Tuskegee Airmen Honored At Airport Tribute

REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT (WUSA) -- They put their hands over their hearts as the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The five men in red Tuskegee Airmen jackets had pledged their love and loyalty to a country at war decades ago.

"I fell in love with aviation after that first flight," said retired Col. Charles McGee, U.S. Air Force.

Thirteen-thousand men became the first African-American military pilots and aircraft crews in the U.S. They fought for a country still practicing racial segregation in the 1940s and 1950s.

"You pass many restaurants before you found one that would serve you with some dignity and not out the back door," McGee said.

Military historian, Dr. Alan Gropman, told the audience that the children of many Tuskegee Airmen could not attend schools on the base. They were sent to two-room, segregated schools for black children that had dirt floors. After the war, some of the trained airmen were turned away when they applied for jobs with the commercial airlines.

"It had to be really hard at that time. It was so discriminated, but I think it was good they fought through it and still did a great job," said Deontae Knighton, a student at Carl Sanburg Middle School.

Dozens of young students, military personnel and airport workers listened to the Tuskegee Airmen tell their stories. The Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority sponsored the event to kick off the opening of a special photo exhibit.

The Tuskegee Airmen carried out combat and escort missions that destroyed 261 military planes and 950 railcars. They sank one destroyer during World War II, integrated the Air Force and changed America's history.

"The integration of the Air Force led the other services to integrate. First the Air Force, then the Army, Marine Corps and the Navy, and that encouraged racial integration in the society at large," said Gropman.

"I fought in World War II. My kid brother was a Silver Star, Purple Heart from Korea. My grandson is presently a nuclear engineer on an aircraft carrier in the Navy," said retired Lt. Col. Walter McCreary.

"They didn't lose hope and they just kept going until they reached their dream," said Christine Oliveros, a Potomac High School student.

Another student asked the Airmen what they were doing at age 17. William Broadwater said he had to leave high school to work and then signed up to go to war.

"At 17 and 6 months I took a test for the Army Air Corps. They swore me in. I did so well on the test they swore me in," he said.

"Half my family's in the Army. It's an honor seeing them in person," said Anthony Aquino, a student at Washington-Lee High School.

The students were not the only ones impressed with the Airmen's history. Michael Taylor, a locksmith at the airport stood to offer praise for their perseverance in overcoming discrimination and racism.

"It's pioneers like yourself and other pioneers of the earlier generation who have inspired us to go beyond...doing things that we never even thought about doing before," Taylor said. "I just thank God that I'm here to witness this and to be in the company of great, great men."

Retired Col. Elmer Jones, who turned 90 this month, mentioned the 2008 Presidential race. He says the possibility that an African-American or woman could become this nation's leader shows the country is making progress.

"Every generation adjusts to their environment and each one is more accomplished than the others. So, I think they are equipped to take what is coming," Jones said.

The event also honored two other Tuskegee Airmen, retired Lt. Col. Woodrow Crockett and Jim Pride.

Col. McGee told the students they should choose a profession they love because it would help them get through difficult times. He says America still faces many challenges including improving public schools to help every student soar.

McGee flew more combat sorties (flights) than anyone in the history of the U.S. military. He looks forward to the time when accomplishments will not be identified by race.

"We can all be proud of who we are and should be. We hope that one day it will be just one word, all American," McGee said.

The Tuskegee Airmen exhibit will be on display at Reagan National Airport through the end of March. It is located on the lower level of Terminals B/C.