Honored to be hereby. I always enjoy hearing stories about world war ii and for the last 15, 16, 17 years or so ive been involved with projects that centered around world war ii. I was with the National World war ii memorial and the library of congress collecting stories from world war ii veterans. I have heard hundreds if not thousands of stories from world war ii veterans. But my ears always perk up when i hear stories about Tuskegee Airmen and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The american patriots who served in those units bring a much different perspective to service to country and bravery under fire. Its a very special morning that we have two members, one of each who served in one of those units. Chief Master Sergeant robert zumi is a veteran of world war ii who joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and also subsequently the 101st Airborne Division, well find out what thats about. Its unusual to have a japanese american the 101st Airborne Division in world war ii. And we also
The memorial and the library of congress collecting stories from veterans. I have heard hundreds if not thousands of stories from veterans. My ears always perk up when i hear the stories about airmen. And the 442 rnd combat team. If you dont know what either are, most of you do. Youre about to hear from them this morning. The american patriots the american patriots who served in the units bring a different perspective to service to country and bravery under fire. This is a very special morning we have two members. One of each served in each unit. Chief Master Sergeant robert bob. Is a veteran of world war ii. Who joined the 442nd team and the 101st airborne division. Well find out what thats about. Its unusual to have a japanese american with the division. In world war ii. We have lieutenant jefferson. Who flew 19 missions over italy and france. Except the last mission in which he crashed and was captured by the germans and was a pow. Let get started. Id like to start as i mention earl
The germans and was a pow. Let get started. Id like to start as i mention earlier, you hear me okay . Okay. Lets start with mr. Alexander. Could you give us more about your background, where yo grew up, where you came from and why you joined . Im a College Graduate. You had to be a College Graduate to go into the Army Air Core. In 1941. I remember japanese bomb pearl harbor in december. I graduated six months later. From college. And the draft board was after me. Trying to bite me to send me to the army. If the draft board had caught me, i would be a buck private. Making 21 a month. But i stayed allowed joined the Army Air Core. And as a cadet learning how to fly with the excitement. 75 a month. And after nine months you became a Second Lieutenant with a gold bar on your shoulder. And a set of wings. You made 150 a month. Plus 75 for flying pay. Which would you take . Why i became an airmen, its part of my life. I had a good time. Could you give us background . Why is that unit was for
A Second Lieutenant with a gold bar on your shoulder. And a set of wings. You made 150 a month. Plus 75 for flying pay. Which would you take . Why i became an airmen, its part of my life. I had a good time. Could you give us background . Why is that unit was formed . Segregation. Before june of 41, a black man couldnt train with a white man in joining the Army Air Core. And it took congress to establish a flying field and in alabama near tus key gee institute. They built an entire airfield. To train blacks to fly. To train. And it took an act of congress. Segregation, separate but so called equal. And the airmen started by the way, everybody remember old this is a president roosevelt. The civilian Pilot Training. Roosevelt started civilian Pilot Training because he felt there was a war coming on. A germany and england were fighting. And the United States didnt have an air force. And he knew that we needed pilots. He couldnt say okay, open up the flying field and train pilots. Because c
I was at the library of congress collecting stories. I have heard hundreds of stories from world war ii veterans. But my ears always perk up when i hear stories about the Tuskegee Airmen in the four 42nd combat team. You are about to hear about it this morning. The american patriots who served in those units bring a different perspective to service to country and bravery under fire. It is a very special morning that we have two members, one of each has served in one of those units. Chief Master Sergeant was a veteran of world war ii. He joined the four 42nd combat team and also the 100 and first airborne division. Its kind of unusual to have a japaneseamerican with the 101st airborne. We also have Alexander Jefferson who flew 19 missions over italy and france except for the last mission in which he was captured by the germans and was a pow. Lets get started. Id like to start gentlemen as i mentioned earlier, can you hear me ok . Lets start with mr. Alexander. Could you give us a little