Photo By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Pick | Col. Sean Farrell, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, signs a proclamation...... read more read more
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“Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder, and bullets in his pocket, and there is no power on the earth or under the earth which can deny that he has earned the right of citizenship in the United States," said Frederick Douglass in his Address for the Promotion of Colored Enlistments, July 6, 1863.
More than 50 years later in 1915, the story of Black History Month began when Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.
In 1926, the group now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History chose the second week in February to sponsor a national Negro History week. The week corresponded with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas.
Fifty years later President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month stating in his Message on the Observance of Black History Month, “Freedom and the recognition of individual rights are what our Revolution was all about. They were ideals that inspired our fight for Independence: ideals that we have been striving to live up to ever since… In celebrating Black History Month, we can take satisfaction from this recent progress in the realization of the ideals envisioned by our Founding Fathers.”
Fast forward to Feb. 1, 2016, when more than 100 Air Commandos gathered at The Soundside Catering to kick off African American Heritage Month during a luncheon with guest speaker, retired Brig. Gen. James Donald.
Donald opened with words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Lives of great men and women all remind us we too can make our lives extraordinary, and, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time. Let us, then, be up and doing; with a heart for anything; still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait.”
The Jackson, Mississippi native and first African American Army ROTC graduate from the University of Mississippi spent 33 years in the Army and served in numerous key command and staff assignments.
“I thought Longfellow’s words were an appropriate reminder of why we are here today,” Donald said. “That is to celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of men and women of color who have done extraordinary things in their lives and left their footprints, indeed, on the sands of time.”
When asked the question of why heritage months and events are important, Donald provides two reasons.
“First, the best explanation I’ve heard was given by the 19th century philosopher George Santayana, ‘Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it,’” he said. “History is indeed replete with examples of missed opportunities because we did not fully understand the consequences of our actions, or more importantly the consequences of our inactions. Secondly, I personally believe that America’s military has a moral imperative to lead by example. We value our diversity in our ranks.”
Donald spoke about the Civil War and its crucial role in the survival of our country. He spoke of the more than 620,000 soldiers and undetermined number of civilian casualties. Attendees were reminded or introduced to lesser-known battles during the Civil War including Millikan Bend, Fort Pillow and Island Mound.
“How many of us consider, also, that war involved approximately 180,000 black soldiers who served in the Union Army,” he asked. “Forty thousand died during the war and 16 received the Medal of Honor…Ultimately, black soldiers comprised 10 percent of the Union Army and approximately 1/3 lost their lives in that war. While the black soldiers who rolled into the civil war were not much different than their white counterparts, their experiences and lessons learned should have been the same, but change came slowly.”
Units like the 369th Infantry Regiment, known to their enemies as the Harlem Hellfighters, and the Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to the French Army in World War I because they were not allowed to fight with American units.
“And fight they did,” Donald said. “Buffalo Soldiers fought gallantly returning home with the distinction of being one of the Army’s most decorated unions with 171 awards for individual valor.”
A name familiar to the Air Force is the world’s first African American pilot Eugene Bullard who also fought for the French in World War I.
“This Columbus, Georgia native was discharged in 1919 as a French national hero and was awarded Croix de Guerre,” said Donald. “In 1994, our U.S. Air Force posthumously commissioned him a second lieutenant, a title he coveted all of his life.”
In World War II, the 76th Tank Battalion fought with Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army. By the end of the war eight members had been awarded silver stars, 62 received bronze stars and 296 received Purple Heart Medals.
“Indeed, when I think of great men who have left their footprints on the sands of time, I think of your own Tuskegee Airmen,” Donald said. “You know their story—young men and women of color who saw their duty and performed with distinction. More importantly, they all single handedly destroyed the myth that a man’s fighting prowess and courage can be judged by the color of their skin. History accords that the desegregation of the entire military in 1948 was in large measure the result of how bravely these Airmen served and fought.”
Donald talked about being the first African American offered the job as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections and all of the factors he considered when taking the job. Including whether to really retire or begin another career.
“Some of you, when you get out, will be in high demand,” he said. “The opportunity to have an impact on people in our country will be left for you to decide. I hope to think that after many years of being the commissioner, that I had an impact.”
Donald explained his story was no more extraordinary than those sitting in the audience, but he did say it was unique.
“What makes you so special is you have grown up in an institution that Shakespeare would describe, ‘we few, we few, we happy few. For today he or she who sheds blood with me, shall be my brother,’” he said. “No other profession can match that. This is where we get our moral imperative, I believe, to remember our history regardless of race, creed, gender or lifestyle preferences. And to always stand for justice. We dare not rest. There is still much work to be done, and we must lead by example.”
Donald charged the audience with rising to the challenges ahead to simply do the right thing.
“We must not regress on what we accomplished,” he said. “When I look out at this audience I see a great menagerie of what America is all about. We must not regress. As we welcome more diversity in our ranks, I hope you will not forget the past. I hope you will follow your moral compass and you will lead this nation.”
| Date Taken: | 02.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2016 14:02 |
| Story ID: | 194704 |
| Location: | HURLBURT FIELD, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 160 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, AAHM celebrates contributions, sacrifices made by men, women of color, by MSgt Katherine Holt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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