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[Applause]

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good afternoon welcome to the nasa

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blackson government annual black history

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month program i am grateful for this

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opportunity to hear from true

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trailblazers um today my name is melanie

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saunders and i'm nasa's deputy associate

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administrator

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jim bridenstine sends his regards and

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his regrets and he regrets he was unable

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to be here in person but his loss might

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win so thanks

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sometimes the schedule works in your

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favor today we're going to hear some

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stories of trailblazers near and far who

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persevered through many challenges nasa

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knows that a proper reflection of the

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past will help us prepare for a

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successful future

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reviewing the stories of the past and

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present renews our resolve to emulate

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their examples to help us confront the

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challenges that still persist

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nasa fires fosters an environment of

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inclusion and respect for all the agency

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continues to value and appreciate the

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strengths afforded by both the

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commonalities and the differences in

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individual employees which drives our

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innovation and creativity

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our agency is engaged in an ambitious

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mission to return to the moon

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sustainably and then use what we learned

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there to go on to mars

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through our artemis program we will land

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the first woman and the next man on the

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lunar surface by 2024. i believe i speak

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for everyone here at nasa especially

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including administrator jim bridenstine

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that this time when we land on the moon

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we will do so with all of america

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the exemplary lives of honorary

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brigadier general charles mcgee

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very famous with the super bowl in the

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state of the union in your recent past i

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thought my schedule was busy but you're

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you know it's very impressive

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um

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and our very own astronaut alvin drew

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demonstrate to each of us that we can go

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higher and further than we ever thought

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possible their lives embody this

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fundamental truth and american truth

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that together we can overcome any

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obstacle and together we can

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successfully

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explore any frontier

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i look forward to hearing from

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these two trailblazers later in the

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program and i'll be following the

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progress of future trailblazer jungian

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also of fairly widespread media last

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night that was great you did very very

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well yes

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so i'm now i'm pleased to introduce our

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next speaker associate administrator for

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aeronautics research mission directorate

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bob pierce bob manages the agency's

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aeronautics research portfolio and

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guides its strategic direction as the

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aero guys like to say nasa is with you

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when you fly i fly a lot and that's a

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comfort to me so we please join me in

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welcoming bob pierce

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okay good morning it is a real pleasure

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and honor to be with you here today to

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provide opening comments

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for the black history month program

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entitled trailblazers and first let me

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recognize

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what an honor it is it's always an honor

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to be

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nasa astronauts so colonel drew um a

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pleasure to be with you and it's

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certainly a singular honor and pleasure

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to be with a tuskegee airman general

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mcgee your service to the country is

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just outstanding

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and we certainly salute you for

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everything you've done

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on behalf of the united states and in

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your trailblazing service

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as associate administrator for

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aeronautics

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i think trailblazers is really an

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excellent theme i spend much of my time

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looking at the future the future of

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aviation how can we improve travel how

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can we improve aviation how can we

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improve the competitiveness of the

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united states

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and in doing that improve the experience

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of the traveling public let's make

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aviation faster let's make it more

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efficient let's make it more sustainable

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and let's make it safer

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on behalf of of everyone all of our

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fellow citizens both the united states

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but also all over the globe

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to make aviation a

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continue to be

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the former transportation that links all

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of us together

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but to make this this future happen we

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need trailblazers trailblazers like

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colonel drew and general mcgee advances

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in aviation and aerospace in general can

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be viewed oftentimes in very mechanical

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terms right big complex systems

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operating at the edge of the envelope

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but we all know here that it's a very

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human endeavor

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and it's those iconic images of humans

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and their machines that stir wonder in

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all of us

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but to achieve that future to achieve it

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we need to acknowledge the human history

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and build upon it

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in fact when we celebrate our history we

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encourage future generations to reach

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beyond what we have achieved

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and to go to new heights

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so early aviation pioneers like bessie

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coleman and dale white paved the way for

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the tuskegee airmen during world war ii

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and on the astronaut guy blueford who

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paved the way from may jemison

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and the diverse astronauts that will

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explore the lunar surface beginning with

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the first woman and next man in 2024

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will be the next trailblazers so there's

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a continuity and a

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continuum

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between the trailblazers and nasa is

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certainly the place where

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often that comes together and today's

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talented african-american engineers and

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scientists follow the now famous hidden

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figures like catherine johnson and mary

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jackson at langley and also pioneers

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like julius montgomery at cape canaveral

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but as we celebrate those achievements

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of african-american mathematicians

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engineers mission support specialists

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scientists pilots astronauts

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during black history month it's also

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important for us to acknowledge that

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they very often had to overcome the

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barriers and hurdles created by racial

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discrimination

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their individual stories vary but

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there's a common theme in order for us

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to get the benefits of their service and

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their contributions

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they had to demonstrate remarkable

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resilience and unwillingness

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to yield to those barriers

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and i believe i truly believe this is

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born of inherent optimism and hope for

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the future and i think nasa overall

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embodies that that inherit optimism and

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hope for the future

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you know as i prepared for the event

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today the opportunity to give opening

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comments here

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i couldn't help

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but ask as i reviewed those stories

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those stories of early pioneers and so

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forth what i have achieved what they did

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where i faced with those same hurdles

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and honestly i don't i don't know

