[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H407-H414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO AWARD A CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO THE 
                            TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1259) to authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf 
of the Congress, collectively, to the Tuskegee Airmen in recognition of 
their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in 
the Armed Forces, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1259

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt overruled his 
     top generals and ordered the creation of an all Black flight 
     training program. President Roosevelt took this action one 
     day after the NAACP filed suit on behalf of Howard University 
     student Yancy Williams and others in Federal court to force 
     the Department of War to accept Black pilot trainees. Yancy 
     Williams had a civilian pilot's license and had earned an 
     engineering degree. Years later, Major Yancy Williams 
     participated in an air surveillance project created by 
     President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
       (2) Due to the rigid system of racial segregation that 
     prevailed in the United States during World War II, Black 
     military pilots were trained at a separate airfield built 
     near Tuskegee, Alabama. They became known as the ``Tuskegee 
     Airmen''.
       (3) The Tuskegee Airmen inspired revolutionary reform in 
     the Armed Forces, paving the way for full racial integration 
     in the Armed Forces. They overcame the enormous challenges of 
     prejudice and discrimination, succeeding, despite obstacles 
     that threatened failure.
       (4) From all accounts, the training of the Tuskegee Airmen 
     was an experiment established to prove that so-called 
     ``coloreds'' were incapable of operating expensive and 
     complex combat aircraft. Studies commissioned by the Army War 
     College between 1924 and 1939 concluded that Blacks were 
     unfit for leadership roles and incapable of aviation. 
     Instead, the Tuskegee Airmen excelled.
       (5) Overall, some 992 Black pilots graduated from the pilot 
     training program of the Tuskegee Army Air Field, with the 
     last class finishing in June 1946, 450 of whom served in 
     combat. The first class of cadets began in July 1941 with 13 
     airmen, all of whom had college degrees, some with Ph.D. 
     degrees, and all of whom had pilot's licenses. One of the 
     graduates was Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., a United States 
     Military Academy graduate. Four aviation cadets were 
     commissioned as second lieutenants, and 5 received Army Air 
     Corps silver pilot wings.
       (6) That the experiment achieved success rather than the 
     expected failure is further evidenced by the eventual 
     promotion of 3 of these pioneers through the commissioned 
     officer ranks to flag rank, including the late General 
     Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., United States Air Force, the late 
     General Daniel ``Chappie'' James, United States Air Force, 
     our Nation's first Black 4-star general, and Major General 
     Lucius Theus, United States Air Force (retired).
       (7) 450 Black fighter pilots under the command of then 
     Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., fought in World War II aerial 
     battles over North Africa, Sicily, and Europe, flying, in 
     succession, P-40, P-39, P-47, and P-51 aircraft. These 
     gallant men flew 15,553 sorties and 1,578 missions with the 
     12th Tactical Air Force and the 15th Strategic Air Force.
       (8) Colonel Davis later became the first Black flag officer 
     of the United States Air Force, retired as a 3-star general, 
     and was honored with a 4th star in retirement by President 
     William J. Clinton.
       (9) German pilots, who both feared and respected the 
     Tuskegee Airmen, called them the ``Schwartze Vogelmenschen'' 
     (or ``Black Birdmen''). White American bomber crews 
     reverently referred to them as the ``Black Redtail Angels'', 
     because of the bright red painted on the tail assemblies of 
     their fighter aircraft and because of their reputation for 
     not losing bombers to enemy fighters as they provided close 
     escort for bombing missions over strategic targets in Europe.
       (10) The 99th Fighter Squadron, after having distinguished 
     itself over North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, joined 3 other 
     Black squadrons, the 100th, the 301st, and the 302nd, 
     designated as the 332nd Fighter Group. They then comprised 
     the largest fighter unit in the 15th Air Force. From Italian 
     bases, they destroyed many enemy targets on the ground and at 
     sea, including a German destroyer in strafing attacks, and 
     they destroyed numerous enemy aircraft in the air and on the 
     ground.
       (11) 66 of these pilots were killed in combat, while 
     another 32 were either forced down or shot down and captured 
     to become prisoners of war. These Black airmen came home with 
     150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, 
     and Legions of Merit, one Presidential Unit Citation, and the 
     Red Star of Yugoslavia.
       (12) Other Black pilots, navigators, bombardiers and 
     crewman who were trained for medium bombardment duty as the 
     477th Bomber Group (Medium) were joined by veterans of the 
     332nd Fighter Group to form the 477th Composite Group, flying 
     the B-25 and P-47 aircraft. The demands of the members of the 
     477th Composite Group for parity in treatment and for 
     recognition as competent military professionals, combined 
     with the magnificent wartime records of the 99th Fighter 
     Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group, led to a review of the 
     racial policies of the Department of War.
       (13) In September 1947, the United States Air Force, as a 
     separate service, reactivated the 332d Fighter Group under 
     the Tactical Air command. Members of the 332d Fighter Group 
     were ``Top Guns'' in the 1st annual Air Force Gunnery Meet in 
     1949.
       (14) For every Black pilot, there were 12 other civilian or 
     military Black men and women performing ground support 
     duties. Many of these men and women remained in the military 
     service during the post-World War II era and spearheaded the 
     integration of the Armed Forces of the United States.
       (15) Major achievements are attributed to many of those who 
     returned to civilian life and earned leadership positions and 
     respect as businessmen, corporate executives, religious 
     leaders, lawyers, doctors, educators, bankers, and political 
     leaders.
       (16) A period of nearly 30 years of anonymity for the 
     Tuskegee Airmen was ended in 1972 with the founding of 
     Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., in Detroit, Michigan. Organized as a 
     non-military and nonprofit entity, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., 
     exists primarily to motivate and inspire young Americans to 
     become participants in our Nation's society and its 
     democratic process, and to preserve the history of their 
     legacy.
       (17) The Tuskegee Airmen have several memorials in place to 
     perpetuate the memory of who they were and what they 
     accomplished, including--
       (A) the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., National Scholarship Fund 
     for high school seniors who excel in mathematics, but need 
     financial assistance to begin a college program;
       (B) a museum in historic Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan;
       (C) Memorial Park at the Air Force Museum at Wright-
     Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio;
       (D) a statue of a Tuskegee Airman in the Honor Park at the 
     United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, 
     Colorado; and
       (E) a National Historic Site at Moton Field, where primary 
     flight training was performed under contract with the 
     Tuskegee Institute.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate 
     shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf 
     of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design 
     in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, collectively, in recognition 
     of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary 
     reform in the Armed Forces.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
     shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, 
     and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
       (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in 
     honor of the Tuskegee Airmen under subsection (a), the gold 
     medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it 
     will be displayed as appropriate and made available for 
     research.
       (2) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
     received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, 
     particularly at other appropriate locations associated with 
     the Tuskegee Airmen.

     SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the 
     Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the 
     gold medal struck under section 2, at a price sufficient to 
     cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, 
     dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for 
     purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be charged against the United States Mint Public 
     Enterprise Fund, an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for 
     the cost of the medals authorized under section 2.
       (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of 
     duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in 
     the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) each 
will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H408]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1259, introduced by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), which would award a Congressional 
Gold Medal, the highest honor the Congress can bestow, on the Tuskegee 
Airmen.
  Frankly, Mr. Speaker, this award is long, long overdue. Pilots of the 
99th Fighter Squadron, including the first group of black pilots who 
trained at the little airstrip in Alabama near Tuskegee College, and 
later the 100th, 301st, and 302nd, were not even expected by some to be 
capable of meeting the challenge. Cruelly, studies commissioned by the 
Army War College in the 1920s and 1930s speculated that African 
Americans were capable neither of military leadership nor of flying 
increasingly complex fighter aircraft.
  Tell that theory to Lee A. Archer, the young man from Yonkers who 
grew up dreaming of being a fighter pilot and reading comic books about 
the gallant fighter pilots of the First World War. Lee Archer flew 169 
combat missions in his P-40 Tomahawk, P-39 Cobra, P-47 Thunderbolt, and 
his P-51 Mustang, known as the Macon Belle. He became an ace, notching 
five downed enemy aircraft in his career.
  Tell that also to then-Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a West Point 
grad, who was one of the first 13 pilots trained near Tuskegee and 
became the first black flag officer in the Air Force, retiring with 
three stars and being granted a fourth in retirement by President 
Clinton.
  Tell that to Lieutenant Clarence ``Lucky'' Luster, who destroyed 
three German planes and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross the day 
Archer notched his first victory.
  In all, Mr. Speaker, these men, who were not supposed to be able to 
fly, came home from piloting their distinctive, red-tailed fighters 
with 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze and Silver Stars and 
Legions of Merit, a Presidential Unit Citation, and even the Red Star 
of Yugoslavia. They also came home with the knowledge that no one could 
plausibly assert that a segregated armed services made any sense, and 
integration soon followed.
  After the war, these men became business and political and civic 
leaders, many quite successful both in and outside the military, 
blazing trails at home the way they had blazed the trails in the skies 
of North Africa and Europe. Today, Mr. Speaker, we are here during 
Black History Month to add one more honor to that list.
  The legislation before us, cosponsored by 308 Members of the House, 
seeks to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen as a 
group and give it to the Smithsonian for display, with provisions that 
the medal may be loaned out temporarily to appropriate sites: perhaps 
to Moton Field in Alabama, where they trained, or to the Air Force 
Academy, where a statute of a Tuskegee Airman stands in Honor Park.
  Rarely, Mr. Speaker, do we get to do something in this great Chamber 
that is so widely supported, so appropriate, and so long overdue. It is 
a pleasure to be here today with Mr. Watt, who is managing the bill, 
and also again with Mr. Rangel and the many sponsors of this. Also, I 
can tell you that we were there for the 60th anniversary with Mr. 
Rangel and the Speaker and leaders, and my wife and Mrs. Rangel, and it 
was a pleasure to be there on that historic day with our congressional 
delegation.
  I commend Mr. Rangel and the other Members for supporting this, and I 
urge immediate passage of H.R. 1259.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, but that is not why 
I am here. I am here because of the protocols of the House. The 
protocols of the House say that a bill goes through a committee and 
somebody on that committee should be controlling time. But the 
protocols of the House sometimes put you in a position that you know 
you are inadequate to effectively do, and that is my position today, 
because the real person who should be being honored by controlling time 
is the person who was the original cosponsor of this, my good friend 
and colleague, Representative Rangel.
  So I want to proudly say that I am a strong supporter of this bill, 
but I want to yield immediately to my colleague from New York, 
Representative Rangel, as much time as he may consume.
  (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, the modesty of the chairman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus amazes even me, because destiny would have 
it that this is the last day of African History Month and he is the 
chairman of the historic Congressional Black Caucus. So that shatters 
protocol, and I thank him for his friendship, his support and the 
leadership that he has given to all Americans through the Congressional 
Black Caucus.
  Today probably will be one of the closest days to bipartisanship that 
this august body has seen in a long, long time. And, of course, 
Chairman Ney is right: what a historic day that was when we went and 
saw how many tens of thousands of Americans were prepared to give up 
their lives, knowing the dangers of the Normandy beachhead.
  We were there with Sam Gibbons and the leadership, and it did make 
all of us so proud to be Americans that day. We were not Republicans, 
Democrats or liberals; we were just so proud that we had this great 
Nation that had gone so far in providing her leadership for those who 
survived and for those who continue to serve.
  We have 300 cosponsors of this bill in this body, and I am thoroughly 
convinced, Mr. Speaker, that the only reason we do not have the rest is 
that somebody on staff did not handle this right. Because there has 
been no one that has not felt proud to be able to say three things: 
thank you, thank you, thank you.
  It is absolutely amazing how great this country is when you find 
young Americans, black as they may be, victims of racism though they 
may be, fighting to be able to defend this country against the Germans 
and the Italians and against the Japanese.
  The NAACP fought and won the opportunity for this group of young 
people to be trained, even though the Army had already ruled that they 
could not be black airmen, or colored airmen or Negro airmen. So they 
won the right to put their lives on the line and share in the sacrifice 
to which this great Republic was attached.
  I have to thank Barney Frank. He gave me all the questions to ask 
Chairman Oxley so that I could get the right answers in order to 
expedite the bill. And Mike Oxley has just been absolutely terrific, as 
has the Speaker in making sure that we guided this through the 
parliamentary procedure to be where we are today.
  And talking about bipartisanship, Mr. Hunter, the chairman of the 
Defense Committee, joined in with Mr. Skelton, the ranking Democrat, to 
send a letter to all of his colleagues asking them to see their way 
clear to support this bill.
  And, of course, the last is something that I have to thank Secretary 
Rumsfeld for. My book is not completed, and I am glad it is not, so I 
can thank him publicly for sending out a letter to the House and Senate 
recommending a gold medal for the historic Tuskegee Airmen. They fought 
not really just for black folks, but they fought for a better America. 
They fought for a better world. They were pioneers not only in fighting 
the war, but in showing and giving self-esteem to so many younger 
people, inspiring them to do what so many Americans just dream of 
doing, and that is to fly a plane in the defense of their country.
  Even though they were denied all types of recognition during the time 
that they served, and even though they were subjected to all types of 
scourges by other people, they still continued to fight. There were 450 
Tuskegee Airmen that served with the 99th Fighter Squadron and were 
able to then join with the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force.

