President Bush conferred the Congressional Gold Medal on the Tuskegee Airmen at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on March 29, 2007.
If you're not familiar with The Airmen, you are probably the byproduct of the same public school system I was. The Airmen were a unit of African-American pilots who performed heroically during World War II, some 15-20 years before the civil rights movement would begin a slow, painful process of ending segregation and breaking down racial inequities.
It's as heartwarming to see these heroes honored as it is outrageous that it has taken this long for them to be honored for their service.
Among those honored today was 86-year old Lt. Col. Charles “A-Train” Dryden.
While in college, I had the opportunity to work for Alabama Public Radio. In May of 2000, APR News was doing a series on Alabama military history and I was assigned to come up with a story for this. I tried hunting down history professors of various state universities to interview in the hopes one of them would have a good story to tell. I made contact with a history professor at Auburn University who suggested that I interview one of the Tuskegee Airmen, and as it just so happened he had the phone number of a couple of them.
I knew next to nothing about the Tuskegee Airmen but was coming up on my deadline. I needed something and this sounded better than any lead I had. I took down the names and phone numbers he gave me and sat there staring at the list for a moment. I didn't recognize any of the individual names and I didn't even know what I was going to say other than, “My name is Josh Hathaway, I'm a reporter for Alabama Public Radio and we're doing a series on Alabama's military history.”
I don't know why, but I chose the name of Lt. Col. Charles Dryden.
Col. Dryden was very generous with his time. I don't remember how long we actually talked. I do remember he did more talking than I did. I suppose that stands out because it's so very rare for me. I sat, spellbound, as he recalled his time in Tuskegee as well as his missions in Germany during WWII and the Korean War. I remember feeling an actual tingling sensation as I sat in that cold studio, listening as he told his story.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Tip o' the hat to you and the Colonel.
2 - Eric Berlin
Incredible story and well told Josh. I saw an HBO movie some years ago about the airmen -- I believe it starred Lawrence Fishburne, come to think of it. I have the utmost respect for the Tuskegee Airmen -- and I'm glad they're getting accolades and attention.
3 - Josh
Thanks El B and EB! EB, I did talk to Col. Dryden about that very film. He thought it was a good film, but as you might expect said it was very much a docudrama rather than a documentary.
4 - Mat Brewster
Very nice DJR, I mean Josh. I can't imagine the stuff those guys went through.
5 - Anonymous
They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, not the Medal of Honor.
Still, well deserved!
6 - Josh
You are correct, Anonymous. I made an error and have now corrected it. I thought I proofread this carefully and had everything squared away but did not. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
7 - DukeDeMondo
Excellent article here, Josh. And there you go, you've passed on that story to someone who knew nowt about it, i.e, myself. more than this, you did so in a wonderfully heartfelt, infectiously enthusiastic manner. great story, aye, and great writing.
8 - Mary K. Williams
I left a heartfelt comment before, but it got flagged as spam. Damn!
Anyway..great job Josh, these stories need to be told.
9 - MBD
Cynical perhaps, but why did Bush do it at this time?
Could it be the need for a diversion from all the bad press he's been getting?
A White House staff of hundreds is good at creating diversions.
From the point of view of when Bush should have done this, it should have been done six years ago.
From the point of view of when the country should have done it, it is over 60 years late.
10 - Josh
Thanks Mary and Duke. I appreciate that a lot. Sir Mary, I am sorry you continue to be drowned out by the spam police. It's a travesty.
MBD... I'm not going to assign blame. As you said, many presidents had the opportunity to do this and didn't. President Bush did, and the award is deserved. I'm content to leave it at that. The AP photos from the Yahoo! link show Speaker Pelosi, Sen. Reid, and other prominent members of both parties in attendance. In short, President Bush did the right thing and I don't think any accusations of partisanship have been made.
Beyond that, the event didn't get the coverage it should have and President Bush will not likely see any bounce in the polls as a result. There is a time and place to look beyond the jersey we're wearing. This is one of them.
11 - Evelyn Allen Johnson
As the wife of a Tuskegee Airman, I was privileged to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony. Although overdue, it was moving, impressive and a life experience that I shall never forget. Your candid, well presented story and my witnessing the Award Ceremony allows me to believe that America is coming to its senses and realizing the penalties of discrimination against Blacks. I am a writer and plan to write this experience for my children's heritage. I hope it will be made available to the public. My historical novel, PILLAR OF SALT, which reveals the hurt feelings, physical and psychological damage done to Blacks due to discrimination and segregation, is on the market now. However,due to continued feelings that Blacks have nothing of merit to offer that can generate revenue because it involves Blacks, that Blacks posess no talents and that it would therefore be a waste of time to read a Black author's work,or those who do not wish to experience a guilt trip because they know that a Black writer must have been affected in some way by discrimination and segregation and this will be reflected in his/her writings, it remains practically unknown to the public. It is deplorable that so much of our contributions to America and our attributes have been and remain intentionally hidden. I hope that you will read this novel and obtain a better understanding of what we Blacks have had to endure and overcome, also the damage prejudice against us has cost not just Blacks but Whites and all of America. Prejudice against us Black people is an evil and as proven by the Tuskegee Airmen, a travesty based on lies and misconceptions perpetuated through ignorance. PILLAR OF SALT is my contribution, not near as great as the Tuskegee Airmen, but in the same category. I hope you will take the time to obtain and read this story which will not only enlighten but promote understanding and respect for American Blacks. (Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or your favorite book store. Thank you for your unbiased, informative and sensitive remarks. God bless you and The Tuskegee Airmen.
Mrs. Raymond L. Johnson,Sr(Evelyn Allen Johnson)
12 - anonymous
As part of a government class project, we as a group went out into the community to interview individuals about their opinions of what the word or notion of "America" means to them. Almost done collecting the material we needed, we decided to get one more interview when we saw a few people standing outside of a restaurant nearby. This elderly man was kind enough to let us interview him, and humbly did not mention who he was until his niece brought it to our attention that this was Charles Dryden, recently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I am still amazed, but have an infinite amount of respect for this man and all that he has done for us. We know what America means to him; what does it mean to you?
13 - Jerry
The Tuskeegee Airmen are truely American Hero's! There's no question about that. They certainly carved their names in American and Aviation History for all time. However, I'm curious as to which unit of the Tuskeegee Airmen did not loose bombers they were escorting? There were bombers lost while they were escorting. I'll give specifics if needed.
14 - A G Smith
To answer Jerry's question, it was the 332nd fighter group. They never lost a bomber they escorted to fire from enemy planes. They also shot
down the first ME 262 german jets of the war. I met Col. Dryden and was also awe struck by the man.
15 - A G Smith
I am sadden to learn of Col Dryden's passing. A quote comes to mind" Old Soldiers Never die, They
just Fade Away" These HEROES are fading away.We must remember as they icons in history that they are.