Page 2 - Black History Month 2021 - Combined Special Edition of Luke AFB Thunderbolt — Davis Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News

2 January 28, 2022 Aerotech News Aerotech News January 28, 2022 3
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Black History month observed across the nation Honoring the life of Tuskegee Airman and

February is Black History Month, and the theme of the equation. The thought-process behind the week was note that with only two exceptions, of cials with the
the 2022 observance is “Black Health and Wellness.” never recorded, but scholars acknowledge two reasons State Departments of Education of “every state with Air Force legend, Brig. Gen. Charles McGee
The theme of the observance is set each year by the for its birth: recognition and importance. Woodson considerable Negro population” had made the event
Association for the Study of African American Life felt deeply that at least one week would allow for the known to that state’s teachers and distributed of cial
and History. general movement to become something annually cel- literature associated with the event. Churches also
Black History Month is an annual observance that ebrated. Also, after the 10-year-long haul to successfully played a signi cant role in the distribution of literature by Staff Sgt. Nick Z. Erwin During this time, he and other Tuskegee
originated in the United States, where it is sometimes complete his “Journal of Negro History”, he realized the in association with Negro History Week during this Airmen distinguished themselves through
known as African-American History Month. And while subject deserved to resonate with a greater audience. initial interval, with the mainstream and Black press Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs their combat proficiency and competence.
the observance has received of cial recognition from the From the event’s initial phase, primary emphasis aiding in the publicity effort. Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee, a Tuskegee With over 6,800 flying hours, McGee’s
U.S. and Canadian governments, Black History Month was placed on encouraging the coordinated teaching of Negro History Week was met with enthusiastic re- Airman and Air Force legend, passed away career spanned 30 years and three different
is also observed in Ireland, the Netherlands and the the history of American Blacks in the nation’s public sponse; it prompted the creation of Black history clubs, at his residence in Bethesda, Maryland, Jan. wars: World War II, the Korean War and the
United Kingdom. schools. The rst Negro History Week was met with an increase in interest among teachers, and interest 16, 2022. He was 102 years old. Vietnam War. His decorations for outstand-
In the United Kingdom, Black History Month is cel- a lukewarm response, gaining the cooperation of the from progressive whites. Negro History Week grew in McGee was an airpower champion, noted ing service included the Distinguished Fly-
ebrated in October. The rst celebration was in 1987, Departments of Education of the states of North Caro- popularity throughout the following decades, with may- for his combat successes and impact on the ing Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air
which marked the 150th anniversary of the Caribbean lina, Delaware and West Virginia as well as the city ors across the United States endorsing it as a holiday. cultural shift within the military. Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.
emancipation. In Ireland, the rst celebration took school administrations of Baltimore and Washington, Black History Month was rst proposed by Black “As a Tuskegee Airman and combat avia- In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were pre-
place in October 2010 in the city of Cork. In the 19th D.C. Despite this far from universal observance, the educators and the Black United Students at Kent State tor with 409 missions across three decades, sented the Congressional Gold Medal by
century, Cork was a leading center of the abolitionist event was regarded by Woodson as “one of the most University in February 1969. The rst celebration of his years in uniform were nothing shy of former president George W. Bush, and in
movement. Leading anti-slave societies welcome a fortunate steps ever taken by the Association,” and Black History Month took place at Kent State one year heroic, and his example of integrity, service, 2011, McGee was enshrined in the National
number of Black abolitionists to speak there, including plans for a repeat of the event on an annual basis later, from Jan. 2-Feb. 28, 1970. and excellence endures,” said Air Force Chief Aviation Hall of Fame. Later in 2019, the
Charles Lenox Remond and Frederick Douglass. The continued apace. Six years later, Black History Month was being cel- of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. “His legacy is Tuskegee Airmen were further recognized
Netherlands has celebrated Black History Month, also At the time of Negro History Week’s launch, Wood- ebrated all across the country in educational institu- foundational to our service, and a daily in- in naming the T-7A training aircraft, the
in October, since 2015. son contended that the teaching of Black history was tions, centers of Black culture and community centers, spiration for me personally, and to so many “Red Hawk,” in honor of the airplane flown
The precursor to Black History Month was created essential to ensure the physical and intellectual sur- both great and small. President Gerald Ford recognized other Airmen.” during World War II. For his efforts during
in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter vival of the race within broader society: “If a race has Black History Month, during the celebration of the McGee’s aviation career began on Oct. 26, and after his military service, McGee was
G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Ne- no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to 1942, after he enlisted in the U.S. Army as promoted to the rank of brigadier general
gro Life and History (now known as the Association a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected a pilot. He would fly 108 combat missions at the age of 100.
for the Study of African American Life and History) stands in danger of being exterminated,” Woodson said. accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of throughout Europe during World War II. The Tuskegee Airman dedicated his time
announced the second week of February to be “Negro “The American Indian left no continuous record. He endeavor throughout our history.”
History Week.” did not appreciate the value of tradition; and where is Now, Black History Month is observed in schools
This week was chosen because it coincided with the he today? The Hebrew keenly appreciated the value of across the nation, by the U.S. government, and by the
birthday of Abraham Lincoln on Feb. 12 and of Fred- tradition, as is attested by the Bible itself. In spite of Department of Defense.
erick Douglass on Feb. 14, both of which dates Black worldwide persecution, therefore, he is a great factor For more on this year’s theme, visit the Association
communities had celebrated together since the late in our civilization.” for the Study of African American Life and History
19th century. Negro History Week was the center of By 1929, The Journal of Negro History was able to website at www.asalh.org.

