[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1657-E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS COLLELUORI, WINNER OF GENOVESE DRUG STORES'S 
                       ``FLIGHT OF ACES'' CONTEST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thomas Ward 
Colleluori, of Centereach, Long Island, the winner of Genovese Drug 
Stores' Flight of Aces'' essay contest. By focusing on the valor of the 
all-black Tuskegee Airmen fighter unit during World War II, Thomas 
Colleluori has helped to preserve an important, but little known piece 
of our American history.
  Thomas' research for his essay revealed details of the role that the 
Tuskegee Airmen had in saving the life of his grandfather, Mario 
Colleluori, and the other American crewmen aboard a B-24 bomber that 
was under attack by German fighters during World War II. Those details 
so moved the 15-year-old student that he has chosen to share his 
contest award with one of the surviving members of the segregated unit.
  On Friday, August 29, when Genovese honored the ``Flight of Aces'' 
contest winners by flying them in a formation of historic World War II 
bombers from Republic Airfield on Long Island, there was more than just 
a history lesson delivered. Thomas Colleluori, a white Long Island 
teenager took the opportunity to say ``thank you'' to George Bing, a 
black Brooklyn grandfather and surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen 
fighter unit that saved his grandfather's life during World War II.
  More than 50 years later, with his grandmother Mary Colleluori on 
hand, Thomas expressed his gratitude to George Bing by inviting him to 
sit in the position once occupied by his grandfather, during the 
nostalgic flight aboard one of the last remaining airworthy B-24's.
  The purpose of Genovese Drug Stores essay contest was to honor the 
courage and sacrifices of America's veterans and retired defense 
workers, while encouraging today's generation of students to discover 
the historic legacy created by their parents and grandparents. Through 
his research, Thomas Colleluori learned how the Tuskegee Airmen fought 
prejudice as often as they did the German Luftwaffe. But it was skill 
and courage in battle--not the color of their skin--that mattered when 
his grandfather's bomber came under German fighter attack. Though more 
than 50 years later, that lesson remains with Thomas and lives on in 
the words of gratitude expressed in his essay, and in his thanks to 
George Bing and all Tuskegee Airmen.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives 
to join me in saluting Thomas Ward Colleluori for his passionate 
efforts to preserve the heroic legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. May his 
and future generations of Americans learn from the invaluable lessons 
that Thomas discovered about family, duty, and race.

                    MY GRANDFATHER'S LEGACY OF DUTY

                      (By Thomas Ward Colleluori)

       My name is Thomas Ward Colleluori. I am very proud to be 
     the grandson of two WWII veterans. My Grandpa Mario 
     Colleluori was a Radioman/Waist Gunner on B-24 heavy

[[Page E1658]]

     bombers with the 15th Air Force and my Grandpa Frank Ward was 
     an Infantryman with Patton's 3rd Army. Grandpa Frank passed 
     away in 1991 and Grandpa Mario passed away in February of 
     this year.
       As I got ready to write this essay, I thought about the 
     many stories my grandfathers told me about the war. As a 
     little boy, I always enjoyed these stories. Now, at the age 
     of fifteen, I wanted to remember everything they had told me. 
     More importantly, I want to apply the lessons they taught to 
     what I do in my own lifetime.
       Both my grandpas volunteered for the war at the age of 17. 
     Grandpa Frank grew up in Brooklyn and volunteered for the Air 
     Force but was sent to the Infantry because he was color 
     blind. My Grandpa Mario grew up in Queens. He started out in 
     the Infantry where he became an instructor at the Officer 
     Candidate School but he wanted to see combat. He tried to 
     transfer to the Rangers and Paratroopers but O.C.S. wouldn't 
     let him go. His persistence finally paid off. He went to the 
     Air Force when he found out that O.C.S. could not block that 
     transfer.
       My Grandpa Frank entered combat during the Battle of the 
     Bulge. He was assigned to carry the Browning Automatic Rifle 
     but was later given a regular rifle and a satchel charge when 
     his unit went through the Ziegfried Line. Finally, towards 
     the very end of the war, when attacks were expected by German 
     tanks, my Grandpa was made part of a Bazooka team. I remember 
     my father joking that his sergeant must not have liked him 
     very much because he kept giving my grandpa the heaviest 
     weapons and the most dangerous jobs. Grandpa Frank said his 
     sergeant gave him those responsibilities because he trusted 
     him.
       My Grandpa Mario began flying combat missions over Austria, 
     Poland and Germany in January of 1945. He flew 23 missions 
     and had to crash land several times when his B-24 was badly 
     damaged by flack. His commanding officer was a future U.S. 
     Senator and vice-presidential Candidate named Lloyd Bensten!
       My grandfathers won a lot of medals and ribbons. My Grandpa 
     Frank even won the Purple Heart, but neither one ever bragged 
     or told stories about how brave they were. Sometimes they 
     would even say how scared they were and then they would 
     usually make a joke.
       I think my favorite story concerned my Grandpa Mario 
     returning from a mission in a badly damaged plane. German 
     fighters began to attack his helpless B-24. My grandpa called 
     into his radio, ``Angels, Angels we need you!''
       His call to American escort fighters was answered by a P-38 
     ``Lightning'' and a P-51 ``Mustang''. The two American 
     fighters chased off the Germans and the ``Mustang'' pilot 
     escorted the limping bomber all the way home.
       My Grandpa was impressed by the courage of those two 
     American fighter pilots. He always said that he admired the 
     sense of duty that they displayed in attacking a larger 
     German force in defense of one B-24. I remember him saying 
     that he was amazed at the way the P-51 pilot flew with his 
     wing tip ``almost touching the waist gun'' of the wounded 
     bomber as he escorted the B-24 to a safe landing. My Grandpa 
     would end the story the same way every time. He'd tell how 
     the Mustang flew so close that he could see the pilot's black 
     face and that it was an African-American who saved him from 
     being shot down that day!
       In later years we learned that one of those brave fighter 
     pilots was a ``Tuskegee Airman''! If not for that individual 
     American's character and determination to overcome prejudice, 
     my Grandfather might not have survived the war.
       After the War, both my grandfathers continued their service 
     to their country. My Grandpa Frank became a New York City 
     Fireman and Grandpa Mario became a New York City Motorcycle 
     Policeman. Later Grandpa Mario became a School Board Member.
       I have learned a lot of lessons from the stories my 
     grandfathers have told me about WWII. I will never judge 
     anyone by their color or religion. We are all Americans and 
     we must all help to keep our country great. Another lesson is 
     that it is important to take responsibility seriously. If 
     somebody is depending on you, you have to do your best.
       I think the biggest lesson I have learned, what can be 
     called my Grandpas' legacy, is that as an American I have a 
     duty to my country and my community and that when there are 
     really big problems, doing that duty is more important than 
     anything else.
       My grandfathers emphasized the importance of setting goals. 
     This past year, their example inspired me to dedicate myself 
     to two major goals.
       My first goal is to attend the United States Naval Academy 
     and to play Football at Annapolis. The second goal is to 
     become an officer with the United States Navy S.E.A.L.s.
       Many people have said that I will never be able to achieve 
     these goals but I am convinced that by following my 
     grandfathers' example of perseverance, courage and 
     responsibility I will be able to carry on their legacy of 
     service to my country.
       I am privileged to live in a country that was made great by 
     the sacrifices of countless Americans who, like my 
     grandfathers and that anonymous ``Tuskegee Airman'', chose to 
     do their duty.
       When I visited West Point two years ago I learned that the 
     motto of the cadets is ``Duty Honor, Country''. That made me 
     think of my grandpas and I felt proud!

     

                          ____________________