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but that's why we need those special

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people right that's why we need

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trailblazers to clear the path into the

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future

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i think the more important question is

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what the challenge of leadership is

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looking forward

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we don't want people to have to fight to

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get a seat at the table we want them at

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the table advocating for their ideas

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fighting respectfully for their ideas

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and collaborating to make them real

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i often talk about as as a aaa for a

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research mission

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in aeronautics i often talk about that

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innovation is at the seams

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and what i mean by that is great

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innovation happens when we join across

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boundaries across scenes between people

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organizations cultures

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we each bring knowledge expertise

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history a way of understanding and

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solving problems

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it's been studied and shown that

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bringing different relevant

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problem-solving methods to a complex

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challenge always yields a better

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solution

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this is the benefit one of the benefits

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of diversity and inclusion

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i'll provide a couple of examples of

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of current black engineers and

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trailblazers that i work with that

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inspire me along those lines and i'll

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apologize in advance because that means

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i'm going to leave out countless

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technical professionals

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and support staff that i'm not going to

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mention but i'll mention a couple

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so anna marie mcgowan at langley is a

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trailblazer in design thinking and

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transdisciplinary innovation at nasa

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and whenever i talk to her or whatever i

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see her she always challenges me to

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think differently and i really

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appreciate that marcus johnson aims with

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a cadre of colleagues is trailblazing

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convergent and collaborative innovation

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with the development of the us traffic

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management system

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the approach that they're developing

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there

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is changing the way we think about the

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future about innovation how we work

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together not just within nasa but across

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nasa and industry in

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universities the bottom line

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is we need collaborative inclusive

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innovation to get the best solutions if

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we're going to create a transformed

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aviation system

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and if we're going to put the first

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woman and next man on the moon by 2024

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that's the leadership challenge

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it requires all of us

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to bring our best to the table

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to be curious and continuous learners

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and history shows us that the

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african-american aviation and space

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trailblazers we celebrate today

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have plenty of that

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so i look forward to our two

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trailblazers are with us still listening

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to their comments

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and with that thank you very much for

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for for

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listening during my comments and now my

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next job as mc

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is to introduce um miss monica manning

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who is

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is our assistant i'm sorry

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right in front of me i'm sorry assistant

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administrator for procurement here at

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nasa

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[Applause]

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yeah you weren't expecting me back up

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here because i was supposed to do my

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whole job uh the first time so this is

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what happens when you look at your

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talking points and not the agenda so i

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completely uh overlooked the need to

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arise for the national anthem so i

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apologize

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i know i know our trailblazers never

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would have made that mistake

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oh say can you

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see

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by the dawn's early light

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what so

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proudly we

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hand at the

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last gleaming

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00:12:34,230 --> 00:12:31,279
who's brought stripes and bright stars

285
00:12:35,670 --> 00:12:34,240
through the perilous

286
00:12:36,829 --> 00:12:35,680
fight

287
00:12:43,150 --> 00:12:36,839
or the

288
00:12:45,030 --> 00:12:43,160
ramparts we watched were so gallantly

289
00:12:46,190 --> 00:12:45,040
streaming

290
00:12:49,590 --> 00:12:46,200
and the

291
00:12:54,790 --> 00:12:49,600
rockets red glare

292
00:12:56,790 --> 00:12:54,800
the bombs bursting in air

293
00:12:59,750 --> 00:12:56,800
gave proof

294
00:13:04,629 --> 00:12:59,760
through the night

295
00:13:06,389 --> 00:13:04,639
that our flag was still there

296
00:13:09,310 --> 00:13:06,399
oh say

297
00:13:11,310 --> 00:13:09,320
does that star

298
00:13:17,670 --> 00:13:11,320
spangled

299
00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:23,829
or the last of the free

300
00:13:29,430 --> 00:13:26,870
and the home

301
00:13:32,190 --> 00:13:29,440
of the

302
00:13:35,050 --> 00:13:32,200
brave

303
00:13:39,750 --> 00:13:35,060
[Music]

304
00:13:41,509 --> 00:13:39,760
[Applause]

305
00:13:43,350 --> 00:13:41,519
and now we'll return to our regularly

306
00:13:52,949 --> 00:13:43,360
scheduled programming with monica

307
00:13:57,030 --> 00:13:54,710
good morning

308
00:13:59,590 --> 00:13:57,040
i have the distinct honor privilege

309
00:14:01,910 --> 00:13:59,600
privilege and pleasure to introduce our

310
00:14:03,430 --> 00:14:01,920
two distinguished trailblazers i had the

311
00:14:05,189 --> 00:14:03,440
opportunity to speak with both of them

312
00:14:07,509 --> 00:14:05,199
in the back and they both are extremely

313
00:14:09,269 --> 00:14:07,519
excited about being here and looking

314
00:14:10,389 --> 00:14:09,279
forward to any questions that you all

315
00:14:12,470 --> 00:14:10,399
may have

316
00:14:15,269 --> 00:14:12,480
first i will introduce honorary

317
00:14:18,870 --> 00:14:15,279
brigadier general charles mcgee

318
00:14:21,269 --> 00:14:18,880
he was born december 7 1919 he was a

319
00:14:23,590 --> 00:14:21,279
sophomore at the university of illinois

320
00:14:26,150 --> 00:14:23,600
when duty called and he then joined the

321
00:14:28,230 --> 00:14:26,160
u.s army and tuskegee airmen program

322
00:14:29,910 --> 00:14:28,240
during world war ii

323
00:14:33,110 --> 00:14:29,920
brigadier general mcgee earned his

324
00:14:35,110 --> 00:14:33,120
tuskegee airman pilots wing on june 30th

325
00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:35,120
1943.

