332nd Fighter Group Recognized For Sacrifices At Home And
Abroad
Before a US aircraft
broke the sound barrier, the Tuskegee Airmen overcame a daunting
social hurdle: breaking the Air Force's color barrier.
On Thursday, President Bush and Congress awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen, more than 60 years
after the 332nd Fighter Group's World War II achievements, that
were made bittersweet by the racial discrimination they endured
after returning home.
"I thank you for the honor you have brought to our country, and
the medal you are about to receive means that our country honors
you," Bush said to the roughly 300-member audience of surviving
airmen, Tuskegee Airmen widows and other relatives, before
presenting the congressional award.
Saying he wanted to "offer a gesture to help atone for all the
unreturned salutes and unforgivable indignities," Bush held his
straightened right hand to his brow and saluted the airmen. After
returning his salute, the airmen remained standing and
applauded.
Speaking on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen, Dr. Roscoe Brown, a
former commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter
Group, thanked Bush and the House and Senate for "voting
unanimously to award this medal collectively to the pilots,
bombardiers, the navigators, the mechanics, the ground officers,
the enlisted men and women who served with the Tuskegee
Airmen."
"Over 60 years ago we were flying in the skies over Europe
defending our country, and at the same time fighting the battle
against racial segregation," he said. "Because of our great record
and our persistence, we inspired revolutionary reform which led to
integration in the armed forces in 1948. As the president said,
(this) provided a symbol for America that all people can contribute
to this country and be treated fairly."
Brown -- a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient and the first US
pilot to down a German Messerschmitt jet -- said that the Tuskegee
Airmen are very pleased to have been in the forefront of the
struggle for freedom and justice in this country.
Senqtor Carl Levin and Representative Charles Rangel were the
chief congressional champions in the House and Senate to get the
medal awarded to the airmen.
"Nobody, white or black, in this country can understand how God
has given you so much courage," Rangel said, addressing the airmen.
"From a nation that had rejected you because of your color, said
you couldn't fly, said you just weren't worthy, you had to go out
there and prove to them just how wrong they were.
Levis listed some of the airmen's feats: 15,000 combat sorties
flown, 260 enemy aircraft destroyed, 1,000 black pilots flew
missions, 150 Flying Crosses and Legions of Merit earned, and more
than 700 Air Medals and clusters earned.
Recognizing other African-American groundbreakers, former US
Secretary of State and retired Gen. Colin L. Powell named the
Golden 13, the Montford Point Marines and the 555th Paratroopers --
the Tuskegee Airmen's naval, Marine, and Army counterparts,
respectively.
"I benefited from what you and so many others did. It is a rich
history," he said. "I stand so proudly before you today but I know
in the depth of my heart that the only reason I'm able to stand
proudly before you today is because you stood proudly for America
60 years ago."
(Aero-News thanks John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press
Service, for his report.)