"I was one of those, I would say, fortunate blacks. I was one of the fortunate 143 'experimental' blacks who were sent to the Aviation Machinists Mate school." (Audio Interview, 2:05)

Rutherford Vincent Brice

Rutherford Vincent Brice, 19 years old, in flight outfit [1945] War: World War II, 1939-1946; Korean War, 1950-1955; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Navy Unit: CASU 14 (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit) Service Location: Pacific Theater Rank: Aviation Machinist's Mate Second Class; Lieutenant Colonel Place of Birth: Charlottesville, VA

Rutherford Brice spent almost 25 years in the armed forces, first in the segregated Navy, where he lucked into a position as an aviation machinist. Then, after attending college, he joined the Army just in time to head off to the Korean War, this time as a commissioned officer. Through tours of duty that took him around the world, including two tours of Vietnam, he broadened his skill set, taking full advantage of every career possibility he was offered.