Remembering to honor the Tuskeegee Airmen and Black soldiers on the commemoration of D-Day 75 years later
By Mona Austin
On this 75th anniversary of D-Day, it is important to recognize the crucial role the Tuskeegee Airmen played in World War Two (WWII) in response to German occupation. The reports on their precise involvement on D-Day are conflicting. One report says the all-Black regimen dropped thousands of bombs during the Normandy invasion on Omaha Beach. Answers.com says they fought thousands of miles away from Normandy.
African Americans responding to the call to serve and protect our nation's interest date back to the American Revolution. Sadly, African American soldiers have had to fight two wars -- one for a nation that often mistreated, undervalued and disrespected their kind and another for the universal ideals of freedom.
In the case of Tuskeegee Airmen, the government denied the m the opportunity to fly bomber planes, instead only being allowed to assist by flying fighter aircrafts on protection missions to keep bombers alive. This was an important and dangerous role, but not an equal one. Many of the young men had not left their state and were sent to Europe not knowing if they would return. When this special group of aviators did fight in WWII, the U.S. government enlisted ther support because they had a reputation for being precise and yes, they wanted to fight.
95-year-old Tuskeegee Airman re-enter the cockpit
It would be disgraceful not to pay our respect for the service and sacrifice of Black soldiers to our nation and ultimately, our world. The US, France and other allied forced must recognize Blacks in the military not only fought for their dignity and respect, but chose to risk their lives for the sake of humanity, whether it is to rid the world of Hitler's oppressive regime or communism in the Korean or Vietnam wars.
On this grim day of remembrance, let us never forget that despite continuously being denied fairness and equality, Blacks have always been willing to fight to the death for freedom. It is just as important to remember that regardless of the color of a United States' war hero's skin, the blood they shed was red.
D-Day, June 6, 1944 significantly contributed to the liberation of Western Europe and led to the end of WWII the following year. War historians attest that the gruesome Battle at Normandy was a turning point in the war. Had we lost that battle, Germany and Japan would have been world powers and life for all Americans would be drastically different. We would likely speak German instead of English and their culture would be dominant!
NEVER FORGET THIS VITAL HISTORY. THE WHOLE STORY CAN NOT BE TOLD WITHOUT IT.