326
00:14:40,870 --> 00:14:37,600
he successfully completed

327
00:14:43,110 --> 00:14:40,880
409 air combat missions across three

328
00:14:45,910 --> 00:14:43,120
wars world war ii

329
00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:45,920
korea and vietnam and he served his

330
00:14:49,910 --> 00:14:47,920
country for 30 years beginning with the

331
00:14:51,430 --> 00:14:49,920
army air forces

332
00:14:53,750 --> 00:14:51,440
he was presented with the congressional

333
00:14:55,910 --> 00:14:53,760
gold medal by president george w bush in

334
00:14:57,910 --> 00:14:55,920
march of 2007

335
00:15:01,269 --> 00:14:57,920
and he was enshrined into the national

336
00:15:03,590 --> 00:15:01,279
aviation hall of fame in 2011.

337
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:03,600
please join me in welcoming brigadier

338
00:15:09,970 --> 00:15:17,430
[Applause]

339
00:15:30,170 --> 00:15:19,800
so

340
00:15:30,180 --> 00:15:38,310
[Applause]

341
00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:49,110
mr

342
00:15:53,590 --> 00:15:51,189
i now have the distinct pleasure of

343
00:15:55,910 --> 00:15:53,600
introducing our very own astronauts

344
00:15:58,790 --> 00:15:55,920
colonel benjamin alvin drew

345
00:16:00,870 --> 00:15:58,800
colonel drew was born november 5th 1962

346
00:16:02,710 --> 00:16:00,880
right here in washington d.c

347
00:16:04,870 --> 00:16:02,720
he received his bachelor of science

348
00:16:07,030 --> 00:16:04,880
degrees in astronautical engineering and

349
00:16:09,269 --> 00:16:07,040
physics from the united states air force

350
00:16:11,350 --> 00:16:09,279
academy in 1984

351
00:16:13,470 --> 00:16:11,360
and a master of science in aerospace

352
00:16:15,110 --> 00:16:13,480
science from emory riddle university in

353
00:16:16,949 --> 00:16:15,120
1995.

354
00:16:20,150 --> 00:16:16,959
colonel drew was selected as admissions

355
00:16:23,269 --> 00:16:20,160
specialist by nasa in july 20 in july

356
00:16:29,269 --> 00:16:23,279
2000 and flew on space shuttle missions

357
00:16:31,829 --> 00:16:29,279
sts 118 in 2007 and sts 133

358
00:16:33,670 --> 00:16:31,839
in 2011. he was the last

359
00:16:35,430 --> 00:16:33,680
african-american

360
00:16:36,790 --> 00:16:35,440
astronaut to

361
00:16:39,350 --> 00:16:36,800
reside on the international space

362
00:16:48,530 --> 00:16:39,360
station please welcome me in joining

363
00:16:48,540 --> 00:17:01,509
[Applause]

364
00:17:04,789 --> 00:17:03,269
okay

365
00:17:15,270 --> 00:17:04,799
this jacket here for the lights if you

366
00:17:18,630 --> 00:17:17,350
okay well i'd like to join everybody in

367
00:17:20,309 --> 00:17:18,640
welcoming you here and you're you're

368
00:17:22,470 --> 00:17:20,319
having a heck of a week

369
00:17:24,870 --> 00:17:22,480
this week here billy goodman so thank

370
00:17:27,110 --> 00:17:24,880
you most of us

371
00:17:30,150 --> 00:17:27,120
serve our country for 30 years we we

372
00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:30,160
rest on our laurels and and go check out

373
00:17:35,590 --> 00:17:33,760
what's on tv but you uh you've got some

374
00:17:37,029 --> 00:17:35,600
bad habits like flying high-powered jets

375
00:17:40,070 --> 00:17:37,039
on your birthday

376
00:17:41,270 --> 00:17:40,080
and yeah when when and then

377
00:17:41,790 --> 00:17:41,280
when i'm sure they won't allow me to

378
00:17:43,990 --> 00:17:41,800
drive

379
00:17:46,710 --> 00:17:44,000
[Laughter]

380
00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:46,720
so what i'll do is i'll i'll expand more

381
00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:49,120
on that introduction that you got and uh

