A piece of living history will address the University today.
Retired Air Force Col. Charles McGee will speak this afternoon about his experiences with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. The event is sponsored by the University Library Multicultural Issues Committee as well as many other University organizations.
The Tuskegee Airmen are a group of 992 blacks who trained as pilots during World War II. Four hundred and fifty of them served the United States in either the 99th Fighter Squadron or the 332nd Fighter Group. The name comes from the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Ala., the airfield where the men trained in an era when much of white America believed black men could not serve as airmen.
Although they were fully trained and qualified, black airmen officers experienced discrimination from other soldiers, who denied them the privileges and the respect owed to their rank.
Both Air Force groups with which the Airmen served were awarded presidential citations for their service.
McGee entered the Army in 1942 and remained on active duty for 30 years. He flew with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, then went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam. McGee received the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other awards.
McGee will be joined at the podium by Bill Holton, national historian for the Tuskegee Airmen.
The two men will speak about the history of the airmen and the racial segregation black soldiers experienced in the armed forces.
Melissa Norris, who works on the library staff for public information and educational services, said the event was planned as part of the library's celebration of African-American Heritage Month.
"The committee likes to bring in speakers to increase awareness of multi-cultural issues," Norris said.
The speech will be followed by a book signing for McGee's biography, Tuskegee Airmen: The Biography of Charles E. McGee, Air Force Fighter Record Holder, in the Ward Room of Maury Hall.
McGee will speak from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Maury 209. The event is free and open to the public.
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