[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN--A HERO'S WELCOME

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to Capitol Hill 
today a contingent of veterans representing one of the most 
distinguished military units in American history. The individuals whom 
I speak of are known as the Tuskegee Airmen, and they are visiting the 
Capitol today as part of a `Tuskegee Airmen Legislative Day'. Many 
people may see these gentlemen strolling the halls of the Capitol and 
not know that they are living components of American history who 
changed this country and its military forever.
  The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to win the 
opportunity to fight for their nation and became one of the most highly 
respected fighter groups of World War II. In so doing, they destroyed 
the racist conceptions of their time, and inspired a generation of 
Americans to chase their dreams all the way to sky.
  Before 1940, African Americans were barred from flying for the U.S. 
military, just as they were excluded from other aspects of American 
public and civic life. However, in that year African American airmen 
won the opportunity to fight for their country as American patriots, 
though in segregated units. The airmen were trained and stationed in 
Tuskegee, Alabama, the city which would come to define them and their 
heroism.
  Young men from across the country answered the call to serve, and 
brought with them not only their own aspirations, but the hopes and 
dreams of an entire people. Many believed that African Americans did 
not possess the faculties to be military airmen, and predicted that the 
Tuskegee program would fail. However, failure was not an option for 
these men, and they delivered in amazing fashion.
  The Airmen completed 15,500 missions, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft, 
sank one enemy destroyer, and demolished numerous enemy installations. 
They would also have the WWII distinction of never losing an American 
bomber under their escort, despite flying in some of the enemies' most 
heavily defended areas. During their World War II service, the Airmen 
would earn 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple 
Hearts, and 14 Bronze Stars.
  There is currently an effort underway to bestow the Congressional 
Gold Medal on the Tuskegee Airmen. I have introduced H.R. 1259 here in 
the House, and Senator Levin has introduced similar legislation in the 
Senate. The Gold Medal was created and first awarded 200 years ago to 
Americans whose courage and determination in battle exemplified the 
spirit of our nation. In keeping with that tradition, I can think of no 
better recipients than the Tuskegee Airmen.
  They not only displayed courage and bravery, they changed our 
military forever. Today, many minority groups, especially African 
Americans, are overrepresented in the military compared to their 
numbers in the general population. They are the central core of the 
volunteer military and serve our nation with heroic distinction in Iraq 
and through out the world. With the significant role that minorities 
continue to play in the Armed Forces, our country is indebted to the 
Tuskegee Airmen for helping to lay that foundation.
  Today, the young men who roamed the skies of Tuskegee, Alabama, and 
World War II Europe, are seasoned veterans of war and life. Many of 
them are no longer with us, but the hope and pride that they inspired 
in all of us are reborn in the hearts and minds of every subsequent 
generation of Americans. I can attest to the hope they gave to a young 
kid from Harlem, as he set out to fight in Korea. Their example served 
me well in that war, and in life.
  At a time in our country when we hear a lot of rhetoric about 
patriotism, we can learn from the example of the Tuskegee Airmen. They 
fought for their country at a time when the rights they risked their 
lives to protect did not extend to them. They fought not just for 
America, but the promise of America--the promise of liberty, equality, 
and freedom for all people. As long as we aspire to fulfill this 
promise, so too will the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen live. Again, I 
thank the Tuskegee Airmen for all they have done for our country, and I 
extend this welcome--a hero's welcome--to them.

                          ____________________