382
00:17:52,230 --> 00:17:50,880
let's talk about that uh pick up the

383
00:17:54,710 --> 00:17:52,240
narrative so we talked about the fact

384
00:17:58,230 --> 00:17:54,720
that you were born on december 7th um

385
00:18:01,190 --> 00:17:58,240
1919 in cleveland cleveland ohio so i'm

386
00:18:04,630 --> 00:18:01,200
a buckeye but i moved away in third

387
00:18:07,029 --> 00:18:04,640
grade so okay went midwest okay there's

388
00:18:08,870 --> 00:18:07,039
a lot in kansas city that area no

389
00:18:11,750 --> 00:18:08,880
illinois and iowa

390
00:18:12,870 --> 00:18:11,760
okay and then back to illinois

391
00:18:14,789 --> 00:18:12,880
so

392
00:18:16,870 --> 00:18:14,799
that's why i ended up at the university

393
00:18:18,710 --> 00:18:16,880
of illinois because had parents and

394
00:18:20,870 --> 00:18:18,720
grandparents always say you know go to

395
00:18:23,350 --> 00:18:20,880
high school go to college

396
00:18:25,750 --> 00:18:23,360
get the education because that

397
00:18:27,510 --> 00:18:25,760
lies a step through open doors

398
00:18:29,110 --> 00:18:27,520
i've heard that narrative too

399
00:18:30,870 --> 00:18:29,120
you must have listened to them

400
00:18:32,390 --> 00:18:30,880
so that's good because that's uh where

401
00:18:35,830 --> 00:18:32,400
i'd like to pick up the narrative here

402
00:18:38,630 --> 00:18:35,840
um on the occasion of your 22nd birthday

403
00:18:40,070 --> 00:18:38,640
uh december 7th 1941 which you probably

404
00:18:41,830 --> 00:18:40,080
remember for all for very different

405
00:18:43,990 --> 00:18:41,840
reasons the date which will live in

406
00:18:45,190 --> 00:18:44,000
empty the date where pearl harbor was

407
00:18:46,630 --> 00:18:45,200
bombed

408
00:18:49,110 --> 00:18:46,640
and you are at the university of

409
00:18:51,350 --> 00:18:49,120
illinois um studying engineering if i'm

410
00:18:53,110 --> 00:18:51,360
correct studying engineering but i was

411
00:18:54,789 --> 00:18:53,120
home

412
00:18:57,750 --> 00:18:54,799
because of my birthday and with

413
00:19:00,789 --> 00:18:57,760
christmas coming and

414
00:19:02,390 --> 00:19:00,799
literally when the president made that

415
00:19:04,630 --> 00:19:02,400
announcement

416
00:19:07,510 --> 00:19:04,640
it was a little after four o'clock but i

417
00:19:09,669 --> 00:19:07,520
was with the coleridge taylor glee club

418
00:19:12,310 --> 00:19:09,679
and we were my dad was in gary at the

419
00:19:15,510 --> 00:19:12,320
time and going from gary to south

420
00:19:17,750 --> 00:19:15,520
chicago for an evening program

421
00:19:18,549 --> 00:19:17,760
we carried out the program even though

422
00:19:22,710 --> 00:19:18,559
that

423
00:19:23,750 --> 00:19:22,720
must have been some day for you oh my

424
00:19:25,110 --> 00:19:23,760
goodness

425
00:19:26,710 --> 00:19:25,120
can't forget

426
00:19:28,789 --> 00:19:26,720
yeah i can imagine

427
00:19:31,190 --> 00:19:28,799
so you are at university of illinois and

428
00:19:33,190 --> 00:19:31,200
you are part of the uh the venerable

429
00:19:35,029 --> 00:19:33,200
alpha phi alpha fraternity out there

430
00:19:37,270 --> 00:19:35,039
that was

431
00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:37,280
part of i think a good

432
00:19:42,789 --> 00:19:39,360
good step for me too because they

433
00:19:43,170 --> 00:19:42,799
focused on education not just having fun

434
00:19:46,630 --> 00:19:43,180
and

435
00:19:49,350 --> 00:19:46,640
[Laughter]

436
00:19:51,669 --> 00:19:49,360
and that paid off so that that

437
00:19:54,150 --> 00:19:51,679
that was important and it's one of the

438
00:19:56,630 --> 00:19:54,160
things in my life that i always point to

439
00:19:58,390 --> 00:19:56,640
steps you know when i was little it said

440
00:20:00,390 --> 00:19:58,400
you know

441
00:20:01,270 --> 00:20:00,400
having parents and grandparents said

442
00:20:02,870 --> 00:20:01,280
teach

443
00:20:07,190 --> 00:20:02,880
treat other people like you want to be

444
00:20:09,110 --> 00:20:07,200
treated a little bit later

445
00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:09,120
joined the boy scouts

