Kimberly's Flight Authors to Speak at Clemson Nov. 15

The Clemson University Calhoun Lecture Series presents authors Ann Hampton and Anna Simon, authors of "Kimberly’s Flight," the story of the life and death of the first female pilot killed by hostile fire in combat in U.S. history.

Hampton and Simon will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Self Auditorium of the Strom Thurmond Institute. The one-hour lecture is free and open to the public.

Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton was living her dream: flying armed helicopters in combat and commanding D Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, the armed reconnaissance aviation squadron of the 82nd Airborne Division. On Jan. 2, 2004, the dream ended when a heat-seeking missile brought down Hampton's helicopter in Fallujah, Iraq, killing her.

"Kimberly’s Flight" is the story of her exemplary life told through nearly 50 interviews and her own e-mails to family and friends. It is entwined with Ann Hampton’s narrative of loving and losing a child.

Retired journalist Simon was a reporter with the Greenville News for 21 years. Simon met Ann Hampton when she was writing a series of stories about Capt. Hampton's life and the reaction to her death in her Easley hometown.

Ann Hampton has made three trips to Iraq. In 2010 she went as a Gold Star Mom in a "Hugs for Healing" program sanctioned by the U.S. State Department through which American and Iraqi mothers, grieving the deaths of their children, worked side-by-side on humanitarian projects. In 2011 and 2012, she went on humanitarian missions with “Friends of Kurdistan.”

Calhoun Lecture Series
The Calhoun Lecture Series of the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University is designed to bring provocative policy conversation to the people of South Carolina. Its purpose being to impart knowledge to the public in general and the students of Clemson and surrounding schools. In addition to the formal program, the speakers become more familiar with South Carolina and Clemson University through meetings with selected classes, students and faculty groups. For information about becoming a member, contact Joyce Bridges at 864-656-4700.