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Tuskegee Airmen leader Davis dies
CNN.com ^ | July 6, 2002 | AP

Posted on 07/06/2002 5:12:43 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult

Edited on 04/29/2004 2:00:48 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the leader of the famed all-black Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and the first black general in the Air Force, has died.

Davis, who was 89 and suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died Thursday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.


(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: davis; general; hero; tuskegeeairmen
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
President Clinton advanced Davis to a full general in 1998, awarding him a fourth star.

Wow! I finally found something X42 did right.

21 posted on 07/06/2002 8:58:16 AM PDT by reg45
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To: mhking
RIP General Davis and thanks for your service to America, overcoming great odds. You are a hero and deserve a high place in heaven.
22 posted on 07/06/2002 9:15:03 AM PDT by mafree
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
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."

23 posted on 07/06/2002 9:19:53 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
A great and honorable American. I hope his legacy will be used as an example and not forgotten.
24 posted on 07/06/2002 9:20:31 AM PDT by Arkinsaw
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
Rest in Peace General.

Thanks for posting this.
25 posted on 07/06/2002 9:26:15 AM PDT by RJL
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To: mlibertarianj
Which Davis was it that got shunned? The son or the father? BTTT. Good post! parsy.
26 posted on 07/06/2002 9:28:46 AM PDT by parsifal
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To: parsifal
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.
27 posted on 07/06/2002 9:37:05 AM PDT by mlibertarianj
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To: 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.

God bless General Davis.

28 posted on 07/06/2002 10:11:21 AM PDT by Toidylop
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

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

29 posted on 07/06/2002 10:31:46 AM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
Rest in Peace, General Davis. Your service to your country is not forgotten.

FP

30 posted on 07/06/2002 11:02:40 AM PDT by FourPeas
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult

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

31 posted on 07/06/2002 11:05:46 AM PDT by Light Speed
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
Another Angel gets a new set of wings .. God Bless This Patriot and God Bless America ..

When Their Country Called, They Served With Honor
32 posted on 07/06/2002 11:09:59 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: usconservative; SkyPilot
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.

33 posted on 07/06/2002 11:16:08 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: Light Speed
Thanks, LS. Ya' beat me to it.
34 posted on 07/06/2002 11:17:32 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: 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.

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.


35 posted on 07/06/2002 12:37:25 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: onedoug
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.

36 posted on 07/06/2002 12:39:26 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
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.
37 posted on 07/06/2002 2:24:31 PM PDT by billhilly
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To: SkyPilot
"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.

38 posted on 07/06/2002 2:36:13 PM PDT by SSN558
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
Thank you sir, you are relieved from watch.
39 posted on 07/06/2002 5:27:58 PM PDT by lucky7
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult; aculeus; Orual; BlueLancer; general_re; dighton
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.")
40 posted on 07/08/2002 5:30:57 AM PDT by Poohbah
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