Sorting the Mail, Blazing a Trail: Courtesy photo

to bettering the lives of all Airmen. Often sporting
his red Tuskegee Airmen jacket, McGee advocated for
African-American Women in World War II of their backgrounds. After his retirement, McGee
aviation and equal treatment of Airmen, regardless
continued to mentor young people, current and for-
mer Airmen and all others interested in aviation and
science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“Over my dead body, sir,” replied WAC The push to include African-Americans endeavor that was experimental and had “Just last month, to celebrate his 102nd birthday,
by Elizabeth M. Collins Maj. Charity Adams, not sure if she was in the WAAC had faced challenges, but the a lot riding on it.” he spent time with Airmen, continuing to influence
most insulted by “white,” “ rst lieutenant” efforts of African-American newspapers “There’s no doubt that in that first and teach long after retirement,” Brown said. “One
Army.mil of my favorite lessons, in his own words, was ‘Don’t
or “white rst lieutenant,” she explained and activists, including Mary McLeod Bet- class, both African-American as well as
“I’m going to send a white rst lieuten- in her memoirs, One Woman’s Army: A hune, a member of President Franklin D. white women, they did really select the let circumstances be an excuse to not achieve…that’s
ant down here to show you how to run Black Of cer Remembers the WAC. Roosevelt’s “Black Cabinet,” and her good best that they could to give the Women’s not the American way’.”
this unit.” She knew she might be court-martialed, friend First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, had Army Corps the best possible chances,” Through McGee’s actions, the Air Force has contin-
The general’s yell hung in the air, shock- so she planned to charge the general, ultimately prevailed. A quota was set for said Francoise Bonnell, director of the U.S. ued to break barriers and create a military branch
ing the soldiers lined up at attention. As whom she never names, with violating the 10 percent of the total WAAC. Army Women’s Museum, noting that the that accelerates change at every possible instant. His
chew-outs go, telling a major — a battalion Supreme Headquarters Allied Expedition- There was space for 40 African-Amer- women were all professionals, some with legacy showcases the unending resolve and courage
commander, no less — that a lieutenant ary Command’s rules against explicitly ican women in the rst of cer training masters’ and law degrees. S i o c p oto Sta Sgt ason udd ston needed to secure and protect the nation at any time.
would be taking over was particularly stressing segregation. class, and it was clear they would have to Segregation Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee, a Tuskegee Airman and Air Force legend, passed away at his residence in “Getting to know and spend time with him was an
degrading. be the best of the best. Bethesda, Md., Jan. 16, 2022. He was 102 years old. honor and a true joy, and my heart is with his family
But the general didn’t plan to send Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps “I was sure I would never pass,” recalled While the WAAC and WAC were segre- and all those affected by passing,” Brown said.
just any lieutenant. He planned to send Adams, the rst African-American wom- Capt. Violet Hill, Company D commander. gated with separate “Negro” companies
a white lieutenant — the implication, of an to be commissioned into the Women’s “At that time, I had completed two years and barracks — Adams writes of her
course, was that the lieutenant would not Army Auxiliary Corps, graduated from the of college. … Their goal was 40 Negro shock at being told to step aside with all
just be white, but male. And the general rst WAAC of cer candidate class at Fort women who would then form the of cer the other “colored” girls — it was less so Published by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. • 877- 247-9288 • www.aerotechnews.com
was dressing down one of the highest- Des Moines, Iowa, in the summer of 1942. corps that would train the subsequent than the rest of the Army, according to Aerotech News and Review prepares all editorial content for Desert Information Service, Air Force News Service, Air Combat Command, tents of Desert Lightning News and the underbolt are not necessarily
ranking African-American women in the The WAAC was created in May 1942 as enlisted women. … Their standards, their Bonnell. The WAC was so small that all JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE, DEFENSE INDUSTRY AND VETERANS NEWS Lightning News and the underbolt. e editor will edit or rewrite Air Education and Training Command, sta writers and other sources. the o cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department
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