughout the United States and Europe. Those stories form the basis for my memoir series, “A Look Back in Time: Memoir of a Military Kid in the Fifties … Sixties”

My life as a military kid was filled with one rousing adventure after another. I was never alone. I had other military brats, as we were called, to watch my back. We searched for Big Foot monsters in the Georgia clay pits. We hid under our desks, from gigantic B1 Bombers flying training runs overhead, in Texas. We stalked quail, captured bats, and chased Jack Rabbits across the plains in Oklahoma. As I recall, it was a special time for a young boy to be a military kid.
Of all the memories, none are more vivid than the three years we spent as a military family in the late-1950s living in Germany. It was a magical time to be a kid living in a faraway place experiencing the life and culture of Deutschland. The places we traveled, the people we met, and the stories I remember are shared in the second volume of my memoir series.

I have always been good at expressing myself. I spoke frequently in church, competed in poetry and essay contests, contributed to high school and college publications. In addition to my writing, I studied electrical engineering at Cameron Junior College in Oklahoma and Howard University in Washington, D.C. While at Howard, I joined the Army ROTC Program, obtained a private pilot’s license, and earned a regular army commission. I retired as a Captain, after eight years, in the Army Reserves.

I spent my engineering career with AT&T, in New Jersey, where I worked for thirty-four years, until retirement in 2003. Following retirement, I taught core educational classes to special needs students for four years at Somerset Vocational & Technical High School in New Jersey. My wife, Edwina, and I moved to Georgia in 2007.
I am a better writer when I stay engaged with meaningful activities in my community. I served as a Director of the “How Big Is Your Dream?! Foundation, which prepares young adults for careers in the arts and music industry. I taught chess to elementary, middle, and high school youngsters for a decade in regular day and after school classes. I developed, and taught, a Summer School Reading Curriculum (based upon my book series) at the Hills Academy in Conyers, GA.
I have been a frequent guest speaker on the Tribe Family Channel™ podcast network. I am a member of the Authors Guild; the Atlanta Writers Club; the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; the African American Literature Book Club; Alliance of Independent Authors; the Military Writer’s Society of America; the American Legion Post 91; and Alfred Street Baptist Church (Alexandria, VA).

I reside in Chandler, Arizona, with Edwina — my wife of forty-nine years. We have two grown children: Erik A. Moses (Executive Director CEO of the Fiesta Sports Foundation), Angela F. Bostick (Chief Marketing Communications Officer for The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania), and three grandsons.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would suppose the definition of “a smooth road” is relative. I suffered from asthma as a child, but I outgrew it. I know my life as a military dependent had challenges, but it also had advantages too. My environment on the military post was safe. My dad had a secure job. I had support, structure, and friends to “watch my back.” In that regards, I was better off than many African American kids growing up in the fifties and sixties.

However, military life did have its challenges. Our family moved frequently (following my dad) every three years, until I was twenty-one years old. I missed critical segments of educational instruction, and had to leave my military friends behind. I occasionally felt I didn’t belong, and I struggled to live up to the expectations of my military dad.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an author. I have published three books in a historical, memoir series entitled, “A Look Back in Time: Memoir of a Military Kid in the Fifties.” I have have just completed the manuscript for the next book in the series. It shares stories from my high school years in the sixties. The book is scheduled to be released in March 2026.

I have a gift for retelling stories from my past in vivid and mesmerizing detail. I developed the gift as a child. It helped me capture my memories as we moved frequently from post-to-post. My ability to capture childhood memories has helped me relate to children of all ages. I have enjoyed teaching and watching children develop, mature, and find their gifts. I am proud to have contributed to their search.

My life has been informed by the past, but I love to look into the future. Where others see a world of incongruent challenges, I see a continuum of human possibilities. I believe in a Creator and a future unknown to us. It gives me hope for the possibilities in this world and beyond.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My happiness comes from self fulfilment. I enjoin seeing others happy. I like to share my time and knowledge with those who can benefit by it. I like to teach others and see the joy they get from learning something new. For example, I challenged my students in my summer reading class to put themselves in my stories. I wanted them to tell me what they would have done to resolve a problem. For a reward, I taught them how to play a game I learned as a kid, marbles. We drew a large chalk circle in the middle of the carpeted room, chose teams of four, and spent the afternoon clearing marbles out of the circle. They were thrilled to learn to play a game they had never played before, a game that wasn’t on a cell phone!

I am a natural leader. I am the first one to volunteer when a team needs a hand. I relish the satisfaction that comes when you take on a challenging task, work diligently, and get it done. For example, I volunteered to work with a group of graduate students from Rutgers University, who taught weekend prep classes for high school students preparing for STEM careers. I began as a Leadership Course instructor. I finished as the Program Director for Central New Jersey a decade later.

Sharing my stories at book fairs and guest speaker presentations has been a source of happiness for me. I enjoy talking with visitors and enthusiastic readers. I also enjoy encouraging fellow authors. I published my first book in 2014, my second book in 2017, and released a 2nd Edition in 2021. I have attended dozens of book fairs, festivals, and shows. I am as happy sharing my stories today, as I was when my first book was released.

Pricing:

• Copies of “A Look Back in Time: Memoir of a Military Kid in the Fifties, Vol. I may be purchased from Amazon, BarneandNobles, and Indy Book Stores near you. Prices vary at $14.95 for hardback. Discounts may vary by sales outlet.
• Copies of “A Look Back in Time: Memoir of a Military Kid in the 50s, Vol. II may be purchased from Amazon, BarneandNoble, and Indy Book Stores near you. Prices vary at $12.01 for hardback and $4.00 for e-books. Discounts may vary by sales outlet.
• Copies of “A Look Back in Time: Memoir of a Military Kid in the 50s, Vol. II, 2nd Ed may be purchased from Amazon, BarneandNobles, and Indy Book Stores near you. Prices vary at $12.01 for hardback and $4.00 for e-books. Discounts may vary by sales outlet.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bernardleejr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/militarybratauthor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee2014memoir/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leebn2001
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bernardnleejr8003
• Other: https://x.com/leebn2001

Image Credits
i. Picture of me in American Legion pose by Taylor Girard Photography