                              {time}  1545

  They flew 15,500 combat sorties, including more than 6,000 missions 
for the 99th Squadron before July 1944. Sixty-six pilots lost their 
lives and were killed in action. Thirty-two were

[[Page H409]]

downed or became prisoners of war. And among the outfit they received 
150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, eight Purple Hearts 
and 14 Bronze Stars.
  My colleagues, in all of the time that they were protecting American 
bombers on their missions from the United States to Europe, in all of 
that time, no matter how many times that they were shot down, they 
never lost a bomber, never lost a United States bomber throughout World 
War II. They set an example for all of us somehow to try to follow, and 
that is that the vestiges of slavery were not over then and they are 
not over now. And certainly, when we take a look at those brave young 
men and women that are fighting in Iraq, we cannot tell whether they 
are Republican or Democrats; and we do not care whether they are Black, 
White, or Brown. They are sharing the sacrifices that this great Nation 
is involved in.
  I am so proud that because of my age, my community and my friendship, 
that the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen is not involved with history 
books with me because one of those great airmen happens to be one of my 
very, very best friends, and that is Percy Sutton. Percy not only flew 
the planes but he was involved in intelligence and he provided the 
leadership, not just in the service, but became a leader in the civil 
rights movement and became a friend and advocate in support of Malcolm 
X, became the borough president of Manhattan, ran for mayor, and then 
when that did not work out, started out in business to become one of 
the most successful people in communication that we have had in the 
city and in the country.
  And so, what did that mean to a Charlie Rangel, who came from a 
depressed community? We had one symbol of hope. It was not World War 
II. It was restoring the Apollo Theater, and he brought back the 
Apollo, and with the empowerment zones, I invite all of you to be my 
guest in seeing the restoration of a historic beautiful community, 
Harlem. And Percy Sutton is the father and the creator of giving that 
type of leadership to my hometown.
  What about Roscoe Brown?
  Listen carefully. Roscoe Brown, with a single-engine fighter, was the 
first American to shoot down a German jet, with a propeller plane, was 
the first to shoot down a German jet fighter plane. And after this, he 
did not give up his struggle. He continued in education, became 
president of a university, and today still teaches in the Harlem 
community.
  Lee Archer. As you pointed out, Mr. Chairman, a guy who dreamed as a 
kid and fulfilled that dream and then finally went into business and 
even today, even though he is retired, provides the leadership for 
small business people and others.
  As we salute these people today, it gives us an opportunity to think 
about today and tomorrow, where color should never be an issue with 
those people that should not have to put their lives on the line to be 
respected as being Americans who are fully entitled to all of the 
benefits.
  And to the Members today, I am certain that I speak for the members 
of the Tuskegee Airmen, let this be the beginning. As we say thank you, 
let me never have to apologize for forgetting someone or not giving 
them an opportunity. Let this be the day where Democrats and 
Republicans can come together, ranking Members and majority Members, in 
saying as we look at the past and see where we made mistakes; let this 
be the guidance to provide leadership for all of us to avoid the 
opportunities in the future.
  To all of you who have supported the bill, on behalf of those 
survivors and their families of the Tuskegee Airmen, I say three 
things: thank you, thank you, and thank you very much.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and I thank my 
colleague, the ranking member, Mr. Rangel, for his dedication and 
perseverance in obtaining the highest congressional honor for one of 
the most courageous groups of Americans, the Tuskegee Airmen. At a time 
when civil rights were still being denied and segregation persisted 
through many parts of our country, the Tuskegee Airmen bravely fought 
and gave their lives abroad for freedom and liberty that sadly 
oftentimes they did not receive here at home.
  Before 1940, the African Americans were denied the right to fly with 
the United States military. However, from 1942 to 1946, the Tuskegee 
Airmen graduated 992 airmen from the pilot training program of the 
Tuskegee Army airfield, while 450 served in combat.
  For every African American pilot, there were 10 other civilian or 
military African American men and women on the ground performing 
support duties. Many of them remained in the military during the post-
World War II era and spearheaded the integration of the armed services 
with the integration of the Air Force in 1949.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to go to Iraq about a year ago and 
visited with the 332nd Fighter Group, the follow-on from the 99th 
Fighter Squadron that was the Tuskegee Airmen and had a chance to visit 
with the wonderful men and women who make up that 332nd Fighter 
Squadron. What a group they are. And they certainly recognize their 
roots. They recognize the heritage, the valiant heritage of the 99th 
Fighter Squadron. In fact, Balad air base, where this fighter group is 
stationed in Iraq, is the site for the Air Force's contingent 
aeromedical staging facilities where all the casualties in Iraq are 
brought to this central staging facility, stabilized, flown from Balad 
to Landstuhl, Germany and then subsequently flown from Landstuhl back 
here to Walter Reed in the United States.
  When I was there in February, they had performed 19,000 such 
transfers from the battlefield with one intertransfer death. I had an 
opportunity to go back in August of this past year, in 2005: 27,000 
patient transfers, again only the one intertransfer death.
  Clearly, these men and women are following that great tradition that 
was started by the 99th Fighter Squadron. Well, sadly today, only 200 
of the original Tuskegee Airmen are still with us. I am fortunate to 
have three of these courageous men living in the district that I 
represent: Mr. Don Elder, Mr. Robert McDaniel and Mr. Claude Platt. 
Recently, the Claude R. Platt VFW Tuskegee Airmen chapter was formed. 
And I am confident that others will benefit greatly from this chapter's 
rich history and legacy.
  Gentlemen, thank you very much for your service and your dedication 
to your country. I am honored and privileged to represent you before 
the United States Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the mayor of my town of Highland Village, Texas, back 
home is the son of a Tuskegee Airman. Mayor Bill Lawrence was born and 
grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama; and his father served proudly with the 
99th Fighter Squadron.
  The 26th Congressional District of Texas also pays tribute to the 
brave men through the National Cowboys of Color museum located in Fort 
Worth, Texas. A wing of the museum is dedicated to the Claude R. Platt 
VFW Tuskegee Airmen chapter. The wing is the home of a number of 
personal artifacts, autographed paintings of the airmen in training, 
proclamations and other items of recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, if you are ever in north Texas, Mr. Ranking Member, if 
you are ever in north Texas, I encourage you to visit this museum and 
learn more about the sacrifices and the contributions of these heroic 
Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I want to thank Ranking Member Rangel for his 
bringing forth this legislation honoring the Tuskegee Airmen for their 
service and dedication to our country. We cannot say it enough. Thank 
you. Thank you. Thank you.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes and 10 seconds to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished 
gentleman from North Carolina. Let me, as well, appreciate the fact, as 
Mr. Rangel has said, that we have a bipartisan moment. I thank the 
chairman, Mr. Ney, for his support and leadership.
  Mr. Rangel, might I acknowledge you for a brilliant stroke of 
patriotic genius, for you have recognized that those who battled on the 
forefront of World War II, who may have worn a

