Tuskegee Airman a Success in Both Military and Business

Filed under African American History Month, DoD News by on February 7, 2012 at 10:33 am {no comments}

From www.af.mil

Lt.Col. Lee Archer: Tuskegee Airman. He and his unit were brought to life in the George Lucas film "Red Tails."

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) - The only African-American ace of World War II, and a former Tuskegee Airman, went on to have a career in the Air Force, as well as success in the business world.

Lee A. Archer joined the Army in 1941 with high hopes of becoming a pilot, but was initially denied because of his race. When the Army’s policy changed about a year later, Archer was accepted to the training program for black aviators at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.

Archer is best known for a day in late 1944 when he was involved in a series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary. Flying a P-51 Mustang fighter, Archer shot down three German fighters. He would go on to add two more German fighters to his credit to become the first and only African-American ace of the war.

While flying with the 302nd Fighter Squadron, Archer flew 169 combat missions, flying cover and escorting long-range bombers over more than 11 countries, in addition to strafing missions against enemy land zones. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions.

“I flew 169 combat missions when most pilots were flying 50,” Archer told the Chicago Tribune in 2004. “When I came back to the U.S. and walked down that gangplank, there was a sign at the bottom: Colored troops to the right, white troops to the left…”

Archer would remain in the Army Air Corps and transition to the Air Force where he held post-war leadership and staff positions at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), NORAD and SOUTHCOM. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1970.
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Reducing Energy Demands to Increase Effectiveness

Filed under DoD News, Go Green! by on February 7, 2012 at 7:29 am {no comments}

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Defense Department’s announcement of $18 million to fund six military programs designed to reduce energy demand is primarily about increasing military effectiveness, a senior Pentagon official said.

“The real reason to do this is for military effectiveness to give our forces better tools, better capability and less risk,” said Sharon E. Burke, assistant secretary of defense for operational energy plans and programs.

Though one of the outcomes will be that the department will save money, she added, “this is ultimately about giving our forces a better capability, taking risk out of the system, [and] putting fewer lives at risk moving fuel around.”

DOD teams representing the military services will lead the programs, Burke said.

“What these six programs focus on is reducing the demand for energy on the battlefield,” she explained. “How do you actually get the job done with less energy — with less fuel, more to the point?”

Burke’s office provided the following details on the programs:

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Navy Olympic Hopeful

Filed under DoD News by on February 7, 2012 at 7:13 am {no comments}

Produced by Scott Williams
Joint Hometown News Service

Navy Lt. Aaron Lanzel is on a mission, his goal to join the U.S. Olympic track team this summer in London. Lt. Lanzel is working out daily at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He trains daily in a couple of events, the 1500 and 3000 meter run. This is his second try at being a US Olympian, an active duty U.S. Naval officer, he’s hoping this time, that he can make the team and run for his country.



 

Eating Out

Filed under DoD News by on February 7, 2012 at 7:01 am {no comments}

Video from AFN Afghanistan

For soldiers stationed at emerging outposts along the Afghan border, hot food is a luxury that usually doesn’t come until the camp has been established for a while. For these lucky soldiers working to build Joint combat outpost Shir Khan, Army cook, Cpl. John Smart is like an angel, delivering three hot meals a day.



 

Tuskegee Airman Goes On to Become First Air Force African-American General

Filed under African American History Month, DoD News by on February 6, 2012 at 2:39 pm {one comment}

From www.af.mil

Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: Commanded "Red Tails," an all-black combat flying squadron during World War II.

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) - A man who was shunned because of his race during his four years at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., back in the early 1930s would go on to become the first African-American general in the U.S. Air Force.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was born in 1912 to Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., an Army officer who would go on to become the Army’s first African-American general.

When the younger Davis went on a flight as a teenager with a barnstorming pilot in Washington, D.C., he became hooked on flying. But it would be another 16 years before he would pin on his pilot wings.

At West Point he was shunned by his classmates and was given the silent treatment throughout his four years at the Academy, never having a roommate and taking meals alone. Despite the hardships, Davis graduated 35th in his class out of 278, and pinned on second lieutenant as one of only two line officers in the Army – his Dad being the other.

He initially applied for the Army Air Corps, but was rejected because of his race. He was assigned to an all-black 24th Infantry Regiment, one of the old Buffalo Soldier regiments. To avoid placing him in an all-white unit, Davis was next assigned to the all-black Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
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  • photo from Tumblr

    The only African-American ace of World War II, and a former Tuskegee Airman, went on to have a career in the Air Force, as well as success in the business world.

    Lee A. Archer joined the Army in 1941 with high hopes of becoming a pilot, but was initially denied because of his race. When the Army’s policy changed about a year later, Archer was accepted to the training program for black aviators at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.

    Archer is best known for a day in late 1944 when he was involved in a series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary. Flying a P-51 Mustang fighter, Archer shot down three German fighters. He would go on to add two more German fighters to his credit to become the first and only African-American ace of the war.

    As a civilian, Archer enjoyed even greater success, serving as vice president for urban affairs with General Foods, as CEO of North Street Capital Corp. and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the board of directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business.

    Read the rest of his story here.



  • Navy Lt. Aaron Lanzel is on a mission, his goal to join the U.S. Olympic track team this summer in London. Lt. Lanzel is working out daily at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He trains daily in a couple of events, the 1500 and 3000 meter run. This is his second try at being a US Olympian, an active duty U.S. Naval officer, he’s hoping this time, that he can make the team and run for his country.


  • photo from Tumblr

    navyhistory:

    On 7 February 1800, USS Essex became the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator. This 1799 image of Essex was painted by E. Tuffnell, R.N. (Retired). NHHC Photograph Collection, NH 72804-KN.