Inland Empire Community Newspapers • November 28, 2013 • Page A5 Tuskegee Airman Paul E. Green remains proud of his past; lives for tomorrow PHOTO had a specified military mission. COURTESY /R OTARY Segregation would have occurred CLUB in the military without the Free - man Field Mutiny. President Tru - Paul L. Green man signed the executive order was presented demanding equality in 1948." Congressional Green and Buford L. Johnson Medal of Honor in are the only two living authentic Tuskegee Airmen in the greater 2007 by President San Bernardino region. He feels Bush as a gradu - there are many who claim to be ate of Tuskegee members of the Tuskegee Airmen Institute and for who never touched a flight helmet. missions flown in "You can just pay their dues and World War II. you are a member. Many chapter members never finished the flight training program, or were mechan - ics, or were pilots that never flew in combat. I don't have to pay dues to anyone. I finished the Tuskegee Institute flight training program," said Green. He says that there are about 950 By Harvey M. Kahn Green said remaining certified original that he, nor any other Tuskegee Tuskegee Airmen still alive. Until Airmen thought they were doing recently, many talked every Sun - PHOTO COURTESY :modelairplanenews/Paul Reid photo olonel Paul L. Green anything at the time that would day via ham radio. "There are 56 has lived a life akin to a have ramifications for the next 70 chapters of Tuskegee Airmen Former Norton Air Base Commander Paul L. Green pictured on motion picture script. years. Green doesn't use the term throughout the country," said the right with Martin Nelson during Green's signing of model Green grew up in a Ohio orphan - black person or white person. He Robert Porter, past president of the fighter plane used in WW. II by some Tuskegee Airmen. agCe. He graduated and taught at says "person of color" or a person Inland Empire Chapter based in Tuskegee Institute, flew air force "not of color." He thinks ethnic Riverside. "Oh yes, Paul Green is missions in World War II, served terms are divisive. Green said that one of the truly prominent in Vietnam and from 1974-76 was few people knew at the time about Tuskegee Airmen. It became big cause we could out manufacture base commander at Norton Air the Tuskegee Airmen. "There was - news when he was appointed base everyone." Force Base. He was awarded 18 n't any notoriety about us at all. We commander at Norton." Green recalled that the Tuskegee distinguished service medals and just wanted to serve our great Green flew hundreds of missions Airmen squadrons were about to has been special guest of President country," said Green. He recalled over Germany in World War II in be assigned to fight in Asia until Obama. With his vast knowledge the first mention of the Tuskegee his B-29 fighter Mustang and the U.S. dropped the atom bombs earned after living a full 89-years, Airmen came from its association again in Vietnam flying the C-130 on Japan to end World War II. "It Green can meticulously detail his with the well publicized Freeman transport. He said that he never was a good thing that we dropped time as a Tuskegee Airmen fighter Field Mutiny in 1945, where 101 shot down a German plane but the bomb on Japan. Millions more pilot. Green and wife, Angel have black airmen were arrested for en - bombed German industrial plants, would have been killed unless we been married for 67 years. tering an all-white officer's club. trains "and anything else that did so. There would have been Green and his wife, Angel have "I heard about the Freeman Field moved." He credited the Germans horrible fighting. Japan would been married 67 years. From their Mutiny at the time, but I was too with having an early advantage have defended their homeland to home in Highland, Green said that busy fighting a war," said Green. with better pilots flying better the death." the movies, The Tuskegee Airmen "Of course, what those officers of planes than the Americans. "They Green says he likes the philoso - and Red Tail are accurate accounts color did was justified to help controlled the skies until we phies of Booker T. Washington of the black flightier squadrons bring about integration. The more learned that they could carry only and Condoleezza Rice opposed to who excelled in World War II. He important story was our accom - 30 minutes worth of fuel. It was those of Jesse Jackson and Al and Angel met with the George plishments as Tuskegee Airmen. not our mission to kill anyone. We Sharpton. He feels that if women Lucas Production crew of the mo - We were very motivated to suc - always tried disable the enemy." and gays can come out in the mil - tion picture Red Tail prior to its re - ceed and prove that pilots of color He never heard of an American itary what's to stop the KKK and the Black Panthers. "The military lease last year. He knew Bill were as competent as those of non pilot shooting an opposing pilot PHOTO COURTESY /C RAIG HUNTLY Williams, the original screen color. The Freeman Field Mutiny who had parachuted. "Likewise, has succeeded because it has a uni - is over-emphasized. We were form code of conduct. Things have writer of the 1995 motion picture, the Germans were respectful to us. Tuskegee Airman Paul L. The Tuskegee Airmen. under a code of conduct and we We finally defeated everyone be - changed since I served. Overall, it's gotten better. We can't progress Green pictured in 1944 gradu - unless we stop blaming people ation picture. about the past. We've got to live Santa Claus to visit the San for tomorrow." Green said he always remem - cause it's your only chance. Mr. bered what Mr. Slate, his teacher Slate told me to find the eagles in Bernardino Public Libraries at the orphanage told him: "When life and soar with them. That way an opportunity presents itself, take you will always be a success." advantage of it immediately be - he San Bernardino Public and First Book organizations. For dren’s Room at the Central Library Library will host visits by more information call the Chil - 909-381-8235. Santa Claus at all four of our city libraries this holiday sea - soTn. Santa will be in the Bing Wong Auditorium at the Feldheym Cen - tral Library at 555 W. 6th St. on Tuesday, December 3rd at 10:30 AM and again at 1:30 PM. He will then visit the Villasenor Branch Library at 525 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. on Tuesday, December 10 at 5:00 PM. His final visits will be on BUY 2 WHOLE CHICKENS FOR Thursday, December 12. On that day, he will be at the Dorothy In - FOR ghram Branch Library at 1505 W. Highland Ave. at 11:00 AM and then will go to the Rowe Branch $ 99 Library at 108 E. Marshall at 1:00 t time of order PM the same day. Must prCeseOnt coUupPon aON Participation in these events is At any 14 free to the public. Children and INCLUDES: teens will be able to each choose a location! free book. These events are spon - 2 WHOLE CHICKENS, Choice of Corn Tortillas or sored by the Friends of the San NoFtl voaulidr fToor rctaitlelarinsg a onrd p a1r1t oy ozr.d oerfs H•o Mta oy nr oMt biled c Somablsinaed Bernardino Public Library and by with any other offers • 2 orders per customer a donation from Marvel, Disney,.