Apr 12, 2007 6:02 pm US/Mountain
Tuskegee Airmen Tell Colorado Students To Aim High
By CBS4 Producer Raetta Holdman
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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A handful of surviving Tuskegee Airmen received a standing ovation on April 11 at Metropolitan State College in Denver.
CBS
Three of the original Tuskegee Airmen offered words of encouragement and inspiration to students at Metropolitan State College Wednesday, just days after receiving the Congressional Gold Medal at the White House.
The three men all call Denver home. Col. Fitzroy "Buck" Newsum, Col. James Harvey and Col. John Mosley received their medals for exception service and lifetime achievement on March 29.
The men spoke at an event hosted by the Black Student Alliance and the History Club of Denver.
The Tuskegee Airmen broke racial stereotypes when they flew 15,000 sorties over North Africa and Europe during World War II. They were the nation's first African American pilots.
The men recalled their battles just to get into the cockpit. "One day in a fit of anger I went to the regimental headquarters," Newsum told the students, "and I was handing my fourth application to go into the Air Corps."
"My general said, 'I don't know what you are handing me but I have something here for you.' I said, 'What is it?' He said, "It's an approved application to go to flying school."
That was March 13, 1943 and Newsum had already been in the service for more than three years.
Newsum said he knew he wanted to fly from the time he was ten years old when he saw his first plane. "I went out of the house to stare at the airplane, I didn't know what it was."
He said his mother asked him a difficult question, why wasn't he doing what she had asked. His answer was simple, "I said I was outside staring at the airplane."
"From that day on all I could ever think of was some time in the future, I would get in the cockpit."
Newsum told the students he wanted to give the students advice, rather than talk about his accomplishments.
"Set yourself a goal that you want to accomplish in life then go out there and fight for it."
He said the Tuskegee Airmen knew the whole world was watching. In fact, the Allies requested the unit for escort cover whenever possible.
"Life wasn't easy for the Tuskegee Airmen and they had to succeed. So achieve they did."
Newsum implored the students to work and study hard.
"Make us as proud of you as you are proud of the Tuskegee Airmen."
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