Tuskegee Airmen

[Links2k]

Now that last week’s misunderstanding over the Tuskegee Airmen is water under the bridge, I feel compelled to share my interactions with one of America’s greatest unknown heroes. 
 

His name is Dr. Linkwood Williams. By the time I met him, we all just called him Doc, because he was a gynecologist. Doc was best friends with one of my best friend’s dad. The dad was Colonel E.G. Douglass.  If you served in the Memphis Air National Guard in the 80’s or very early 90’s, you might know Mr. Douglass. Also, if you lived in the Raleigh Bartlett area around that time, you may have known them as co-owners of Douglass BBQ at the intersection of Stage and Covington Pike. 
 

What made Doc a great hero? Doc dropped out of college to become a civilian flight instructor for the world famous 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
 

I’m certain that most of you know that even in the segregated military, where these men were expected to fail, they NEVER lost a bomber they were escorting, and were routinely requested as escorts by bomber crews. Amazing!
 

IMO, outside of being a hero, he was just an inspirational man with a great sense of humor. He had every reason in the world to walk around like the sun rose and set with him, but he was more likely to just tell you a joke, and more importantly to me, he always remembered my name.
 

Doc passed about fifteen years ago, but anyone interested in his story can watch this film about him that sits in the Library of Congress. It’s a little over an hour long, but well worth the time to learn about this history changing American!

Reporter- “What the Tuskegee Airmen achieved was pretty hard to ignore.”

Doc- “Yeah, I mean, you have to be totally oblivious to do so.”

Here’s the link to Doc’s story, along with some screenshots I took from the documentary. The video flickers for about ten seconds before starting. 
https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.62131/

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Links2k

[Hozzie]

Very cool.  Always great to have first hand experiences with people like that.  

[Pain103]

Just imagine the stories he had. It's hard to believe there are very few of that generation still alive.

[BigK]

Imagine the cesspool this country would be if brave men like Dr Linkwood Williams didn’t persevere. There are not enough words to express how lucky this country is to have men like him.

[deerslayer]

1 hour ago, Links2k said:

Also, if you lived in the Raleigh Bartlett area around that time, you may have known them as co-owners of Douglass BBQ at the intersection of Stage and Covington Pike. 

Which corner?  I was all over Stage/Covington Pike in the 80s and 90s and I just don’t recall this place.  I’m no barbeque oficionado, but I know where most of them are.  

Edited 1 hour ago by deerslayer

[Links2k]

40 minutes ago, deerslayer said:

Which corner?  I was all over Stage/Covington Pike in the 80s and 90s and I just don’t recall this place.  I’m no barbeque oficionado, but I know where most of them are.  

If you were heading east on Stage into Bartlett, the restaurant was on the northeast corner of Stage and Covington Pike next door to if I recall correctly was a liquor store or Chinese restaurant. There was also a  Shoney’s on the northwest side of the street.