in milton, massachusetts, south of boston. he was a decorated u.s. pilot who flew torpedo bombers, and survived being shot down during world war ii. he met barbara pierce at a christmas dance when they were just teenagers. they got married in 1945 when he was home on leave from the war. he later graduated from yale university and then with bar but they moved to texas to work in the oil business and that is where he got into politics. he became a congressman and ran for congress in 1980. he lost the republican nomination to ronald reagan but became its vice president and finally, eight years later, took the oath of office himself as commander in chief. on his watch, a lot of foreign policy got done. the berlin wall came down, the soviet union collapsed. when saddam hussein invaded kuwait, he defeated the iraqi forces. he also started a foundation to promote community service. after leaving the white house, barbara bush started a charity to help more people learn to