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Servicemembers honored at Tuskegee Airmen convention luncheon

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
PHILADELPHIA --  Military members and Tuskegee Airmen were honored at the Tuskegee Airmen National Convention military luncheon here July 18. 

"I want people to understand whose shoulders we are standing on and what those men did for us and our Air Force," said Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, principal director to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy at the Pentagon. "Those original Tuskegee Airmen had to fight for the right to fight."

General Rand, who was commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, from 2006-2007, began his speech by recognizing and describing the accomplishments of the original Tuskegee Airmen, who succeeded in their missions despite racial discrimination, then continued by describing the challenges and accomplishments of today's Airmen.

"Your Air Force is employed in combat. Your Air Force is in the business of saving lives," he said. "And as the Tuskegee Airmen did 66 years ago - fighting armies that represent tyranny and oppression - our Air Force is doing that today to make (the world) better for our kids, for our grandkids, for even those who aren't grateful for it. You can take great pride in that."

General Rand went on to tell personal experiences of selfless servicemembers, officer and enlisted, who have volunteered for deployment and made the ultimate sacrifice, thought only of their fellow servicemembers as they lay in a hospital bed, and worked hard to meet Air Force requirements just to join the fight.

The luncheon culminated with the presentation of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., 2008 Military Awards, which are presented to military members who have exhibited outstanding performance in both professional and community service.

Col. Christine Knighton, Officer Leader Development Division, Army Human Resources Command, Va., was awarded the General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award.

Capt. Shamekia Toliver, 37th Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., received the Capt. Robert W. Williams Award.

Master Sgt. Eric Hein, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Sather Air Force received the Chief Master Sergeant Fred A. Archer Award.

Tech. Sgt. Christopher McArdle, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Balad Air Base, Iraq, received the Senior Master Sergeant F. Barbour Award.

The 37th annual Tuskegee Airmen National Convention is being held in Philadelphia through July 20. Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated is the national organization that works to honor the accomplishments and perpetuate the history of the legendary young African-American men who enlisted during World War II to become America's first black military airmen, ground crew and mechanics.

The Tuskegee Airmen were young men who enlisted at a time when there were many people who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism. They came from every section of the country, with large numbers coming from New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Washington, D.C.

The surviving Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in March 2007, the most distinguished award bestowed by Congress. The convention offers a chance to meet these American heroes.

TAI has 51 chapters worldwide. For more information, visit www.tuskegeeairmen.org.