December 2011 - Tuskegee Airmen San Diego

Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Editor: Oscar D. Teel
General
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Chapter
San Diego
San Diego, CA.
President: George E. Watson
TIS THE SEASON
To Give Thanks
By Oscar D. Teel
We owe thanks to those Chapter members
who unselfishly gave their time and talents to
keep the Chapter moving in a positive direction.
First, we must thank our outgoing president,
George Watson. George not only works a full
time job but also flies the Missing Man formation
in a T-34 in support of services for deceased veterans. He chairs our monthly meetings and
keeps things moving. He is ably assisted by Arlys Erickson who fought a gallant battle against
cancer and by all appearances she won. She is
our outgoing treasurer and also doubled at times
as the Corresponding Secretary. Next we have
to give a big thank you to Paulette Mello, our incoming president. Paulette is the keeper of all
our equipment and sets up and ‘mans’ the booth
during events. Her husband Joe and daughter
Cheyenne accompanies her. Often Paulette is
the only Chapter member present at the booth
which has required that she have a substantial
knowledge of the Tuskegee Airmen. Paulette is
also an expert on the subject ‘Women in Aviation”. Bill McNeil doesn’t spend much time in town
but he manages to be available to take notes at
all meetings as Recording Secretary. He volunteered to keep that position in perpetuity. Vice
President Jeffrey Woodson has many special
tasks including the latest; getting a portion of
Freeway 15 named the Tuskegee Airmen Highway. Ron Lacey will continue to audit our books
to keep us honest. We must thank Mary SnearMcNeil and Paulette Mello for leading a tour to
Lindbergh Field for the youth program and to Jeff
Woodson for making it happen. We must thank
Nelson Robinson for making presentations about
the Tuskegee Airmen to different groups. Thanks
to Captain Claude Rowe and his family for their
support and Happy 90th birthday to Claude. Now,
who did I miss?
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Good Health.
December 2011
A Christmas Story
MY LIFE
By Cheyenne Mello
Member Tuskegee Airmen,
General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Chapter,
San Diego
My life wasn’t always a walk in the park. It
was at times scary and hard. When I was a baby,
both of my kidneys had failed
on me. I was
really sick. One
day I turned blue
in front of my
mom. I know that
she was probably
so scared. I had
almost died but
Cheyenne Mello
thankfully doctors
came to the rescue and saved me. While I was on dialysis, I had
to take sixteen medications to help me survive
(now I am down to 4).
Dialysis is a machine
that cleans your blood
and it is not fun being
hooked up to the machine!
In my family, I am
known as the miracle
child since I am not supposed to be alive right
now. I have had over 15 Baby Cheyenne in the hospital undergoing dialysis
surgeries in my life. In
July 1997, I was saved by a hero who donated
their kidney to me to save my life. That hero is my
mom, Paulette Mello. She has been there with
me all those tough times and even now with my
continued medical care. My dad was in the Navy
and out to sea a lot and I know he wanted to be
there as much as he could.
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I thanked my mom for doing all that she
has done for me. She said she was doing a part
God wanted her to do. This Christmas, I’m thankful for the gift of life. I thank God, my mom, my
dad, and all my doctors.
Thank you for letting me share my story! I
hope you have a very special and wonderful
Christmas!
Cheyenne Mello and her mother,
Paulette Mello
Chapter President George Watson
and Cheyenne Mello
If your new born child needed a kidney,
you’d give it one of yours, wouldn't you?
THE MOTHER’S CHRISTMAS STORY
By Paulette Mello
Hard to believe 2011 has rushed in and is
rushing out. The year has brought us good and
bad times; I am sure for all of us. I count my
blessings daily and one of those blessings I have
is my daughter, Cheyenne.
This year, Cheyenne celebrated her “14th Kidney Anniversary” which is a huge milestone that
we are so grateful for. As some of you know,
Cheyenne went through kidney failure at the age
of 5 months. When she was born, she was a
healthy, strong baby. Seeing that she was a
healthy baby, not in my wildest dreams could I
fathom what was waiting around the corner for
us. Isn’t it amazing how something or some news
can knock you off your feet? Well, this did for us.
After she was born, I was planning on going back to school to study…yes…aviation. But,
obviously that had to be placed on the backburner. My husband, Joe, was on active duty in
the Navy when she was diagnosed and was participating in work-ups for Westpac deployment.