[[Page H410]]

different skin color, came home not in dishonor, but not with much 
honor. And so I am very humbled to have been one of the cosponsors to 
join you in the recognition, collectively, of the numbers of airmen who 
can claim Tuskegee, Alabama and the Tuskegee Institute as a starting 
point of them being able to reach their dreams of serving on the front 
lines in World War II and fighting for their America.
  As Mr. Rangel said earlier, these individuals suffered in a 
segregated America and, in fact, were rejected and rebuffed when they 
asked to join the United States military to sacrifice their lives. But 
they were persistent, and they got called to be the Tuskegee Airmen and 
there were personnel sent from Washington to train them. And sometimes 
they were thinking, why did I get this assignment? But now we are here 
today to honor them with a Congressional Gold Medal, some 992 black 
pilots, and then of course, any number of civilians who were likewise 
engaged.
  Thirty years after the war was over, you heard nothing about the 
Tuskegee Airmen. And then, of course, they did the wise thing by 
establishing the first club.
  I too have a personal story, because I am proud to say that my 
father-in-law, Phillip Ferguson Lee, was a Tuskegee Airman; and from 
the time of my marriage in the early years, what an honor to travel 
around him or to meet those gentlemen. I was honored to be able to see 
those gentlemen in their distinguished jackets, senior as they were, 
but proud and strong. Thank you, Mr. Rangel. Thank you to the Tuskegee 
Airmen. Thank you, America, for recognizing these battle-worn soldiers. 
God bless them and God bless America.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1259, ``to authorize the 
President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress, 
collectively, to the Tuskegee Airmen in recognition of their unique 
military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed 
Forces.''
  On July 19, 1941 the American Air Force created an all black flight 
training program at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The Tuskegee 
Airmen were not only unique in their military record, but they inspired 
revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces, paving the way for 
integration of the armed services in the U.S.
  The first class of cadets began in July 1941 with 13 men, all of whom 
had college degrees, some with PhD's and all had pilot's licenses. From 
all accounts, the training of the Tuskegee Airmen was an experiment 
established to prove that ``coloreds'' were incapable of operating 
expensive and complex combat aircraft. Stationed in the segregated 
South, the black cadets were denied rifles.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were credited with 261 aircraft destroyed, 148 
aircraft damaged, 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy 
and North Africa. They destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground 
transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. ``We proved 
that the antidote to racism is excellence in performance,'' said 
retired Lt. Col. Herbert Carter, who started his military career as a 
pilot and maintenance officer with the Tuskegee Airmen's 99th Fighter 
Squadron. Clearly, the experiment, as it was called, was an unqualified 
success.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were awarded three Presidential Unit Citations, 
150 Distinguished Flying Crosses and Legions of Merit, along with the 
Red Star of Yugoslavia, nine Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars and more 
than 700 Air medals and clusters. It goes without question that the 
Tuskegee Airmen are deserving of the Congressional Gold Medal.
  I would like to thank Congressman Rangel for his work in bringing 
this legislation to the floor of Congress, and his efforts in gathering 
308 cosigners. This is an important, and long overdue piece of 
legislation. I ask my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to give 
their support to H.R. 1259, authorizing ``the President to award a gold 
medal on behalf of the Congress, collectively, to the Tuskegee Airmen . 
. .''
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schwarz).
  Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have had the pleasure of 
meeting the Tuskegee Airmen, the survivors, on a number of occasions. A 
number of them live in my home State of Michigan, especially Major 
General Lucius Theus, who lived in Detroit, a distinguished member of 
the Tuskegee Airmen. They last rallied in Michigan at Jackson, 
Michigan, in the summer of 2004; and our colleague from the other body, 
Senator McCain, and I were privileged to be at that meeting and greet 
the airmen.
  As the unit approached its first year in action, it learned that it 
was being transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group, a unit activated at 
Tuskegee in mid-1942 and transferred to Michigan in 1943 where it 
conducted training at Selfridge Air Base and Oscoda Air Base, both in 
the eastern side, on the eastern side of the State of Michigan, before 
deploying to Italy. The 332nd was composed of four African American 
squadrons, the 99th 100th, 301st, and 302nd under the command of 
Colonel Davis.
  Not long after arriving in Italy, the members of the 332nd were 
heavily involved in combat missions. Assigned to bomber escort with the 
15th Air Force, it escorted the bombers on missions around Italy, flew 
on the raids to the access oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania, and 
strafed German troops retreating from Greece. It established a 
reputation for protecting its bombers. The pilots always followed 
Colonel Davis' orders. Your job is to protect the bombers and not chase 
enemy aircraft for personal glory, he said. The Germans called the 
332nd the Schwartze Vogrl Menshen, the black birdmen, and began to see 
a plane with a red tail as something to fear.
  On March 24, 1945, the 332nd went on the longest mission flown by the 
15th Air Force to the Daimler-Benz tankworks in Berlin. On this 
mission, it downed three of the new Messerschmitt ME-262 jet fighters. 
The group received a distinguished unit citation for its performance 
that day.
  At the end of the war, the Tuskegee Airmen returned to an America 
that was as segregated as the one they had left.

                              {time}  1600

  Some of the veterans became leaders in the fight for desegregation, 
both military and civilian. With their own community, they offered 
pride and encouragement. And to the white community they offered an 
example of the equality of men. The Air Force became desegregated in 
April of 1948. Unfortunately, the rest of the Nation would take much 
longer. But there is no doubt that the example, professionalism, and 
expertise of the Tuskegee Airmen hastened that day.
  It is fitting today, then, Mr. Speaker, that this bill would bestow 
the Congressional Gold Medal, our body's highest expression of national 
appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions, upon the 
members of the Tuskegee Airmen in recognition of their service to our 
country during World War II and in the years after that conflict. They 
are living examples of what is possible when racism is defeated and 
opportunities are equally available to all members of our great 
country.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Spratt).
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot rise to the heights of Charlie Rangel, but I 
rise in tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen. For years, it seems we have 
considered bills honoring the contributions of these heroic airmen. It 
is about time this one passed and passed with huge support.
  Their achievements in support of our efforts in World War II have 
inspired books and movies. They have earned decorations and awards for 
valor that are too numerous to cite. As Mr. Rangel noted, 992 graduated 
from pilot training at Tuskegee; 450 went overseas to North Africa and 
Italy; some 150 died either in training or in combat missions. And yet, 
though they were shot down, not a single bomber, as Mr. Rangel noted, 
among the many they escorted was ever shot down.
  While their accomplishments have been recognized by the military, the 
military in truth cannot adequately honor all of their accomplishments 
because these men fought and won other battles that were not military 
in nature. They defied those who thought they lacked the intelligence, 
the skills, the courage, even the patriotism to fly and fight. Their 
courage in the air is legendary, but their courage on the ground and in 
our society made their achievements in the air all the more meaningful 
and remarkable.
  Today, the impact of the Tuskegee Airmen reaches far beyond the skies 
of Italy and North Africa. Their service led to social changes in our 
country that include the integration of our Armed Forces. In 1948, 
Harry Truman

