A vital part of that history is the personal accounts of heroes whose unselfish actions have contributed to the traditions and values that represent the soul of America. The mission of The Foundation to Illuminate America’s Heroes–formed as an IRS-approved 501(c)3 non-profit public charity with tax deductible status–is to search for, discover and illuminate America’s heroes both past and present.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1893, Cooper was an American aviator and an officer in the United States Air Force and Polish Air Force. He was a founding board member of Pan American Airways, an adventurer, screenwriter, film director, and producer of films—the most famous of which was the movie: “King Kong.”