The Spring of 1969 was a tense time for a variety of reasons. The oldest of seven children in a military family in Norfolk, Virginia, the Vietnam War was a dominant factor for Aaron. The high school experience had been a blur. His parents always pushed getting into college, but as neither had attended college, they could do little to prepare him. They were also in no position to provide financial support.

The good news was that his strong grades and academic activities had landed him offers of admi...