Posted on 02/24/2006 8:08:28 PM PST by Former Military Chick
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany — Lee Archer was once so frustrated with the way the military treated him and other blacks, he considered leaving the service.
In the midst of World War II and during his training at the famed Tuskegee Institute, he thought about going to Canada like his father suggested. But what another black aviator told him changed his mind and taught him a lifelong lesson on patriotism.
“He said, ‘Wait a minute, Lee. Settle down,’” Archer, a retired Army Air Corps lieutenant colonel, recalled.
“Then, he made this great speech. He said, ‘You have a right to grumble, to fight and argue and tell the government what you want and what you don’t want. But when the country’s in trouble, you hold her hand.
“‘And when the country is out of trouble, then you go back to bitching and raising hell.’”
The aviator he quoted was his flight instructor at the time, Daniel “Chappie” James, who would later become the Air Force’s first black four-star general.
Lee, now 85, never left the military or his country and would become America’s first black ace of World War II. He and two other black pilots, retired lieutenant colonels Bob Ashby and Asa Herring, shared their stories of war and discrimination during a forum at Spangdahlem Air Base on Friday.
German World War II pilots were scheduled to join the veterans, but the aviators could not attend the event at the last minute.
Ashby, Herring and Archer are among the original members of the historic Tuskegee Airmen, whom the Army Air Corps recruited to fly and maintain combat planes during World War II.
They trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama as part of an experiment by the military to see whether blacks had the fortitude and intelligence to fly such aircraft. But some of the airmen say the military actually had the goal of proving blacks weren’t capable of flying the planes.
The Tuskegee Airmen disproved any doubters, flying 15,000 missions and shooting down more than 400 enemy aircraft during the war. They never lost a bomber they escorted.
The pilots are often asked the question of why they would protect their country when it discriminated against them. Ashby said blacks have always felt obligated to defend the U.S. going back to the Revolutionary War.
“If you look around, you’ll see that blacks are well represented here at this time,” he said. “It’s our country. We will protect it.”
A few of the spectators expressed their appreciation to the aviators for what the pilots had accomplished and their sacrifice to their country. But a comment from a German in the crowd got the loudest ovation.
“Our country was in trouble,” said Klaus Rhodens, the mayor of Spangdahlem. “You came here to help us so that we have the chance to live in freedom today. I would like to say thank you for all you did for us.”
‘You have a right to grumble, to fight and argue and tell the government what you want and what you don’t want. But when the country’s in trouble, you hold her hand.
“‘And when the country is out of trouble, then you go back to bitching and raising hell.’”
Of course the Nazis would have treated them with great deference, had they won.
thanks for posting the red-tail
My dad hasn't cared for the Tuskegee Airmen ever since one of their squadrons accidentally bombed and strafed his unit in Italy. Fortunately they were well dug in and nobody was killed.
I have gotten to where I swear February is the longest month in the year.
Thanks for the post. Every American should be proud of the Tuskegee aviators service.
It is undeniable that the Tuskegee Airmen suffered discrimination during World War II but the situation has turned 180 degrees.
If you look at a current day high school American History book, chances are that you will see the Tuskegee Airmen and the Navajo Code Talkers glorified and everybody else not even mentioned.
The gentleman's reaction was ,"Man, how do I get a ride in one of those?"
Pure , unadulterated love. No other way to describe it.
Thank you for adding this wonderful photo to the thread. It really is an important part of our military history.
Again thank you.
P.S. He knew General James.
no problem, P-51's rule! :)
That was exceedingly common throughout World War II in all theaters and from all sorts of air units.
Good 'ol red tail :)
They are a source of pride for ALL Americans.
FWIW the TA never lost a bomber under their care. Doesn't help much if your are a grunt and they are "after" you!
Most welcome. I always find something of interest in our Stars and Stripes.
These men are definitely models for emulation, and a source of inspiration for Americans today.
Patriot bump.
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