446
00:20:13,270 --> 00:20:11,120
and i'd still say today if everybody's

447
00:20:16,390 --> 00:20:13,280
there by the scout oath and the 12 scott

448
00:20:17,669 --> 00:20:16,400
laws we'd have a different country

449
00:20:19,669 --> 00:20:17,679
it was like you went to coming you gave

450
00:20:21,669 --> 00:20:19,679
an eagle scout there didn't you i became

451
00:20:24,710 --> 00:20:21,679
the youth scout and i've been selected

452
00:20:26,710 --> 00:20:24,720
as the distinguished eagle scout

453
00:20:28,789 --> 00:20:26,720
it's so important again it's some value

454
00:20:31,350 --> 00:20:28,799
lessons that we still need to pass on to

455
00:20:32,789 --> 00:20:31,360
our young folks too so that's been part

456
00:20:34,070 --> 00:20:32,799
of my interest

457
00:20:37,270 --> 00:20:34,080
interest there

458
00:20:38,789 --> 00:20:37,280
but what it's also meant to me

459
00:20:41,510 --> 00:20:38,799
in my life and

460
00:20:44,070 --> 00:20:41,520
following that in college was

461
00:20:45,510 --> 00:20:44,080
fraternal precepts that

462
00:20:46,870 --> 00:20:45,520
indicated that

463
00:20:49,350 --> 00:20:46,880
if you're going to be first of all

464
00:20:51,909 --> 00:20:49,360
you've got to help others

465
00:20:53,029 --> 00:20:51,919
and that's so important outstanding you

466
00:20:54,870 --> 00:20:53,039
also remember a group called the

467
00:20:56,870 --> 00:20:54,880
pershing rifles can you explain that one

468
00:20:58,310 --> 00:20:56,880
for me yes

469
00:21:01,510 --> 00:20:58,320
fortunately

470
00:21:04,950 --> 00:21:01,520
i joined rotc

471
00:21:07,029 --> 00:21:04,960
as a portion because out of it

472
00:21:09,110 --> 00:21:07,039
learned to handle a

473
00:21:12,710 --> 00:21:09,120
rifle and became a part of persian

474
00:21:14,549 --> 00:21:12,720
rifles but because i was in school

475
00:21:17,029 --> 00:21:14,559
when draft board wasn't pulling my

476
00:21:20,470 --> 00:21:17,039
number occasionally they did to meet

477
00:21:23,430 --> 00:21:20,480
needs but fortunately for me

478
00:21:25,909 --> 00:21:23,440
they didn't pull my number

479
00:21:29,590 --> 00:21:25,919
had they i felt well i'd be on the

480
00:21:31,430 --> 00:21:29,600
ground in the mud with a rifle

481
00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:31,440
i heard about the