[[Page H411]]

signed Executive Order 9981, directing equality of treatment and 
opportunity in all of the armed services. President Truman's order 
ended racial segregation in the military and was a major step towards 
ending racial segregation in the United States of America.
  Today, we recognize the Tuskegee Airmen for valor in battle, but also 
for accomplishments that succeeded, that transcended the battlefield 
like Executive Order 9981. The Tuskegee Airmen, the 99th Fighter 
Squadron and the 332d Fighter Group, not only deserve the Congressional 
Gold Medal, they will add luster to it.
  I salute the Tuskegee Airmen and I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this bill.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson).
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on July 19, 1941, the United States military 
began a revolutionary program in Alabama to train black Americans as 
military pilots. The program helped change military culture and 
negative perceptions of blacks in the military, especially the Air 
Corps.
  The Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee Institute, the famed school 
of learning founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, and I am a 
descendant of his, conducted flight training for aspiring black pilots; 
and my cousin, still alive, living here, Ira O'Neal, was one of those 
pilots. The first classes of Tuskegee Airmen were trained to be fighter 
pilots for the famous 99th Fighter Squadron slated for combat duty in 
North Africa. By the end of the war, 992 men had graduated from pilot 
training at Tuskegee, 450 of whom were sent overseas for combat 
assignment. I should also note that 16,000 men and women supported the 
Tuskegee Airmen program.
  Mr. Speaker, the 450 pilots that flew combat missions over North 
Africa and Europe, five of them live in the 33rd Congressional District 
of Los Angeles and Culver City, which I represent. And they are Wilbert 
Johnson, William B. Ellis, Elbert T. Hudson, Samuel R. Hughes, and 
Roger B. Duncan.
  Mr. Speaker, although pilots that flew twin-engine aircraft did not 
see combat, it does not take away from the barriers that broke because 
of their service. In my district there is an individual that flew twin-
engine bombers. He is Oscar H. York.
  Many others who were not pilots supported the Tuskegee Institute and 
are original members of the Tuskegee Airmen. These individuals also 
live in my district. And they are Floyd J. Cawthon, Jerry T. Hodges, 
Jr., Flora M. Lane, John Lehman, Theodore G. Lumpkin, Jr., Levi H. 
Thornhill, and Albert L. Wallace.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge both the historic as well as the 
heroic role all members of the Tuskegee Airmen played in securing our 
Nation's freedom as well as changing our Nation's culture and 
perception of African Americans.
  Once again, I congratulate Congressman Rangel for introducing this 
historic resolution of acknowledgment.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Watt and certainly Mr. 
Rangel for their leadership on this, and Mr. Ney of Ohio for his 
leadership on this.
  What an honor it is for me to stand here and to speak some words 
about the extraordinary contributions that the Tuskegee Airmen have 
made. Let me begin by simply setting the stage, because I think it is 
very important for us to understand the environment, the time that this 
activity happened in American history, for us to truly understand the 
significance of the Tuskegee Airmen. Let us go back for a moment to 
that time, and let us take a look at what was going on at that time.
  In 1921, Benjamin O. Davis had early on, as one of our leading 
African Americans in the military, put forward the proposition that 
black men should be trained to fight, but yet there was great 
hesitation. As a matter of fact, the Federal Government issued a study 
which said that African American men were incapable, did not have the 
skill, the courage, the fortitude, and, in fact, they felt inferior to 
white people, so that they did not have the courage to do this, this at 
a time in 1921 when the first woman to even get a license to fly was an 
African American woman by the name of Bessie Queenie Coleman, and she 
flew as a daredevil.
  Circle back to 1941. It was not until then that they gave the 
Tuskegee Airmen an opportunity at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, 
Alabama, founded by Booker T. Washington.
  And the story tells it all. For there is no greater story of freedom 
and American democracy than that story of the Tuskegee Airmen who, with 
bravery and courage, went and fought for the freedom of this country 
and the world while yet back at home African American citizens were 
second-class citizens.
  So when we talk about the Tuskegee Airmen, it is more than just their 
flying. It is their extraordinary stand for courage in the face of 
difficulty. We salute the Tuskegee Airmen.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I 
will not take it all.
  Mr. Speaker, I do want to note and pay tribute to what I am told are 
approximately 20 Tuskegee Airmen, who are still living and reside in 
North Carolina, and mention some of their names, from my congressional 
district two of them: from Greensboro, Harvey Alexander; from 
Salisbury, Fred Wilson. And from other parts of the State, I do not 
have all of their names, but I do want to pay tribute to the ones that 
I have: from Lenoir, North Carolina, George Shade; from Durham, William 
MacDonald and Dr. Stuart Fulbright; from Raleigh, North Carolina, my 
good friend Dr. Harold Webb, whom I have known forever, and Walter 
Chavis; from Smithfield, North Carolina, Hernando Palmer; and from 
Dudley, North Carolina, Wilson Eagleson, II.
  I want to thank my colleague, Representative Rangel, again for taking 
the lead in putting all this together to make this a truly bipartisan 
recognition of truly heroic and brave airmen.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me just say it is a great 
day for the Tuskegee Airmen. It is a great day for the United States, 
and it is a shining day for this institution of the House.
  I think that if you look at the quote from Langston Hughes, a great 
African American poet, ``Dream your dreams, but be willing to pay the 
sacrifice to make them come true,'' our veterans have done that 
historically throughout the history of this country, and the Tuskegee 
Airmen have done that.
  Again, I thank Congressman Rangel for giving them the honor they so 
much deserve.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1259, authorizing 
the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to the 
Tuskegee Airmen. At a time when their country did not see fit to 
protect their rights, these brave young men nonetheless served 
valiantly on behalf of all American citizens.
  During the Second World War, African-Americans were essentially 
second-class citizens in American society, and unfortunately this 
characterization did not end at the water's edge. Not permitted to 
train as aviators with their white comrades during World War II, 992 
brave young men completed pilot training at Tuskegee's Moton Field, at 
the school founded by Booker T. Washington; 450 of these airmen were 
sent overseas for combat assignment, and 66 gave their lives during 
combat flights.
  The Tuskegee Airmen populated the famed 99th Fighter Squadron and saw 
combat duty in North Africa. Others joined the 332nd Fighter Group, 
which flew missions from bases in Italy. Still others served similarly 
important roles as mechanics, gunners, and engineers.
  Among these brave airmen are several individuals whose stories begin 
or end in the 12th Congressional District of New Jersey. As a young 
man, Robert Griffin worked at the local airport in Princeton, New 
Jersey, washing and refueling airplanes, earning just a few precious 
minutes of flying time per week. Though the Air Force would not train 
him as a fighter pilot due to his race, he eventually found a home at 
the Tuskegee Institute, becoming one of the first black flight 
mechanics. He later served in the U.S. Air Force after integration, and 
flew refueling and support missions for 13 years.
  A current resident of Ewing, New Jersey--Retired Lieutenant Colonel 
Edward Harris--received his pilot's license from Tuskegee Institute and 
Tuskegee Army Air Base in 1944. He served 27 years in the U.S. Air 
Force and retired as commander of the 2017 Communications Group at 
McGuire Air Force Base. He subsequently served in the New Jersey 
Department of Community Affairs, and currently resides in Ewing with 
his wife Delores.
  Mr. Speaker, the Tuskegee Airmen are true testament to the selfless 
sacrifice and brave