We had no family in San Diego, except for our
friends at our church, and things were still rough
emotionally, especially for me.
We initially “lived” at Naval Medical Center
San Diego for about 3 months after Cheyenne
started having kidney issues. She was in and out
of the ICU for weeks at a time. Her diagnosis was
Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, a disease that
causes the kidney’s filtering system not to work
properly and as a result, protein presents in the
urine. Her prognosis was not good and doctors
were telling us to prepare for the worse. She was
eventually transferred to UCSD where there were
more specialists to work on her case. She “lived”
in the IMU (Intermediate Medical Unit) for 6
months straight. She was put on peritoneal dialysis (permanent tube is placed in abdomen to
draw fluid off that the kidneys are supposed to
do) for a few months. Peritoneal worked for a
while until one night something went wrong with
the tubing and fluid leaked into her lungs causing
her to go into respiratory distress…in front of me.
I’ll never, never forget having my baby look at me
gasping for breath as the nurse staff alerted a
Code Blue on the floor. God spared her that
night. .
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Page 3
She again went to the ICU where we were
advised to pursue the next step of attempting
hemodialysis (she would be the youngest at that
time in San Diego country to undergo hemodialysis). Thankfully, hemodialysis worked and stabilized her for a few more months.
The overall goal was to get her to 20 lbs
so she could receive a kidney transplant. She
had a stomach feeding tube placed since she
stopped eating and with the genius mind of the
dietitian, a “special” formula concoction (which
even consisted of cooking oil) was created to get
her to the desired weight to be transplanted. A
living related donor, preferably me or Joe, was
advised due to the match compatibility. The
hemodiayslis was sustaining Cheyenne, but she
had sky-high blood pressures which was creating
fluid around her heart. The push for transplantation was great. I went through the medical workups and was thankfully a compatible match to undergo the surgery. It was a very stressful time for
both Joe and I, but God carried us through.
On July 14, 1997, we went to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (located at Stanford University hospital campus in Palo Alto, CA). On July
17, 1997, world renowned child transplant surgeon Oscar Salvatierra transplanted one of my
kidneys into 15 month old Cheyenne. After the 8
hour surgery, “yellow gold” (a.k.a. urine) was successfully accomplished. Never again will I ever
take going to the bathroom for granted!
Cheyenne still has some occasional medical “bleeps on the radar,” but we continue to trust
God that He will continue to protect her. I am
grateful this Christmas for the gift of my daughter.
I am also grateful for the gift of family in our
TAISD chapter. As we all know, each day is a
blessing and a gift from God; live it, embrace it,
and cherish it.
That is my Christmas story. May God Bless you
and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Cheyenne at 7 months old
Cheyenne at 18 months old (plump and
hairy from anti-rejection medication)
Paulette Mello
THANKS TO COURTYARD BY
MARRIOTT FOR PROVIDING OUR
MEETING FACILITIES EACH MONTH
Cheyenne now at 15 years old
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.ANNUAL CHAPTER MEETING
AND CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Tuskegee Airmen, General Benjamin O.
Davis, Jr., Chapter, San Diego, held its annual
meeting and Christmas Party on December 18,
2011 at the home of Chapter members Oscar
and Hilda Teel. A quorum was present.
Minutes of the previous meeting and the Treasurer’s report were read and accepted by the
membership. An election of officers was held with
the following results:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Paulette Mello
Jeff Woodson
Kristine Rowe
Bill McNeil
Oscar Teel
Paulette Mello was elected President for 2012-2013
Jerry Moore, a former member, attended the
meeting and rejoined the Chapter. Welcome
back, Jerry.
The Rowe Family: —————, Dorothy Rowe, Winnie
Rowe, Kristine Rowe, Captain Claude Rowe and in front
Ambre Decilap
Party/Meeting Hosts Oscar and Hilda Teel
Rev. Jerry Moore and wife Lillie
Outgoing Treasurer, Arlys Erickson
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Page 5
Mrs. Lolitta Blackman
George Hebert and wife Elizabeth
The Mello Family, Paulette and husband Joe with
daughter Cheyenne in the middle.
Mrs. Jean Maxwell and daughter Margaret
Dorothy Rowe admires the hat of George Edwards a
member of the famed Buffalo Division of WW II
Mary Snear-McNeil , husband Bill and
Granddaughter, Aysia Snear
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.