482
00:21:36,950 --> 00:21:34,320
aviation opportunity

483
00:21:39,750 --> 00:21:36,960
and i guess my rotc instructor said well

484
00:21:40,870 --> 00:21:39,760
go take the exams for pilot training i

485
00:21:41,909 --> 00:21:40,880
did

486
00:21:48,710 --> 00:21:41,919
and

487
00:21:51,110 --> 00:21:48,720
i got called to go directly to training

488
00:21:54,310 --> 00:21:51,120
at tuskegee alabama for

489
00:21:56,390 --> 00:21:54,320
my pilot experience wow so here you are

490
00:21:58,710 --> 00:21:56,400
this midwestern boy comfortably north of

491
00:22:01,750 --> 00:21:58,720
the mason-dixon line and you're about to

492
00:22:03,029 --> 00:22:01,760
head um into the darkest depths of the

493
00:22:05,029 --> 00:22:03,039
deep south

494
00:22:10,149 --> 00:22:05,039
jim crow is alive and well

495
00:22:14,390 --> 00:22:12,230
well fortunately i think i didn't think

496
00:22:16,230 --> 00:22:14,400
about that that much that way i was just

497
00:22:19,029 --> 00:22:16,240
glad that i had that's the joy of being

498
00:22:24,070 --> 00:22:21,909
that i had the classmates that

499
00:22:26,549 --> 00:22:24,080
kept those of us not

500
00:22:28,549 --> 00:22:26,559
experienced in the southern

501
00:22:30,390 --> 00:22:28,559
atmosphere they let us know where not to

502
00:22:33,909 --> 00:22:30,400
go by gas and

503
00:22:35,909 --> 00:22:33,919
and you know how to act

504
00:22:38,710 --> 00:22:35,919
but that didn't deter from the training

505
00:22:40,870 --> 00:22:38,720
that we got and that was what was key

506
00:22:43,750 --> 00:22:40,880
okay so here you are down in

507
00:22:45,750 --> 00:22:43,760
uh was it motonfield tuskegee alabama

508
00:22:48,230 --> 00:22:45,760
well yes they

509
00:22:50,710 --> 00:22:48,240
built a separate airfield well really as

510
00:22:52,950 --> 00:22:50,720
you look at the now called tuskegee

511
00:22:56,070 --> 00:22:52,960
experience

512
00:22:57,990 --> 00:22:56,080
part of the army policy was that

513
00:23:00,149 --> 00:22:58,000
i think if i know we had the civilian

514
00:23:02,950 --> 00:23:00,159
pilot training program

515
00:23:04,310 --> 00:23:02,960
and that was to get a build of pilots

516
00:23:06,549 --> 00:23:04,320
that uh

517
00:23:07,590 --> 00:23:06,559
units could call on as they started

518
00:23:08,870 --> 00:23:07,600
meeting

519
00:23:12,630 --> 00:23:08,880
war needs

520
00:23:14,630 --> 00:23:12,640
i think it was in washington dc that

521
00:23:17,830 --> 00:23:14,640
one of

522
00:23:19,990 --> 00:23:17,840
persons who had gotten their

523
00:23:20,870 --> 00:23:20,000
pilot's license and that program went

524
00:23:22,710 --> 00:23:20,880
door

525
00:23:24,549 --> 00:23:22,720
said i want to be in the army pilot

526
00:23:27,029 --> 00:23:24,559
army's policy was

527
00:23:29,190 --> 00:23:27,039
we have no black mechanics so we can't

528
00:23:31,590 --> 00:23:29,200
use a black pilot

529
00:23:33,909 --> 00:23:31,600
fortunately

530
00:23:36,470 --> 00:23:33,919
of the now called tuskegee airmen the

531
00:23:37,510 --> 00:23:36,480
first really were the mechanics trained

532
00:23:41,510 --> 00:23:37,520
at the

533
00:23:43,110 --> 00:23:41,520
chinootfield rantoul illinois technical

534
00:23:45,669 --> 00:23:43,120
school

535
00:23:48,149 --> 00:23:45,679
university just 14 miles away and we

536
00:23:50,870 --> 00:23:48,159
learned about it and that's how i first

537
00:23:51,669 --> 00:23:50,880
knew about the program but all i can say

538
00:23:54,390 --> 00:23:51,679
is

539
00:23:56,630 --> 00:23:54,400
when i finally got called south got that

540
00:23:57,510 --> 00:23:56,640
first ride i was hooked

541
00:24:00,390 --> 00:23:57,520
okay

542
00:24:02,230 --> 00:24:00,400
and love flying and to be able to

543
00:24:04,149 --> 00:24:02,240
get off the ground and

544
00:24:08,870 --> 00:24:04,159
loop roll and spin and come back and put

545
00:24:13,190 --> 00:24:10,870
didn't have to tell you twice so we're

546
00:24:15,190 --> 00:24:13,200
talking about now aviation cadet mcgee

547
00:24:17,669 --> 00:24:15,200
down at mountain field and is your first

548
00:24:19,669 --> 00:24:17,679
plane was that that boeing stearman

549
00:24:23,029 --> 00:24:19,679
cadet

550
00:24:24,310 --> 00:24:23,039
pt 17 okay so yeah for those of you this

551
00:24:28,470 --> 00:24:24,320
is a

552
00:24:31,110 --> 00:24:28,480
flame we we

553
00:24:32,950 --> 00:24:31,120
refer to as a rag wing airplane so this

554
00:24:34,390 --> 00:24:32,960
is something that you would recognize in

555
00:24:35,750 --> 00:24:34,400
the middle of world war one in terms of

556
00:24:37,350 --> 00:24:35,760
the technology

557
00:24:38,549 --> 00:24:37,360
there's a there's a talk about starting

558
00:24:40,310 --> 00:24:38,559
but there you moved on to an

559
00:24:41,990 --> 00:24:40,320
intermediate trainer with the pt 19

560
00:24:45,669 --> 00:24:42,000
cornell

561
00:24:49,110 --> 00:24:45,679
no i didn't get that all of my

562
00:24:50,390 --> 00:24:49,120
primary training was in the pt 17

563
00:24:52,950 --> 00:24:50,400
and then

564
00:24:53,830 --> 00:24:52,960
from that and that was at molten field

565
00:24:56,070 --> 00:24:53,840
under

566
00:24:57,909 --> 00:24:56,080
tuskegee institute's

567
00:25:02,149 --> 00:24:57,919
aviation program

568
00:25:04,390 --> 00:25:02,159
basic was an advanced training bt-13

569
00:25:06,310 --> 00:25:04,400
volte and then the

570
00:25:08,789 --> 00:25:06,320
at6

571
00:25:10,390 --> 00:25:08,799
at tuskegee army airfield

572
00:25:12,950 --> 00:25:10,400
and that was where you completed when

573
00:25:14,710 --> 00:25:12,960
you got your wings and

574
00:25:17,669 --> 00:25:14,720
fortunately

575
00:25:21,190 --> 00:25:17,679
30th of june 1943

576
00:25:23,909 --> 00:25:21,200
they pinned on those silver wings so and

577
00:25:26,630 --> 00:25:23,919
training was also as an officer so

578
00:25:30,230 --> 00:25:26,640
became a second lieutenant now you are

579
00:25:33,830 --> 00:25:30,240
gold bars and the silver wings we were

580
00:25:36,789 --> 00:25:33,840
in hulk heaven i can imagine

581
00:25:38,310 --> 00:25:36,799
lieutenant mcgee army air corps pilot

582
00:25:39,830 --> 00:25:38,320
i still like the ring of that don't you

583
00:25:40,710 --> 00:25:39,840
yes yes

584
00:25:41,750 --> 00:25:40,720
so

585
00:25:43,350 --> 00:25:41,760
the um

586
00:25:45,190 --> 00:25:43,360
tell me about the transition you had

587
00:25:47,190 --> 00:25:45,200
from being this newly minute pilot who

588
00:25:48,950 --> 00:25:47,200
knows how to fly to somebody who knows

589
00:25:50,870 --> 00:25:48,960
how to fly and fight where did you go

590
00:25:52,310 --> 00:25:50,880
for your fighter transition planning and

591
00:25:55,110 --> 00:25:52,320
when did you meet up with your your

592
00:25:56,549 --> 00:25:55,120
fighter group as they began to form the

593
00:25:58,950 --> 00:25:56,559
the units

594
00:26:01,269 --> 00:25:58,960
tuskegee army airfield course became

595
00:26:04,470 --> 00:26:01,279
pretty crowded so

596
00:26:05,909 --> 00:26:04,480
our combat training really took place

597
00:26:07,269 --> 00:26:05,919
in michigan

598
00:26:10,070 --> 00:26:07,279
in

599
00:26:11,990 --> 00:26:10,080
its selfish field and then us go to army

600
00:26:14,310 --> 00:26:12,000
air base farther up north where we could

601
00:26:16,710 --> 00:26:14,320
do gunnery out over the lake and

602
00:26:18,789 --> 00:26:16,720
not disturb traffic

603
00:26:21,830 --> 00:26:18,799
so we

604
00:26:24,789 --> 00:26:21,840
said i graduated in june of 43 but

605
00:26:26,549 --> 00:26:24,799
december 43 we were

606
00:26:28,070 --> 00:26:26,559
combat ready all right so you were with

607
00:26:31,190 --> 00:26:28,080
your unit then at this point and going

608
00:26:32,789 --> 00:26:31,200
off to our training we were assigned and

609
00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:32,799
i became a member

