By Ventura “Ace” Tounsel
Hello neighbors and friends, my name is Ventura Tounsel, but everyone calls me Ace. I serve as the 2nd Vice Commander of American Legion Post 109 right here in Corona De Tucson. We are well into the first quarter of 2020 and I hope things are going well for you and you families.
In 1926, historian, Carter G. Woodson and a group he helped found, sponsored what was known then as national Negro History week. This event was the beginning of what we now celebrate as Black History Month, as it was recognized by President Gerald Ford.
In honor of this occasion, I would like to tell you about a brave group of military aviators that came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which eventually became the United States Air Force. They flew over 15,000 sorties in Europe and North Africa during World War II, and earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Their service and excellence in combat was a major contributor to the eventual integration of the United States Armed Services. Even though these Airmen flew secondhand P-40 planes that were slower and more difficult to maneuver than their German counterparts, they managed to shoot down 12 German fighters in only two days. This went a long way in proving themselves in combat.
As we look at the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airman, we can take a page out of their book in our own lives. As we face adversity, we should dig deep into our own personal resilience and press forward like these men and women did.
Feel free to join us at Post 109 for one of our weekend breakfasts and talk to any of our vets about their story. I’m sure it would be a treat for you and your family.