[[Page H412]]

service that the U.S. Armed Forces seek to instill in its soldiers, 
sailors, and airmen. I rise in support of H.R. 1259, and commend all 
those who would stand tall for their country before their country would 
not stand tall for them.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
1259. By authorizing the Tuskegee Airmen to receive the Congressional 
Gold Medal, we are not only recognizing an exemplary military record, 
but also strength of character in the face of prejudice and racism. The 
Tuskegee Airmen, a unit of 1,000 African American pilots, were 
America's first black military airmen. Trained at Tuskegee Army Air 
Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, these men had to overcome biased notions of 
their fighting ability.
  After graduation from pilot training at Tuskegee, 450 members of the 
unit were sent overseas for combat assignments. These men saw extensive 
action, completing 15,000 missions between 1941-1946 without losing one 
American bomber during any escort mission. Collectively they earned 
more than 744 medals and their heroic service led to the greater 
achievement of integrating the U.S. Armed Forces--a watershed event in 
American history. Their brave actions broke forever the myths that 
allowed segregation, inequity and injustice toward African-Americans to 
exist in our military.
  Today, the remaining survivors, now in their 80's, are role models to 
generations of young men and women both in and outside of the military. 
The Tuskegee Airmen persevered and by sharing their stories have taught 
generations of Americans about the high price of freedom.
  They were dedicated and determined young men who came from every 
section of the country. I am particularly proud to recognize the 38 
airmen who were from the State of Virginia, 10 of whom are still 
living. The living Virginia Tuskegee Airmen are Howard Baugh of 
Petersburg, Wiley Selden of Norfolk, Grant Williams of Hampton, Ezra 
Hill of Hampton, Francis Home of Hampton, Theodore Wilson of Roanoke, 
William Green of Staunton, Carl Johnson of Charlottesville, Augustus 
Palmer of Newport News and Floyd Carter of Norfolk.
  These men served as trailblazers in the efforts to create equal 
rights and equal treatment for all people. It is my honor to thank them 
for their service, legacy and rich heritage.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, 
whose outstanding valor in World War II inspired revolutionary reform 
in the U.S. Armed Services. H.R. 1259 which I introduced on March 10, 
2005 recognizes these achievements and on behalf of the people of the 
United States conferring upon the Tuskegee Airmen the Congressional 
Gold Medal, Congress' highest award. Today, I stand before this House 
with unbounded joy and pride as we prepare to enact this legislation 
honoring the Tuskegee Airmen who are still with us and honoring those 
who have passed on. I feel the joy of the wives and widows sons and 
daughters of Tuskegee Airmen who have waited a long time for this day.
  I wish to thank the more than 300 Members of the House who signed on 
as cosponsors making this a truly bipartisan effort. I wish to commend 
particularly Chairman Michael Oxley and Ranking Member Barney Frank, of 
the authorizing Committee on Financial Services as well as Chairman 
Duncan Hunter and Ranking Member Ike Skelton of the Armed Services 
Committee who made a bipartisan appeal to the entire House in support 
of this bill. I would be remiss not to mention Defense Secretary Donald 
Rumsfeld who commended this bill to the Members of the House.


                      WHO ARE THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN?

  The term ``Tuskegee Airmen'' refers to all who were involved in a 
program the War Department established as a segregated unit in the Army 
Air Force (AAF) which was termed the ``Tuskegee Experiment.'' The 
program began on July 19, 1941 with primary training for the first 
flying cadets but it went on to train African Americans to fly and 
maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, 
navigators and bombardiers.
  Before 1940 African Americans were barred from flying in the United 
States Army. African Americans were believed to be lacking in 
qualifications for combat duty. In 1941, President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt overruled his top generals and ordered the creation of an all 
Black flight training program. This action followed a pioneering civil 
rights lawsuit the NAACP filed in Federal Court on behalf of Yancy 
Williams and others to force the Department of War to accept African 
American pilot trainees.
  On July 19, 1941, the Army Air Force (AAF) began a program in Alabama 
to train black Americans as military pilots. Due to the rigid system of 
racial segregation that prevailed in the United States during World War 
II, Black military pilots were trained at a separate airfield, Moton 
Field, built by Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The Primary flight 
training was conducted by the Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee 
Institute.
  When the first classes of Tuskegee Airmen were completed, they were 
trained to be fighter pilots for the famous 99th Fighter Squadron, 
slated for duty in North Africa. Additional pilots were assigned to the 
332d Fight Group which flew combat along with the 99th Squadron from 
bases in Italy.
  The first aviation cadet class began in July 1941 and completed 
training nine months later in March 1942. Thirteen started in the first 
class. Five successfully completed the training, one of them being 
Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a West Point Academy graduate. The 
other four were commissioned second lieutenants, and all five received 
Army Air Corps silver pilot wings.
  From 1942 through 1946, 994 pilots graduated at the TAAF receiving 
commissions and pilot wings. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery 
crews were trained at selected military bases elsewhere in the United 
States. Mechanics were trained at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Illinois 
until facilities were in place in 1942 at the Tuskegee Army Air Force 
Base.
  Four hundred and fifty of the pilots who were trained at TAAF served 
overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter 
Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th Fighter Squadron trained 
in and flew P-40 Warhawk aircraft in combat in North Africa, Sicily and 
Italy from April 1943 until July 1944 when they were transferred to the 
332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force.
  Nine-hundred and ninety-two Black pilots graduated from the pilot 
training program of the TAAF, with the last class finishing in June 
1946. The Tuskegee Airmen who many thought would fail in combat, 
instead accomplished an outstanding combat record. They flew over 
15,000 combat sorties, including more than 6,000 missions for the 99th 
Squadron prior to July 1944. They destroyed 111 German airplanes in the 
air and another 150 on the ground. They destroyed 950 railcars, trucks 
and other motor vehicles and sunk one destroyer with P-47 machine gun 
fire. They established a sterling record: No United States bombers were 
lost under escort of the 332nd, a unique achievement.
  Sixty-six Tuskegee pilots were killed in action or accidents; thirty-
two were downed and became prisoners of war. Among them the Tuskegee 
pilots received 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 
Purple Hearts and 14 Bronze Stars.
  The Black fighter group, the 332nd, was made up of the 99th, 301st 
and 302nd Fighter squadrons. Individually and collectively the Tuskegee 
Airmen revealed the racism, bigotry and the lie underlying the 
conclusion of the 1925 Army War College Study that Blacks lacked 
intelligence and were cowardly under combat conditions; and therefore 
they would never be able to fly aircraft of any type. Although African 
American could work at unskilled jobs in segregated units in World War 
II, the Army War College's conclusion that they could not handle 
aircraft in combat had kept them from any training.
  African American civil rights advocates raised their voices against 
this racism. The NAACP sued the government on behalf of Yancy Williams 
to allow him to be accepted as an aviation cadet. The Tuskegee 
Experiment was a response to civil rights advocacy. It is a lasting 
tribute to these early civil rights pioneers and the NAACP that Blacks 
finally allowed to train the day after Yancy Williams filed his 
lawsuit.
  The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to become one 
of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. They 
proved conclusively that Black Americans could fly and maintain 
sophisticated combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen's achievements, 
together with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for 
full integration in the United States Military.
  The outstanding record of Tuskegee Airmen in World War II was 
accomplished by men whose names will forever live in hallowed memory. 
Each one accepted the challenge, proudly displayed his skill and 
determination while suffering humiliation and indignation caused by 
frequent experiences of racism and bigotry, at home and overseas. These 
airmen fought two wars--one against a military force overseas and the 
other against racism at home and abroad. They fought for rights of the 
people of the United States, when they were not entitled to those 
rights themselves.
  The outstanding record of Tuskegee Airmen in World War II was 
accomplished by men whose names will forever live in hallowed memory. I 
am proud that my Colleagues in the House of Representatives have been 
supportive of this bipartisan bill to honor these men of valor.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1259, a 
Resolution authorizing the President to award a gold medal on behalf of 
the Congress to the Tuskegee Airmen.
  This recognition of the Tuskegee Airmen, members of an elite group 
who fought valiantly for America's freedoms overseas while