610
00:26:38,070 --> 00:26:35,520
of the 302nd fighter squad

611
00:26:39,190 --> 00:26:38,080
in the tuskegee program for those that

612
00:26:41,029 --> 00:26:39,200
don't know

613
00:26:42,710 --> 00:26:41,039
the first squadron that the army

614
00:26:46,149 --> 00:26:42,720
expected to fail

615
00:26:47,029 --> 00:26:46,159
and did was the 99th pursuit squadron

616
00:26:49,909 --> 00:26:47,039
and

617
00:26:52,950 --> 00:26:49,919
they were combat ready

618
00:26:55,510 --> 00:26:52,960
in december when i started my training

619
00:26:57,990 --> 00:26:55,520
but no white commander wanted them

620
00:27:00,390 --> 00:26:58,000
and they continued training for another

621
00:27:03,269 --> 00:27:00,400
three months and were finally sent to

622
00:27:05,990 --> 00:27:03,279
north africa attached to a white group

623
00:27:08,789 --> 00:27:06,000
but not they went segregation went

624
00:27:11,510 --> 00:27:08,799
overseas too they had their own base

625
00:27:12,549 --> 00:27:11,520
they sent the pilot over to

626
00:27:18,310 --> 00:27:12,559
the

627
00:27:19,909 --> 00:27:18,320
colonel willmeyer said

628
00:27:22,389 --> 00:27:19,919
told it they weren't good they've only

629
00:27:25,510 --> 00:27:22,399
shot down one aircraft and ought to be

630
00:27:27,990 --> 00:27:25,520
patrolling liberia well

631
00:27:30,310 --> 00:27:28,000
how's the history member where is

632
00:27:34,630 --> 00:27:30,320
liberia where were the germans in

633
00:27:36,630 --> 00:27:34,640
northam i think you get the idea

634
00:27:37,750 --> 00:27:36,640
far away from the actual front there so

635
00:27:42,549 --> 00:27:37,760
hard to shoot down enemies where they're

636
00:27:46,230 --> 00:27:44,070
even though they had

637
00:27:48,789 --> 00:27:46,240
said that to them a hearing in

638
00:27:51,430 --> 00:27:48,799
washington found out the

639
00:27:53,510 --> 00:27:51,440
99th bombs on target was the same as

640
00:27:55,669 --> 00:27:53,520
everybody else only been there a short

641
00:27:58,310 --> 00:27:55,679
time continued

642
00:28:01,269 --> 00:27:58,320
and they moved out of north africa into

643
00:28:04,070 --> 00:28:01,279
sicily out of sicily into italy as they

644
00:28:05,029 --> 00:28:04,080
moved into italy of the 332nd prison

645
00:28:07,190 --> 00:28:05,039
group

646
00:28:08,950 --> 00:28:07,200
the other three single engine fighter

647
00:28:11,830 --> 00:28:08,960
squadrons

648
00:28:14,070 --> 00:28:11,840
we went directly to italy but amazing

649
00:28:16,870 --> 00:28:14,080
although we were also commemorating the

650
00:28:20,230 --> 00:28:16,880
p40 they said well you are going to do

651
00:28:22,789 --> 00:28:20,240
some patrol work we switched to p-39

652
00:28:25,750 --> 00:28:22,799
bellaire cobra but still left

653
00:28:29,029 --> 00:28:25,760
training in michigan on schedule

654
00:28:30,230 --> 00:28:29,039
landing at the same time 99th was moving

655
00:28:33,750 --> 00:28:30,240
out of

656
00:28:36,950 --> 00:28:33,760
into italy we landed directly in italy

657
00:28:39,430 --> 00:28:36,960
with the p-39 so they're flying the p-40

658
00:28:42,310 --> 00:28:39,440
interdiction ground support

659
00:28:43,830 --> 00:28:42,320
332nd fighter group was flying

660
00:28:45,430 --> 00:28:43,840
the

661
00:28:47,190 --> 00:28:45,440
coastal patrol

662
00:28:49,269 --> 00:28:47,200
uh up to the

663
00:28:53,350 --> 00:28:49,279
anzio beach head

664
00:28:55,269 --> 00:28:53,360
but it was over the angel beachhead that

665
00:28:58,230 --> 00:28:55,279
nine ninth pilots

666
00:29:00,470 --> 00:28:58,240
and i i would say a bit of integration

667
00:29:03,430 --> 00:29:00,480
went overseas because when they were

668
00:29:05,110 --> 00:29:03,440
attached to the 179th i think in his

669
00:29:07,190 --> 00:29:05,120
fighter group

670
00:29:09,510 --> 00:29:07,200
colonel bates was just glad to have more

671
00:29:11,110 --> 00:29:09,520
pilots and more aircraft so over the

672
00:29:14,230 --> 00:29:11,120
