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Torch Bearer Newsletterwe Dare 2017 Not - 2018 Fail Willa Brown, Aviator Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Ground Support Lt. Roscoe Brown and Sgt Smith Torch Bearer NewsletterWe Dare 2017 Not - 2018 Fail... Edition The Brigadier General Noel F. Parrish Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Remembering the past; Building the future Old soldiers never die; they just fade away s we were preparing the final edits to our newslet- ter, we received the news of our own DOTA, on SaturdayA August 18, 2018, that Corporal Frank Weaver, Crew-chief and Hangar-chief at Tuskegee, during WWII had died after a long illness. r. Weaver (aka "Uncle Frank" to many of us), has earned the Heavenly-wings of a "Lonely Eagle". WithM a heavy heart, we celebrate his transition along with fellow Tuskegee Airmen, M/Sgt James Shepherd, USAF-ret., Captain Bob Martin and others. o be absent here on earth, is to be in the presence of the Lord. “Blue Skies”, from here on out Eagles... TGBTG.T n lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Frank Weaver, DOTA I First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown Sunrise: December 28, 1926 in memory of Frank Weaver, where a memorial Sunset: August 18, 2018 fund will be established towards education and community assistance. 1 DOTAs from Kentucky B.G.N.F.P. DOTA Members 1/Lt. Frank “Doug” Wa l ker Flt-Off Alvin LaRue, Sr. Cpl. Frank Weaver P40 Pilot B25 Bombardier/Nav. Hangar Chief 2013 Lonely Eagle 2014 Lonely Eagle 2018 Lonely Eagle Surviving Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen Sgt. William (Wild Bill) Davis, Mechanic, Louisville/Houston Cpl. Virgil Jewell, Crew-chief, Louisville ¼ LONELY EAGLES (Deceased) • B/Gen. Noel Parrish, Versailles • 2LT James McCullen, Frankfort • L/Col Washington Ross, Ashland/Detroit • 2LT Roy M. Chappell, Williamsburg • Maj. Julius Calloway, Louisville • 2LT. John Harris, Richmond • Capt. Morris Washington, Louisville • F/O Thomas Smith, Lebanon • 1LT Eugene Runyon, Richmond • F/O Alvin LaRue, Navigator, Louisville • 1LT Frank “Doug” Walkler, Richmond • Cadet Herbert Glenn, Paducah • 2Lt. Milton Hall, Owensboro • S/Sgt Marcellus Smith, Louisville • 2Lt. John Sloan, Louisville • Sgt. Harold Alston, Paducah • 2LT. Jose Elfalan. Prospect • Cpl. Frank Weaver, Louisville • 2LT Dudley Watson, Frankfort • Pfc Bill Cornish, Lexington • Pvt. Thomas “T.B.” Miller, Winchester Seventy-Seven Years Ago: Young, Proud and Ready to Serve merica entered into on to Glory, with just a small while others served with the that resulted in a court-martial WWII on December percentage surviving. 16 477th Bomber Group. of the three “ring-leaders”. A7, 1941, with the million served during the While trained and It is estimated that there bombing of Pearl Harbor. Great War. It is estimated operational, The 477th BG, was approximately an 18:1 In August of 1941, The that less than 1 million are did not see action in WWII ratio of ground support Tuskegee Airmen Experi- surviving or less than 5%. due to the unit’s stand against personnel to the nearly 1,000 ment began with its first Throughout their 75th the Jim Crow military racism cadets/pilots from Tuskegee. class of 13 cadet students, year in 2016, there were many and bias treatment that We celebrate those in anticipation of being celebrations and observances resulted in the documented surviving Kentucky DOTAs included in the action. Only of WWII; therefore, it is fitting incident known as the (Documented Original Tus- five cadets completed their that we should embrace and Freeman Field Mutiny. kegee Airmen) who laid it aviation classes in primary participate whenever we can. By the time investiga- on the line and – whose true and advanced pilot training. Twelve Kentucky Cadets tions wre completed, it was legacy is, that they helped This is the 77th completed their training at too late for the Airmen to to defeat the Axis Powers of anniversary of both of these Tuskegee between 1941 and return to duty because the WWII and were an integral historical events. During 1946. As commissioned war with Japan was ending. role to defeat racism in the the past 77 years, many officers, pilots served with 101 flight crew members, had Armed Forces. WWII veterans have gone the 332nd Fighter Group been put under house arrest 2 President’s Remarks Sick & Shut-In If we know of your personal or family member Education: illnesses, the chapter will reach out to you for your Our primary needs and periodically we will send out cards to get Mission well soon. For this issue we pray for the healing power of: • Mrs. Millie McAtee As the president • Mrs. Marchelle Juliao of the BGNFP • Ms. Gloria Tompkins. Chapter, It is sometimes very TAPS & Home-going hard to pick the • Mrs. Constance Lewis, beloved wife of our best student - Chaplain, Elder Robert E.G. Lewis III. when in fact they • Cpl. Frank Weaver, DOTA, WWII veteran are all outstanding students at