My guest, Roy Richardson, and I talked about his being a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. He joined the Army at 17 and was immediately shipped to Texas
for training.
He was an
enlisted grounds crewman. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots,
navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all
the personnel who kept the planes in the air.
Mr. Richardson
travels around Northeast Ohio teaching about the Tuskegee Airmen.
The show also
featured a repeat portion of an interview I did with Tuskegee Airman, First
LT. Arthur Saunders, who died on December 23rd, 2011.
Mr. Richardson
and also talked about the new movie in theaters now 'Red Tails'. It's
about the many accomplishments of America's first all-black fighter
pilots.
Both Mr.
Richardson and First LT. Arthur Saunders were awarded the Congressional Medal
of honor by Former President George W. Bush in 2007.
Those who were
able, attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama when he was sworn in
as President and Commander-in-Chief.
There
are fewer than 300 Tuskegee Airmen still alive out of the 5-thousand who
served. Their valor and success protecting bombers helped lead to the
integration of the U.S. military.
