Keeping the Tuskegee Airmen’s story alive

Published 8:22 pm Wednesday, November 9, 2011

EVERETT — Some stories inspire others to overcome adversity.

Eisenhower Middle School students heard a story like that Wednesday, when two members of the Sam Bruce chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen visited the school.

The Tuskegee Airmen were trained in Tuskegee, Ala., to become fighter pilots in World War II. They were the first black aviators in the U.S. armed forces.

Thomas Gray, 74, of Seattle, and Tommie Lamb, 76, of Kent, talked about the pioneer aviators’ legacy. They are too young to have fought in World War II, but they belong to the Tuskegee Airmen organization chapter based in the state. The nonprofit is dedicated to keeping the airmen’s story alive and giving scholarships to students who want to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.

Lamb grew up in Mississippi, a world that was strictly black or white at the time. When he joined the U.S. Coast Guard, his job was to cook, clean and shine shoes. He wasn’t allowed to do anything else.

“We suffered racism and segregation. You’ll suffer bullies and bigotry,” he told the students. “Don’t do this to yourself. Treat others with respect.”

Gray served in the Air National Guard.

They both had long careers and retired from Boeing.

Gray got to know several Tuskegee Airmen in his years working as a test engineer for Boeing. The men couldn’t get jobs as airline pilots, even though they were qualified.

He remembers his hometown in New Mexico welcoming a Tuskegee airman home from the war. He was inspired to work toward a career in aviation.

“That part of history needs to be told,” he said. “The airmen used to say they had to fight two wars: One against the enemy, one against segregation at home.”

Eighth-graders in Cheyenne Beck’s leadership class wrote letters to the men, asking them to visit.

Devon Kleiner wrote in his letter that it would be an honor to meet the men.

“It’s one thing to learn about this, and it’s another thing to meet somebody who’s been through it,” he said.

Angelica Gatto said she felt like she witnessed a part of history that’s fading away.

“By the time we grow up and have children, this will only be in textbooks,” she said.

One of the original airmen, Edward Drummond, was planning to visit the students as well but couldn’t because of health problems. He was in one of the last classes to graduate from Tuskegee and went on to serve in the Korean War.

“He wanted me to tell the young people who wrote the letters that he greatly appreciated it,” Lamb told the students at the assembly.

The Tuskegee Airmen returned from the battlefield to a country unwilling to recognize their contributions. Their accomplishments are mentioned in few textbooks. Many of Beck’s students had never heard of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Rami Sabra said he was surprised to learn that the aviators, rejected because of the color of their skin, still wanted to fight for their country.

“After you hear these stories about overcoming obstacles, you know you can overcome anything,” he said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.