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
If you did not get a Congressional Gold Medal
at the ceremonies a few years ago, Nelson Robinson wanted chapter members to be aware of
how they could order the TA Congressional
Medal of Honor bronze coins. US Mint, PO Box
7ll99, Philadelphia, PA 19176-6199 , Phone 800972-6468, or http://www.usmint.gov/ The 3 inch
coin cost $44.95 and 1 1/2 inch cost $7.95 with
shipping and handling of $4.95.
Captain Claude Rowe. Captain Rowe was featured in the
September 2011 issue of By Request .
CONVENTION, 2012
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, INC.
LAS VEGAS HILTON
The Hilton Hotel Las Vegas is a popular lodging destination for convention attendees and is
not only one of the largest casino hotels in Las
Vegas, it is also the largest Hilton in the world.
The hotel is located on 80,000 acres of land,
and has a 100,000 square foot casino. Additionally, the Hilton Hotel Las Vegas has the largest
Vegas Sports Book.
See you next year.
VETERANS DAY 2011
Chapter members Bill McNeil and Vernon Evans
Hilda Teel and
Chief Master Sergeant Oscar Teel
Lolitta Blackman and Hilda Teel
Five years ago I started the practice of putting
my uniform on every five years on Veterans Day.
Five years ago I put it on for the first time and except for getting a bit tight, and with the moths
having a field day, it looks okay. This is the same
uniform I wore 45 years ago when I retired.
In this Navy town, there was only one other Air
Force veteran present at the ceremonies.
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TUSKEGEE AIRMEN TOP GUNS
On 5 November 2011, the Tuskegee Airmen
Archive located at the University of California,
Riverside hosted the 7th Annual Tuskegee Airmen Celebration. The program was “Tuskegee
Airmen, Top Guns”.
The United States Air Force held their "First
Ever" Weapons Meet at Las Vegas Air Force
Base, Nevada on 2 May 1949. The famous
332nd Fighter Group Team, of Captain Alva Temple, 1st Lieutenant Harry Stewart, 1st Lieutenant
James Harvey and alternate pilot 1st Lieutenant
Halbert Alexander won the Competition. However, the 332nd Fighter Group was never recognized as the "Winner" until April 1995. Forty-Six
years after winning the Weapons Meet.
TOP GUNS
Captain Alva Temple, First Lt. Harry Stewart
and First Lt. James H. Harvey
James Harvey, Jr., Lt./Col, USAF (Ret.), one of
the Top Guns, finally received his award.
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TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
TOP GUNS
Presentation by Zellie Rainey Orr,
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. National Historian.
Ms. Orr is the
author of the
book Top
Guns. As an
historian Ms
Orr has done
considerable
research on
the Tuskegee
Airmen. It
was her efforts that located the
long ‘lost’ trophy that the Tuskegee Airmen never
received. Ms Orr found the trophy in 2004
Ms. Orr explained all the hoops she had to
jump through to locate the trophy and finally get it
on display at National Air Force Museum at
Wright-Paterson AFB.
Ms Orr said, when the team tried to enter the
hotel in Las Vegas the day before the Top Gun
exercise ended, they were refused entry. The
following day they were admitted for the presentation of the trophy.
Among her other quests was to locate the burial site of Tuskegee Airmen lost over Europe. She
was also instrumental in locating Tuskegee Airmen who should have received the Purple Heart.
She travels to homes of Tuskegee Airmen hoping
to deliver the medal to him or his descendents.
There are about 29 Tuskegee Airmen MIAs
She also told us about Holt Collier. A former
slave who had been Teddy Roosevelt’s guide
during a hunt for bear. When you are a historian
doing research, you find all kinds of information
on things for which you are not searching.
For more lots information on Ms. Orr
and her books, Google her. You
should also visit the web site
tuskegeetopgun.com
Bufford Johnson, DOTA, Crew Chief during the
Top Gun Competition
P-51 FLYBY
A P-51, owned by Tom Cruise made a number of
passes over the University prior to the formal
ceremonies.
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ARCHIVE
The Tuskegee Airmen Archive was formally
established in 2005 at the University of California,
Riverside, as a part of a national effort to collect
and preserve the history of the Tuskegee Airmen.