[[Page H413]]

overcoming racial discrimination, is long overdue. Their story deserves 
to be told often, not just during this month of February, to remind all 
Americans of the many sacrifices made along the way by Americans of 
color in the military who faced discrimination here at home.
  I have the privilege of representing four Tuskegee Airmen who reside 
in my Congressional District: Robert Holts, Ralph Orduna, and Charles 
Lane, all of Omaha and just south of Omaha in Bellevue, Harry Tull. A 
fifth Airman, Paul Adams, lives in nearby Lincoln, Nebraska. I am 
especially proud to note that Colonel Lane of Omaha was the youngest 
black fighter in World War II. His daughter, Karen Davis, is a longtime 
member of my District Office staff.
  I also want to mention Omaha native Alphonza Davis, who graduated 
from Omaha Tech High School and later Omaha University. He finished 
first in his class at Tuskegee and was chosen squadron leader. He was 
killed in combat in 1944 while over Germany. The local Tuskegee Airmen 
chapter in Omaha is named after him.
  Mr. Speaker, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen was written in the 
context of racial segregation that existed in our country during World 
War II. African Americans who wanted to fly in the military were 
trained at a separate location near Tuskegee, Alabama. The Tuskegee 
Airmen, known as the Red Tails because of the crimson tails on their 
aircraft, were the first squadron of African American combat pilots in 
the U.S. military. Nearly 1,000 men had graduated from pilot training 
at Tuskegee by the end of the war.
  Under the command of Colonel Benjamin Davis, Jr., these aviators 
served in combat in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Europe. 
Colonel Davis later became the first African American general in the 
U.S. Air Force.
  The Tuskegee Airmen and their record of success during the war are 
unmatched. Not a single American bomber protected by the Red Tails was 
ever shot down by enemy aircraft. By war's end, the Tuskegee Airmen had 
flown over 15,000 sorties, completed over 1,500 missions, destroyed 
more than 260 enemy aircraft, and more than 1,000 enemy vehicles on the 
ground. The Airmen were awarded 744 Air Medals, 150 Distinguished 
Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, and 8 Purple Hearts.
  I join my colleagues in recognizing the Tuskegee Airmen for their 
gallant and heroic achievements and urge adoption of H.R. 1259. The 
award of gold medals to these national heroes is only a small token of 
the thanks they richly deserve for their service to our Nation.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H.R. 1259, which recognizes the Tuskegee Airmen for their 
exemplary performance during World War II, and for paving the way for 
full integration of the U.S. military. I commend Mr. Rangel for H.R. 
1259, which recognizes the Tuskegee Airmen with a Congressional Gold 
Medal.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were the Nation's first African-American fighter 
pilots at a time when many people thought that African American men 
lacked intelligence, skill, courage, and patriotism to become pilots. 
In spite of adversity and limited opportunities, the Tuskegee Airmen 
defied stereotypes and played a significant role in U.S. military 
history.
  The first Tuskegee Airmen aviation class began in July 1941 and 
completed training March 1942. African American navigators, 
bombardiers, gunnery crews, maintenance, instructors, and mechanics 
were trained to be members of the 332nd Fighter group.
  The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice. Nine hundred 
and ninety-four pilots received commissions and pilot wings. Four 
hundred and fifty pilots served overseas in North Africa, Sicily and 
Italy. The Tuskegee Airmen combat record is impressive, including 66 
pilots killed in action; 32 pilots captured; no bombers lost while 
being escorted by the 332nd, a unique achievement; 111 German airplanes 
were destroyed in the air, and 150 German airplanes were destroyed on 
the ground.
  The Tuskegee Airmen proved conclusively that African Americans could 
fly and maintain sophisticated combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen 
received numerous honors, including: 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses; 
850 Medals; 14 Bronze Stars; and 9 Purple Hearts.
  By the end of World War II, the 332nd became one of the most highly 
respected fighter squadron despite prejudice and social equality. The 
Tuskegee Airmen's achievements must be remembered in the spirit of the 
heroic Air Force role in the global war on terrorism. With this in 
mind, I stand today to support H.R. 1259 to express the sense of 
Congress that the U.S. Air Force should never forget the courage of the 
Tuskegee Airmen by honoring them with a Congressional Gold Medal.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 
1259, which authorizes the President to award the Tuskegee Airmen with 
the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. In 1941, an experiment that 
began as an effort to prove the validity of a 1925 study that claimed 
African Americans lacked both the intelligence and courage to fly 
planes during combat, finished as a monumental testament that African 
Americans had both the aptitude, skill and valor, to not only become 
military pilots, but to meet and exceed any challenge presented. I also 
want to take this time to thank and congratulate my good friend and 
colleague, Representative Charlie Rangel for introducing this 
legislation.
  The story of the Tuskegee Airmen began when Yancy Williams, a Howard 
college student sued the U.S. Government for the right to participate 
as an aviation cadet. The Government was forced to either prove that 
blacks could not learn to fly or to accept them into their civilian 
pilot training program. As a result, a separate, all-black training 
facility was built by the Army Air Corps at Tuskegee Army Airfield. 
Though great racism existed at that time, and many of the original 
instructors were white, there was very little bias and prejudice 
reported by instructors during the training.
  The first class of the Tuskegee Airmen graduated 5 of 13 cadets, who 
were made a part of the famous 99th Fighting Squadron. Additional 
pilots were assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group. Though it was 8 months 
after the second class graduated, the 99th Fighting Squadron finally 
deployed to the North Africa as a part of the Allied Armies. The Airmen 
soon built their reputation as both talented and fearless. The Germans 
nicknamed them ``Schawarte Vogelmenshen'' or Black Birdmen, they also 
earned the nickname, Redtail Angels, from American bombing crews, due 
to their reputation for being the only unit who never lost a bomber to 
enemy fighters during escort missions.
  In all, between 1942 and 1946, 926 black pilots earned their wings 
and commissions and 450 of those pilots saw combat during World War II. 
As a result of their combat service, the Tuskegee Airmen logged 15,533 
sorties in the skies over North Africa, Italy and Germany. They 
destroyed or damaged 409 enemy aircraft, fuel and ammunitions dumps and 
escorted 200 bomber missions. In total, the Tuskegee Airmen were 
awarded 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze 
Stars, 744 Air Medals and Clusters and 3 Distinguished Unit Citations. 
This record is a soaring achievement that speaks to the depth of 
talent, heart and courage that they all exemplified. There were also 
huge human costs for their sacrifice as the Airmen suffered 66 combat 
deaths, and 33 were captured as prisoners of war. The sacrifice and 
contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen were the catalyst for President 
Truman issuing Executive Order 9981, which as of July 26, 1948, 
desegregated the United States Armed Forces.
  The Tuskegee Airmen's contribution to this country is immeasurable. 
Their display of heroism and perseverance deserves our eternal 
gratitude. The Tuskegee Airmen are indeed justified of receiving 
Congress's highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, they never lost a bomber.
  The African-American fighter pilots we know today as the Tuskegee 
Airmen, flew more than 15,000 sorties, mostly bomber-support missions, 
over North Africa, Sicily and Europe during World War II. They downed 
roughly 500 enemy aircraft, and sank a destroyer--and they destroyed an 
awful lot of prejudice in the process.
  It wasn't easy. More than 10 percent--66--were killed; 32 were downed 
and became prisoners of war. But all thousand or so who were trained at 
Moton Field near the old Tuskegee College in Alabama, now Tuskegee 
University, were heroes, whether or not they were among the 450 or so 
who saw combat duty. So were the roughly 12 black men and women who 
served as mechanics or other support crew for each pilot, and their 
black comrades who flew in medium bombers during the war.
  Mr. Speaker, no one--man or woman, adults or the near-child drummer 
boys of the Civil and Revolutionary Wars--no one who goes to war in the 
defense of this country and the liberty for which it stands can be 
described as anything but valiant and courageous. But usually, Mr. 
Speaker, the only fight these heroes have is with the enemy.
  The trailblazers of the first class of 13, all college grads and 
pilots, who went through fighter pilot training at Moton Field in the 
summer of 1941, and all who came after them, also had to fight 
prejudice. They beat that enemy as soundly as they beat the Axis, and 
it was not long after the war that the armed services of this country 
became integrated.
  While the brave Tuskegee Airmen were recognized by their comrades in 
arms, and respected and feared by enemy pilots, they were relatively 
unknown after the war until the formation in 1972 of the Tuskegee 
Airmen Inc. Today, besides the scholarship fund it sponsors, there are 
several memorials to the Airmen, including one at the Air Force Museum 
at Dayton in my home State of Ohio. Today, we will approve legislation 
to award a Congressional Gold Medal to these brave men as a group, and 
give the medal to the Smithsonian Institution.

