[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNITION OF WILLIE WATSON FOR HIS SERVICE TO COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY

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                          HON. MARY JO KILROY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Willie Watson who is 
a great community member, a proud father, and a patriot. In our 
country's time of need, Mr. Watson bravely and fearlessly enlisted to 
serve in the military and became a member of one of the most inspiring 
and decorated Air Force squadrons of our time, the Tuskegee Airmen. 
Despite racism and bigotry in the country, Mr. Watson and his fellow 
airmen selflessly devoted themselves to fight for our nation.
  Mr. Watson served as a Service Master for over twenty years. During 
WWII, Mr. Watson was sent into battle for one of the most harrowing and 
brave missions: to life-flight wounded soldiers off the battlefield. He 
performed these duties faithfully and honorably and after 20 years of 
work, retired from service.
  As a young man, Mr. Watson and his fellow airmen became America's 
first African-American military airmen. These brave young men enlisted 
or joined from all over the country and trained to become fighter 
pilots, mechanics, engineers, intelligence analysts, and parachute 
riggers, among many other specialties. From 1941 to 1946, nearly 1,000 
pilots graduated from the Tuskegee Air Force School, and four hundred 
fifty of them served overseas. These fighters had many accomplishments 
including flying over 15,000 sorties into enemy territory, 
accomplishing a nearly perfect record for not losing U.S. bombers, and 
destroying 112 German airplanes.
  These men not only faced a war abroad, but also challenges at home 
because of segregation and racism. Their struggle eventually 
contributed to the desegregation of American society and their 
patriotism was rewarded with several honors, most notably on March 27, 
2007, when the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Medal of 
Honor.
  On September 23, 2010, a ceremony will be held to honor Mr. Watson's 
incredible life. His dedication and service inspired a generation, and 
I am proud to recognize Willie Watson, whose service to our country in 
its time of need will never be forgotten.

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