Tuskegee Airmen leader Davis dies

CNN.com ^ | July 6, 2002 | AP

[reg45]

President Clinton advanced Davis to a full general in 1998, awarding him a fourth star.

Wow! I finally found something X42 did right.

[mafree]

RIP General Davis and thanks for your service to America, overcoming great odds. You are a hero and deserve a high place in heaven.

[SkyPilot]

I had the honor of meeting General Davis in 1992.

We spoke about Hollywood's interest in making a movie about his squardron. Steven Speilburg was interested.

He told me he had lots of offers, for lots of money. He could have pocketed millions just for being a "technical advisor." He wouldn't do it. His exact words to me were:

"I don't trust Hollywood to tell this story correctly, and I don't like the immorality of Hollywood."

[Arkinsaw]

A great and honorable American. I hope his legacy will be used as an example and not forgotten.

[RJL]

Rest in Peace General.

Thanks for posting this.

[parsifal]

Which Davis was it that got shunned? The son or the father? BTTT. Good post! parsy.

[mlibertarianj]

It was the son, as a matter of fact, I believe Benjamin Davis Jr., was first Black, since Henry O. Flipper in the 1870's, to graduate from West Point. I think the father was a ROTC from Howard University.

[Toidylop]

Genral Davis, a great man with character defied time. This country always has men like him building up this great country of ours vice the current so-called black leaders.

God bless General Davis.

[The KG9 Kid]

R.I.P. Benjamin Oliver Davis (1912-2002)

[FourPeas]

Rest in Peace, General Davis. Your service to your country is not forgotten.

FP

[Light Speed]

In 1995, HBO produced "The Tuskegee Airmen"..with Laurence Fishburn ,Cuba Gooding Jr.
The movie is worth looking for at your local video store.

[NormsRevenge]

Another Angel gets a new set of wings .. God Bless This Patriot and God Bless America ..

When Their Country Called, They Served With Honor

[onedoug]

Though there was a fine film version of the their story made made for HBO in 1995: The Tuskeegee Airman which starred Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr, Andre Braugher, and a host of others. It was based on the remeniscences of Robert W Williams, one of their number whom I was privleged to know before his passing in '97.

Their achievements are truly legendary.

Benjamin O Davis JR, their leader, RIP.

[onedoug]

Thanks, LS. Ya' beat me to it.

[SkyPilot]

Genral Davis, a great man with character defied time. This country always has men like him building up this great country of ours vice the current so-called black leaders.

Oh my. Isn't that the truth.

When I met him, there were about 100 male students from Tuskegee University there. They watched his every move. Ben Davis held himself with incredible dignity and humiltiy. He was soft spoken, but had conviction.

What a contrast.

[SkyPilot]

Thanks for the tip on that HBO movie. I will look for it.

If my feeble memory serves me, I thought there was a play as well called Black Eagles. I remember that because George Bush senior went to it (I thought) right before the Gulf War and spoke of it.

Thanks again.

[billhilly]

His contributions to this country are immeasureable. Sad that he had to end his life with Alzheimer's, like another American icon of that same era, Ronald Reagan.

[SSN558]

"I don't trust Hollywood to tell this story correctly, and I don't like the immorality of Hollywood."

Duty, Honor, Country. Taps and Guns for the departed General.

[lucky7]

Thank you sir, you are relieved from watch.

[Poohbah]

I had the honor of meeting another of the Tuskeegee Airmen in 1990, and worked the wires to get him invited to my squadron as a VIP guest. One sign of how things have changed over the decades was our resident Citadel graduate--he listened raptly and very respectfully to every word the man spoke. (I later kidded him that he should have said, "I am but dust at thy feet, O Master. Teach me the ways of the Force that I might become a true Jedi.")