[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 145 (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF HARLEM'S TUSKEGEE AIRMAN JOSEPH HERMAN SPOONER

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 2, 2014

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner, a life-long resident of the 
Village of Harlem. As noted by the family: On September 11th, 2014, 
America surrendered a living legend to the annals of Black American 
history. Inextricably intertwined to the importance of this day 
``September 11th'' in American history, a Tuskegee Airman at 94 years 
old, has passed over.
  September 11 reminds all of us every year that `freedom is not free' 
and the strength of our nation depends on men and women, such as Joe 
Spooner, a decorated World War II original member of the 99th Fighter 
Squadron/332 Fighter Group stationed out of Tuskegee, Alabama.
  Joseph Spooner was born on October 30th, 1919 to Joseph and 
Georgianna Spooner. Joseph was hilarious and loved to play jokes on 
people. He was high spirited and the life of the party. He had 6 
children and three generations of grandchildren. He attended PS 179 
Elementary School, PS 165 Robert E. Simon, and graduated from Dewitt 
Clinton High School in which he excelled in academics and athletics. He 
loved to play and watch sports. In his early years, he played Semi-Pro 
Basketball on a team called the Columbians.
  At the time he was drafted Joseph Spooner was a freshman at The City 
College of New York. Having played with the likes of Negro Basketball 
League legend John Issacs and ``Pop'' Gates of the original Harlem 
Globetrotters he made his family proud qualifying to pursue a college 
education during such a racially charged and segregated time period. 
America in the 1940's, was unforgiving for people of color, it was an 
impossible dream come true, yet a dream deferred. Joseph Spooner left 
college, abandoning a basketball scholarship to serve his country.
  Joe enlisted into service in 1942, and in 1943 this Black American 
hero was commissioned for duty with the Tuskegee Airmen. On April 1943, 
the 99th Fighter Squadron in their P-47 Thunderbolt fighters went into 
combat bound for North Africa, where it would join the 33rd Fighter 
Group and its commander, Colonel William W. Momyer. Given little 
guidance from battle-experienced pilots, the 99th's first combat 
mission was to attack the small strategic volcanic island of 
Pantelleria in the Mediterranean Sea to clear the sea lanes for the 
Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The air assault on the island 
began on 30 May 1943. The 99th flew its first combat mission on June 2, 
1943. The surrender of the garrison of 11,121 Italians and 78 Germans 
due to air attack was the first of its kind.
  The 99th moved on to Sicily and received a Distinguished Unit 
Citation for its performance in combat led by Col. Benjamin O. Davis, 
Jr., Commander of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group. Though 
subject to racial discrimination, both at home and abroad, the 996 
pilots and more than 15,000 ground personnel who served with the all-
black units would be credited with some 15,500 combat sorties and earn 
over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses for their achievements. With over 
200 combat missions the Tuskegee Airmen did not lose a single bomber. 
They did everything in their power to protect and shield the bombers.
  As American history has now recognized the heroism and amazing 
exploits and air battles that took place in the skies over Europe by 
the 99th Fighter Squadron/332 Fighter Group, Joe as Armorer may have 
had the most important role by which he was responsible for loading the 
fighter planes with ammunition. In 2006, I introduced legislation to 
honor the Tuskegee Airmen with the Congressional Gold Medal. In March 
of 2007, Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner received the 
Congressional Gold Medal of Honor from President George W. Bush
  Great men, like our beloved Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner are 
temporary gifts we have in this world, but their accomplishments and 
achievements are far remembered and forever lasting. Mr. Speaker, I ask 
my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of 
Tuskegee Airman Joseph Herman Spooner.

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