[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 31 (Saturday, February 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING 2007 TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN A. YARMUTH

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2007

  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to honor the three 
members of the Tuskegee Airmen from my home district: Morris 
Washington, Alvin LaRue, Julius Calloway. Sixty-five years ago, legally 
mandated bigotry permeated every aspect of civilian life. Opportunities 
for a Black man or woman were few, for the most superficial of reasons: 
the color of their skin. Still, when Congress demanded the formation of 
an all Black Army Air Corps unit in March of 1941, hundreds signed up 
for the 99th Pursuit Squadron to defend the country that oppressed 
them.
  These brave men became the Tuskegee Airmen, and they did more than 
merely enlist. Ten months later, America found itself in the thralls of 
the Second World War. But despite showing remarkable aptitude--96 was 
the lowest score among all their flight tests--a deep sense of racism 
blinded their commanders to the proper and necessary action, and the 
Airmen were initially left out of combat. But as the conflict wore on, 
necessity sent these dedicated and capable men of valor into the skies 
where they deftly completed mission after mission, giving America a 
vital thrust in our efforts to defeat the Axis powers.
  In their legendary P-51 Mustangs, the Tuskegee Airmen astonished 
their doubters by prevailing against the Nazis who frequently 
outnumbered them. Soon, the Airmen were known for the prowess rather 
than their race and inspired a legend that they had never lost a single 
man to enemy fire.
  By the end of the war, they had flown more than 15,000 sorties on 
1,500 missions and were awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, 744 
Air Medals, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, several Bronze and Silver 
Stars, and most recently a Congressional Gold Medal.
  Though officially recognized for their heroic accomplishments, the 
Airmen returned home to a nation still paralyzed by racial hatred and 
two more decades of legalized segregation.
  Every citizen who enjoys the freedom that America offers owes a debt 
to these courageous men who, rather than seek revenge, chose to look 
past there own oppression and see the potential of their Nation's 
greatness. We are ashamed of the treatment they received and hope to 
follow their example, building a society where racial bigotry can be 
found only in the annals of our history books.
  I am proud that three of these heroes, Morris Washington, Alvin 
LaRue, and Julius Calloway, still call my district of Louisville, KY, 
home. I am honored to represent them and hope that you will all join me 
in giving them the recognition they deserve.

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