'A very impressive man'

MILTON — "He's an absolute delight," said Barbara Gillespie reciting a list of her son's accomplishments. He was the federal engineer of the year in 2008. He completed a combat tour in Kirkuk, Iraq. He provided rescue and relief efforts to Muniz Air National Guard Base after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. He authored a book, "Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary Man," in 2016. Her son is Fred Brooks, a 1992 graduate from Milton High.

He is now Lt. Col. Brooks. He recently led a group from the 240th Staff Augmentation Team of the Colorado ANG to Thule Air Base in Greenland to survey bridges and facilities. The team’s assessment of Thule AB are scored and entered into a database called BUILDER Sustainment Management System.

"Without these BUILDER scores, Thule AB can't compete at the Air Force-wide level (for funding)," Brooks said.

With the extreme weather conditions in Greenland, Thule AB requires more maintenance than other installations. Brooks’s team completed its work. The results will prioritize Thule AB funding. This is Col. Brooks’ side job; his day job is as the installation management flight chief for the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron at Peterson AFB.

"He is a liaison between the community and the base," said Earl Gillespie, Brooks' stepfather. Brooks travels the world whether for inspections or studies for the Base Realignment and Closure to recommend base closures.

Both parents say Brooks’ biggest accomplishment is the man he became.

Brooks grew up in poverty with only his mother in a home filled with love and a strong faith in God, he said.

Brooks was a twin; his brother's name was Tommy. On Nov. 13, 1977, while running an errand Tommy and his father Tom slid off the roadway and down a cliff. Tommy was ejected from the car and crushed underneath the vehicle. Tom Brooks survived the accident, but never recovered from the guilt, Brooks writes in his book.

"It ate him (Tom Brooks) like a cancer," Barbara Gillespie said of the accident.

After years of guilt, depression, a broken back and financial failures Tom Brooks left the family; Fred Brooks was 10 years old. Brooks did not see his father again until he was 17 years old. Unknown to Brooks at the time, his father was providing closure for his son. Six months later Tom Brooks walked out into the Blue Mountain Range and took his own life Brooks said.

With all his accomplishments Brooks said his proudest moment was when his father saw him for the last time.

"Fred, I am so proud of you," Brooks's father says in his book. "You know, I spent many nights pondering words of wisdom to impart to you. But now that I see you … well, you've grown into a very impressive man."

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 'A very impressive man'