The collection includes articles, papers, diaries,
artifacts, photographs, oral histories, etc., by and
about the airmen. Plans are to digitize the collection and make it available nationally and internationally so the story of these brave men will forever be available to historians.
By Request
Page 9
THE BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, JR., CHAPTER
WAS REPRESENTED
Dorothy Rowe and her mother, Winnie Rowe.
Winnie is the wife of Captain Claude Rowe.
Captain Claude Rowe meets
Ms Zellie Rainey Orr.
Al Harris, DOTA
Chapter member George E. Dixon, CMSgt.,
USAF (Ret) and his son, Daniel Dixon . George
and I met in the 1945/1946 period at Keesler
Field, Mississippi. George lives in the Seattle
area .
Rob Brewington,
LA Chapter
Col Ralph W. Smith, Co-founder,
Tuskegee Airmen Archive
Page 10
INTERESTING PEOPLE WE MET
By Request
A friend in London sent the following article
which appeared on BBC-London.
The WWII pioneering pilot who rose
above segregation
William T. Fauntleroy, Jr. of the East Coast
Chapter
Russell Sandhoefuer, B-24 crewman, and James Feiffer,
B-17 pilot,. Both men volunteered that during briefing
prior to a mission, they were happy to hear that they were
to be protected by the Red Tails.
Lieutenant Colonel John I. Mulzac joined the
United States military in 1942, at the age of 19.
He trained with the Tuskegee Airmen, in Tuskegee, Alabama - the first US Army programme for
African-American pilots at a time when the United
States south was still legally segregated.
The Tuskegee Airmen went on to gain acclaim
not only as an historic first for African Americans,
but also as a group of remarkably skilled pilots
during the Second World War.
Even as the Tuskegee Airmen were breaking
colour barriers in the sky, segregation persisted
on the ground. Lt. Col. Mulzac describes the discrimination he encountered both during the war
and afterwards when he failed to get a job as a
commercial pilot. Instead he joined the New York
City fire department, while continuing to fly in the
US Air Force Reserves. He flew cargo planes in
assistance of the Berlin airlift, and later during the
Vietnam War.
Lt. Col. Mulzac retired to his home in BedfordStuyvesant, Brooklyn. One son lives next door,
and another across the street. Two of his grandchildren play in the NBA. "The most important
things that I have," he says, "are my wife, my
grandchildren, my great grandchildren, and all my
family."
As he reflects back on his life, he compares
his essence to that of Ernest Hemingway. "In a
way," he says, "I'm like him. He's like me. He
liked the freedom, the adventure."
After being largely forgotten, the Tuskegee
Airmen's contribution to the United States was
finally recognised in 2007 when President Bush
and the US congress awarded the Airmen the
Congressional Gold Medal.
(Note: John Ira Mulzac Class TE-44-J, graduated
Dec 28, 1944)
Matanah Simmons ,
Tuskegee Airman Scholarship Foundation
CONTACT THE EDITOR OF : By Request
[email protected]
By Request
REUNION OF TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
AND
485TH BOMB GROUP
Page 11
the Bombers on their long range missions in Italy
during WWII.
The Reunion was held at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel, San Diego, CA September 29th – October
By Ted Lumpkin, DOTA 2, 2011. Approximately 7 Tuskegee Airmen were
able to attend: 1 from Detroit, MI (Allie Peek), 1
th
The 485 Bomb Group organization was cele- from Philadelphia, PA (Henry Moore), 4 from
Southern CA (Levi Thornhill, Crew Chief) and
brating a WWII incident that occurred in ITALY
wife Dorothy, Col Paul Green (Pilot) and wife Anduring December 1944 when 17 B-24 Heavy
gel, Clarence Huntley (Crew Chief) and Ted
Bombers flown by white pilots and crews were
nd
forced to land at our Black 332 Army Air Corps Lumpkin (Intelligence Officer) as well as TAI Historian Zellie Orr and TAI Financial Secretary MiFighter Base at Ramitelli, Italy. They could not
chiko Williams; were warmly and enthusiastically
land at their home base due to severe bad
received by more than 200 Bomb Group attenweather and heavy snow on the ground at the
dees’ families and friends.
