 |
| News > Commentary - Diversity is a part of our great heritage |
|
Diversity is a part of our great heritage
Posted 3/30/2012 Updated 3/30/2012
Email story
Print story
Commentary by Lt. Col. Aaron Steffens
35 Fighter Wing Safety Office
3/30/2012 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- -- Have you seen the trailer for the George Lucas-produced World War 2 movie "Red Tails?" It looks like an exciting tribute to the men of the 332nd Fighter Group--a unit of African-American fighter pilots who racked up an astounding record in the European theater and helped pave the way for the racial integration of our military forces. Watching the aerial combat scenes on the big screen reminded me of two enduring qualities that make our Air Force a world-class organization: our heritage and our diversity.
Everyday we stand on the shoulders of giants. The men and women of the Army Air Corps and the Air Force who went before us turned the tide at St Mihiel, stopped Nazi aggression across an entire continent, survived the savagery of Japanese POW camps, compiled a 12 to 1 kill ratio in Korea and decimated the Iraqi ground forces in the Persian Gulf War. Both our fighter squadrons, the 14 Fighter Squadron Fightin' Samurai and the 13 Fighter Squadron Panthers, can trace their lineage back to WW2 and claim a long list of heroes, aces and success. The next time you put on your uniform, remember that it's a privilege to do so. Remember those who fought and sacrificed in that same uniform, men like Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and Chappie James, Jr. (If you don't know those names, you should--research them or pay attention when you watch the movie Red Tails.)
The 332nd Fighter Group, the Red Tails, never went away; it eventually activated again as the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group, the "Tip of the Spear," in southwest Asia. I had the privilege to fly as part of the 332 Air Expeditionary Group in 2003; our pilots, maintainers and supporters combined efforts to destroy Iraqi surface-to-air missiles, communications and air defense facilities in the run-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The trail of diversity that the Red Tails forged is now well-integrated into our Air Force. Americans of different races, ethnicities and backgrounds lead, follow and execute together every day. That's something I don't think about much; it's a part of who we are. But the story of the Red Tails reminds me what a tremendous and ongoing accomplishment it is. Our Airmen are a cross-section of American society, but our ideals and record of equality also shape that society into our image. Be proud of your heritage and your diversity--they are part of what makes our Air Force great.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
