He's a retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and the President of Aviation Heritage Park here in Bowling Green.

In this week's Hometown Hero, we sat down with Dan Cherry to discuss his book and his life.

"I had a 29 year Air Force career," said Cherry. "I was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force flying various fighter type aircraft."

Growing up, Cherry always looked up to men in uniform.

"Naturally I looked up to all of them, and particularly those pilots that were those silver wings," said Cherry.

He loves to look back on his time in the Air Force.

"I had the opportunity to command an F-16 Fighter Wing in Korea, and then was very, very fortunate, I think, to be in the right place at the right time to be promoted to Brigadier General," said Cherry.

On April 16, 1972, Cherry was involved in a dog fight in the skies over Vietnam, one that was even featured on the History Channel.

"My Enemy, My Friend" is a book written by Cherry about a special reunion with the man flying the plane Cherry shot down during the dog fight.

"Two people, myself and my new friend Nguyen Hong My, who at one time were trying to kill each other in aerial combat in the skies of Vietnam, have now put all that behind us and have become very good friends," said Cherry. "It's kind of like a war story, but it's more than that. It's a story of friendship. It's a story of reconciliation. It's a story that I think has meaning and could have meaning to anyone."

They hope the story is helpful, especially to veterans.

"I've had so many veterans come up to me and say how hearing this story has really changed their lives," said Cherry.

Overall Cherry looks back on his life in the Air Force with a smile.

"It was a good time with a lot of challenges, but certainly I look back on it with great fond memories and I owe the Air Force a lot," said Cherry.

Proceeds from Cherry's book "My Enemy, My Friend" all go to support Aviation Heritage Park.

We honor Dan Cherry as this week's Hometown Hero.