[[Page H414]]

  Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor 
Congress bestows. It has gone to military heroes, including General 
George Washington, and heroes of the fight against prejudice. Thus, it 
is only fitting--and long overdue--that we recognize the Tuskegee 
Airmen in this manner, and do so during Black History Month.
  It is for those reasons, Mr. Speaker, that I rise in strong support 
of H.R. 1259, introduced by the gentleman from New York, that would 
award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen, and ask for 
its immediate passage.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1259. This resolution authorizes the President to award a gold medal on 
behalf of Congress to the Tuskegee Airmen in recognition of their 
unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the 
Armed Forces.
  As a veteran of the United States Air Force, I am proud to be a co-
sponsor of this important resolution. I thank the gentleman from New 
York for introducing it and urge my colleagues' support.
  Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen, all combat pilots had been white. In 
1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the creation of an all 
black flight training program to train black Americans as military 
pilots. Due to the rigid system of racial segregation that prevailed in 
the United States during World War II, black military pilots were 
trained at a separate airfield built near Tuskegee, Alabama. The 
Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee Institute, the famed school founded 
by Booker T. Washington in 1881, conducted primary flight training. 
Thus, they became known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
  The first classes of Tuskegee Airmen were trained to be fighter 
pilots for the famous 99th Fighter Squadron, slated for combat duty in 
North Africa. Additional pilots were assigned to the 332nd Fighter 
Group, which flew combat along with the 99th Squadron from bases in 
Italy.
  Due to the success of the program, in September 1943, a twin-engine 
training program was begun at Tuskegee to provide bomber pilots. 
However, World War II ended before these men were able to get into 
combat.
  By the end of the war, 992 men had graduated from pilot training at 
Tuskegee, 450 of whom were sent overseas for combat assignment. During 
the same period, approximately 150 lost their lives while in training 
or on combat flights.
  The Tuskegee Airmen inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed 
Forces, paving the way for full racial integration in the Armed Forces. 
They overcame the enormous challenges of prejudice and discrimination, 
succeeding, despite obstacles that threatened failure. Yet, their 
impact can be felt far beyond the U.S. Armed Forces into nearly every 
aspect of American life. The strength and courage of the Tuskegee 
Airmen serve as an inspiration to all Americans, regardless of skin 
color or nationality.
  It remains critically important for all Americans to know the 
Tuskegee Airmen's story and the struggles these men went through and 
ultimately overcame. I encourage everyone to learn more about these 
remarkable and inspirational men and urge my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Conaway). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1259, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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