Bombers’ home base further south. The white
bomber pilots and crews remained at Ramitelli for
Lucasfilms helped promote the Reunion in anfive days living with the black 332nd Fighter Group
ticipation
of the upcoming “Red Tails” motion picpersonnel until the weather lifted and the Bomber
ture opening at the movie theaters throughout the
crews were able to take off and return to their
world on January 20, 2011. The “Red Tails”
home base.
movie tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.
The US Army Air Corps was completely segNBC was present throughout the Reunregated at the time. Having black and white
ion.
The TV clip you saw on the Brian Williams
troops living together and relating to each other
news October 5 was from the interviewing of me
on a one to one basis was probably a first time
th
happening! The white crews discovered that the and Jim Scheib (B24 Pilot, 485 Bomb Group) by
red tail fighters that had escorted them so well on George Lewis (NBC Broadcaster) and Kathy
their combat missions were flown by black pilots Leverett (NBC Producer) during the Reunion
Event.
and supported by black personnel. It was an
awakening for all involved: and living, sleeping,
eating and interacting together in an integrated
HAITIANS AS TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
way turned out to be very positive and memorable for nearly everyone involved. Thus, due to
the happenstance of severe inclement weather,
More than 65 years ago, Raymond Cassegregation took a back seat and true racial inte- sagnol, was one of five Haitian-Tuskegee Airmen
gration happened at the 332nd Air Corps Base for to earn his pilot wings at Tuskegee Army Air
those several days.
Field. He was the first Haitian to graduate, Class
43-G (July 1943), Today he is the last surviving
The 485th Bomb Group for this Annual Reun- Haitian-Tuskegee Airman. The efforts of Zellie
ion decided to celebrate the “LANDING INCIRainey Orr in February 2010 led to the location of
DENT AT RAMITELLI” as the feature of their
Cassagnol and procurement of his medal.
2011 Reunion and invited Tuskegee Airmen who
were at Ramitelli, Italy during WWII to join them Visit the internet and Google Zellie Rainey Orr.
in reminiscing and celebrating the memories of
You’ll be led to many web sites with information
that dramatic 1944 event. The idea was that of
on the Tuskegee Airmen.
Jerry Whiting, current president of the Bomb
Do you have an article or comment for
Group and son of a 485th crew member who
when he spoke of WWII also spoke very highly of By Request?
the Red Tail fighters and how well they protected
Sent it to the editor: [email protected]
Page 12
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN HONORED IN
SEWICKLEY, PA
By Request
substantially since the group began exploring the
Sewickley Tuskegee connection two years ago.
Submitted by Ronnie Cox In addition to the original seven Sewickley Tuskegee Airmen, the memorial will feature the names
(Cousin of
of more than 80 members from western PennsylHilda Teel)
vania, including three from Beaver County.
The growing project prompted a redesign of the
memorial earlier this year that more than tripled
the project's size and budget.
At Wednesday's ceremony, Bobonis said the
group had reached its goal for pledges and donations for the groundbreaking, and plans are for
construction to begin on March 7 -- the anniversary of the graduation of the first five pilots in the
Tuskegee airman Dr. Harry Lanauze of Mckeesport, Tuskegee program.
left, speaks with artist Ray Simon of Youngstown,
Bobonis said the group, which recently estabOhio. Simon's painting will be part of the Tuskegee lished a board of trustees to oversee the project,
Airmen Memorial at the Sewickley Pa .Cemetery.
must raise the remaining $178,000 of its
$250,000 budget before work begins next spring.
The new design, created by Rome MonuA memorial project honoring local men and
women who endured racism and segregation to ments in Rochester, Pa. will include an 8 1/2-foot
serve their country is one step closer to becoming white granite centerpiece, flanked by two ebony
granite markers with the names of the airmen. A
a reality.
Partners and supporters of the Tuskegee Air- porcelain tile portrait painted by Youngstown,
men Memorial Project of Greater Pittsburgh gath- Ohio, artist Ray Simon will be a focal point on the
25-ton center stone.
ered Thursday morning at Sewickley Cemetery
for a groundbreaking ceremony for a local TuskeWEBSITES OF INTEREST
gee memorial.
The monument, which is set to be constructed
next spring, will honor more than 80 local black
Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation
men and one black woman who were members
taisf.org
of the air, ground and support crew known as the
William “Bill”Campbell Chapter
Tuskegee Airmen.
