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Four members of the legendary Tuskagee Airmen were honored this week at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Michigan. They were part of the first squadron of African American pilots, known as the Red Tails. The Detroit Free Press asked them to talk about their experience and how it compared to the account in the George Lucas film "Red Tails."
The vets were candid. Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, 90, tells the paper:
"In combat, I enjoyed myself and I had a good time. It was scary at times, but adventurous. It was exciting."
When they came home, an officer told the disembarking soldiers that white people would go to the right and, with a racial epithet, that African Americans would go to the left. "We still all hope for that day when we can just say we're all American," says Col. Charles McGee, 92.
Video's after the jump.
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I haven't seen the new movie yet, but what I saw about Tuskeegee Airmen, they were extremely efficient at their jobs, despite the segregation and poor treatment. I am not surprised and honor them today for what they did before I was born. That is sad to think of how these heroes were treated then. I hope these men have been given the honors they were due.
I'll take this opportunity to honor them now. I also hope to see the new movie soon.
The reality was, they had to be twice as good as a white man to get a third of the respect. They worked hard, served their country with distinction and valor, and were treated like something scraped off your boot as a reward. Their service is an honor their country did nothing to deserve from them, and the treatment they received besmirches our national honor.
I first heard about the Tuskeegee Airmen back in the 60s when several members of our family were discussing the civil rights movement one holiday. The discussion broke along generational lines. We were all white and lived in an all white suburb. Most of the people of my generation rarely encountered blacks. Many of the older generation were bigoted products of their world. We young people were idealistic and tended to agree with the civil rights movement in general. All Americans deserved to be treated fairly. The discussion was long and loud. One world war two vet listened to everything said, but when one bigotted man of his generation said something about blacks not fighting on the front lines in WWII because they weren't good soldiers, he looked the man in the eye and said clearly and forcefully, "They are just as brave as any other American and blacks in the military deserve to be treated with respect. Black fighter pilots saved my life in Europe. They kept the Germans off my bomber. We felt safe when those Red Tails showed up. They were damn good." That comment silenced the bigot and won the day. The next day I looked them up in the library. I doubt the Red Tails have any idea how profoundly they influenced people like my white family.
Great story Ron. I grew up in segregated Louisiana during the sixties. Encounters with black folks were few until I entered college. Took awhile to make the adjustment. My best memories in the military was as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. When Captain Elliot was leading the gunships on a combat assault, all was well. He was probably the most respected pilot in our unit. Of course, Captain Elliot was a proud African-American soldier. He complimented me one day after a mission. One of my proudest moments and greatest memories.
The only thing needed to make this posting 'complete' would be for this airman to be disenfranchised in some repukkknican lead state.