every grade level. • L/Col. Maurice “Rip” Ripley, USAF, ret. I am very pleased to acknowledge our two Class of Central Region Past President, TAI 2018 HS seniors, Trinity Wilson and Tarynn Grundy. Both were BGNFP Chapter winners. Ms. Wilson received a National TASF, the Lonely Eagle Award. For the Record Our Scholarships given Both she and Ms. Grundy received numerous awards and accolades for their scholastic achievements. Class of: Students At our Fund raising and Honors Gala, this past May, Pre-2014 4 Tarynn and Trinity along with their other classmates 2014 7 Lansdownne Club, Lexington 2015 7 Aviation Museum, Lexington became part of the more than 40 students we have 2016 8 The Galt House, Louisville awarded scholarships to. 2017 6 Hyatt Regency, Louisville Our chapter is one of the youngest in the national 2018 10 The Omni,Hotel & Spa Louisville organization and I am extremely proud of what our 2019 ___ The Mariott Hotel, Lexington chapter has accomplished over the past five years. It is TOTAL 42 $21,000 my hope that we will be able to obtain corporate support Just imagine how many more Kentucky students we could to match our base funds so that we can give out more have helped with corporate or your individual support. scholarships to more Kentucky students. Many of our student scholarships are given through the generosity of donors who are not even Kentucky residents. It is something of a concern that I am hoping COMING 2019 will change in the near future where to our Kentucky family and BGNFP membership will take care of our to the own - first. Our mission to support youths in their academic pursuits has several components. The Entire Education Mariott Hotel Suites Program includes, the Scholarship program, partial assistance towards aviation camps. Reach back and Newtown Pike, community service. Your financial support to our education programs is vital towards the success and Lexington, Kentucky overall involvement in the second purpose of our chapter’s mission. Saturday, Kudos to the BGNFP officers and our Events Committee for the outstanding job that they showed presenting our 5th Annual Gala. One of our main guest May 18, 2019 speakers was overheard saying that, “our event while modestly priced was better executed, than some $500 at 6:00PM dollar a-plate dinner” they had attended in the past. I cannot add any more than that as I look forward to the May, 2019 even, back in Lexington. As we B.G.N.F.P. continue to grow, the Class of 2018 event was one of Annual Scholarship Honors and our best events. Until we meet again, Fundraising Dinner Banquet Peace and Blessings. Mark Your Calendars Dinner, Entertainment, Door Prizes, Raffles and Guest Appearances. 3 2018-2020 Elected Executive Committee President, Ron Spriggs is the Exec.Dir. and cofounder of RSETA, Inc. He’s a charter member of BGNFP, oral historian, keynote Please speaker and lecturer on Tuskegee Airmen history. Ron retired from IBM holding management and staff positions and later the Director consider of Business Training for CVC. Ron served eight years in the U.S. Air joining our Force, authored a book, “Amazing Management Styles“ In 2007 and 2010, for the entire Kentucky I-75 corridor, designation of the “Tuskegee Airmen chapter to Memorial Trail”. provide your skills and Vice President, Charles Walker is a Heritage Member (son of a Tuskegee Airman, Frank “Doug” Walker) of B/Gen. Noel F. Parrish experiences. Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Lexington, Kentucky. Charles has been with the BGNFP Chapter for eight years. He’s a retiree from Webasto Roof Systems Lexington Kentucky after ten years in the Quality Dept. and also We need and worked for IBM for 23 years. Charles graduated from E.K.U. with a Degree welcome in Applied Electronics Technology. skilled, 2nd Vice President, Andre’ Wilson is a Heritage Member (daughter of motivated a Tuskegee Airman, her dad Frank Weaver) of BGNFP Chapter of TAI., individuals is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and a graduate of the University of Louisville. Andre’ was a former employee at the VAMC in Louisville where to assist she was in service to our Veterans for over thirteen years. She has served in the as the Chairperson for the past three fundraisers, which supports her other management passion, education. of our Treasurer, Patricia Hayden has served seven years on the BGNFP Chapter chapter Board of Tuskegee Airmen. She has experience in business, state and local governments. After retiring from IBM/Lexmark, Patricia is also serving as and to chair the treasurer for the Roots & Heritage Festival, Inc., Chairman of the MLK various Youth Outreach Services Council, and Assistant to the Clerk at the Historic committees. Pleasant Green Baptist Church, among other community volunteer services. Even Secretary, Marchelle Juliao is a native of Pensacola, Florida. She began her career in the field of health care in the U.S.
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