San Francisco Bay area
During World War II, Congress forced the
Tai-sfba.org
Army to establish an all-black combat unit. The
U.S. Department of War created an Army Air
Los Angeles Chapter
Corps unit to satisfy the requirement but set adlactai.org
missions standards officials felt would be nearly
impossible to reach, according to the Tuskegee
East Coast Chapter
Airmen website.
Ecctai.com
The special group of black pilots and crew
members who trained at the Tuskegee Institute in
Charles B. Hall Chapter
Alabama struggled to overcome racism that exTuskegeeairmenok.com
isted within the military ranks and eventually became known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
The following web site is loaded with photos and
Regis Bobonis, senior vice president of the
information
Daniel B. Matthews, Historical Society of
Archives.gov/research/African-Americans/
Sewickley, which started the Sewickley Tuskegee
ww2-pictures/
Airman research project, said plans have grown
By Request
Page 13
The following article is from our December 2000 newsletter. Send me your thoughts for our next newsletter.
2012
Oscar Teel OUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE
CHAPTER
Thanksgiving - Are We
Really Thankful? and What Does Christmas
Mean?
On Thanksgiving Day I looked forward to a
good meal one in which I invariably hurt myself. I
am so full of food and multiple desserts that I
would be hard pressed to bend over to tie my
shoes. I always eat too much on that day. The
turkey, even after spending an afternoon in the
oven, is more comfortable than I.
After a night of fretful sleep I head out for a
little jogging and lots of walking. It was then that
I gave some thoughts to those things on which I
should be thankful. First, It is great to be alive
and in excellent good health, otherwise, I would
not be out walking and trying to jog.
Then I
thought about my wife of almost 30 years who
makes my every day easy. And, I thought of my
son who is quite successful as a software expert
and has a son in college. I gave thought to the
really beautiful community I live in and the luxury
of having very fine, pleasant neighbors. Often I
think about my career in the military. I am
thankful for the decision I made on those fateful
days before Thanksgiving in 1945 to join the
Army Air Corps. I met some of the best people in
the world in the military. Somehow, employment
in civilian life wasn’t the same.
Christmas is another story. As we get ready
for that day, which like every other day lasts only
24 hours, we have spent two months or more
getting ready for it. It appears that less thought is
given to its Christanity leanings than to its
economic trimmings. There is more mail during
this period asking for contributions, newspapers
loaded with advertisements, ringing bells at every
supermarket, kids selling wrapping paper, candy
and magazines for some school project, and then
I get stuck in mall traffic. I spend days checking
out the thousands of lights that we put up and
then put my life in harm’s way climbing trees to
hang those decorations. Old Scrooge may have
been right. BAH HUMBUG !
I prefer Thanksgiving Day. Where are my Rollaids?
(Note: As for that meal, this was one year before my open
heart surgery. Have I learned anything?)
We would like the Chapter to grow. Nothing
can be done without membership. Someone has
to do the work. If the same members do all the
work, eventually they get tired and leave to be
appreciated by another enterprise.
We would like the naming of a portion of I-15
Tuskegee Airmen Highway to become a reality.
We may have to secure funding from within our
membership to achieve that goal. Are you in?
Many of our members have not seen the Tuskegee Airmen Mural in the Palm Springs Air Museum. We would like to schedule a visit to view
the mural and to see the sequel planned by the
same artist, Stan Stokes.
We need an active Scholarship Committee.
For the past few years we have been successful
in getting one candidate who didn’t have to share
our meager funds. There must be more potential
candidates around. They won’t come to us. We
must go find them. Do you remember when we
had upwards of ten candidates, forwarded three
or four names to National for their consideration
and gave all of them checks? Our Scholarship
Fund is in need of assistance. Consider a contribution.
There are not many events available to us to
raise funds. When we do have an event we need
more help in setting up the equipment and meeting the public. We have many items for sale and
we need ‘clerks’.
We need more members willing to give presentations on the Tuskegee Airmen to requesting
organizations. We are losing WW II veterans at
an alarming rate. The Tuskegee Airmen are included in that group. The number of Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOTA) in our
Chapter is small in number and can’t do it all.
Finally, we have a newsletter and web site. Prepare an article. Make your voice/wishes known.
www.tuskegeesdai.org
30125 Corte Cantera
Temecula, CA 92591