angel beach head

673
00:29:16,310 --> 00:29:14,240
in eight day time frame the 99 shot down

674
00:29:18,870 --> 00:29:16,320
several german aircraft so it was a

675
00:29:20,789 --> 00:29:18,880
matter of opportunity

676
00:29:23,750 --> 00:29:20,799
but that's

677
00:29:26,549 --> 00:29:23,760
not where the story ends for the 332nd

678
00:29:28,149 --> 00:29:26,559
fighter group

679
00:29:30,389 --> 00:29:28,159
we were only there

680
00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:30,399
for about three months

681
00:29:32,789 --> 00:29:30,850
and

682
00:29:34,549 --> 00:29:32,799
[Music]

683
00:29:37,669 --> 00:29:34,559
it turns out we thought we had enough

684
00:29:40,389 --> 00:29:37,679
guns on our b-17s and b-24s to protect

685
00:29:42,630 --> 00:29:40,399
them from the german air force wasn't

686
00:29:46,950 --> 00:29:42,640
the case sometimes

687
00:29:47,909 --> 00:29:46,960
12 bombers go out and only six come home

688
00:29:50,389 --> 00:29:47,919
10

689
00:29:52,230 --> 00:29:50,399
american last time six

690
00:29:53,590 --> 00:29:52,240
that had to change

691
00:29:56,310 --> 00:29:53,600
they put

692
00:29:59,029 --> 00:29:56,320
four fighter groups from 12th tactical

693
00:30:01,909 --> 00:29:59,039
air force to move to 15 strategic air

694
00:30:02,750 --> 00:30:01,919
force and begin escorting

695
00:30:04,470 --> 00:30:02,760
our

696
00:30:06,070 --> 00:30:04,480
v-17s and

697
00:30:09,029 --> 00:30:06,080
nb-24s

698
00:30:10,310 --> 00:30:09,039
332nd was one of those four groups

699
00:30:12,710 --> 00:30:10,320
picked

700
00:30:17,430 --> 00:30:14,230
p40

701
00:30:19,669 --> 00:30:17,440
or i mean we were flying the p-39

702
00:30:22,470 --> 00:30:19,679
not an interceptor by

703
00:30:25,750 --> 00:30:22,480
any major and

704
00:30:29,190 --> 00:30:25,760
we switched to p-47 thunderbolt

705
00:30:31,669 --> 00:30:29,200
in combat and i say that because we need

706
00:30:32,870 --> 00:30:31,679
to recognize the work that our mechanics

707
00:30:35,510 --> 00:30:32,880
did

708
00:30:37,909 --> 00:30:35,520
in making our flying possible because

709
00:30:39,990 --> 00:30:37,919
there wasn't any time to go to school

710
00:30:41,830 --> 00:30:40,000
and do a thing now today you know you

711
00:30:43,590 --> 00:30:41,840
don't get anything like that without

712
00:30:46,149 --> 00:30:43,600
going to the school

713
00:30:50,070 --> 00:30:46,159
and lots of training but in combat you

714
00:30:51,430 --> 00:30:50,080
read the tech order i used to say if the

715
00:30:53,650 --> 00:30:51,440
uh

716
00:30:55,990 --> 00:30:53,660
kuchi can start it i didn't fly it

717
00:30:58,070 --> 00:30:56,000
[Laughter]

718
00:30:59,509 --> 00:30:58,080
okay so you

719
00:31:02,389 --> 00:30:59,519
you're over northern italy escorting

720
00:31:05,110 --> 00:31:02,399
these bombers b-17s and b-24s

721
00:31:08,549 --> 00:31:05,120
and uh one day comes to mind here august

722
00:31:10,549 --> 00:31:08,559
23rd 1944. um can you recall recount the

723
00:31:13,669 --> 00:31:10,559
events of that

724
00:31:15,990 --> 00:31:13,679
well one of the things that uh

725
00:31:18,470 --> 00:31:16,000
and i might have to say here that b.o

726
00:31:20,549 --> 00:31:18,480
davis jr who

727
00:31:22,630 --> 00:31:20,559
had wanted to be a pilot when he

728
00:31:26,070 --> 00:31:22,640
graduated from west point

729
00:31:29,590 --> 00:31:26,080
to 1936 and was denied because he said

730
00:31:31,350 --> 00:31:29,600
we have no black mechanics

731
00:31:32,710 --> 00:31:31,360
he became he went through the first

732
00:31:34,230 --> 00:31:32,720
class

733
00:31:37,110 --> 00:31:34,240
at tuskegee he

734
00:31:39,909 --> 00:31:37,120
became the commander of the 99 pursuit

735
00:31:42,789 --> 00:31:39,919
squad and came home became commander of

736
00:31:45,190 --> 00:31:42,799
the 332nd fighter group

737
00:31:47,190 --> 00:31:45,200
he led us right second and first

738
00:31:50,549 --> 00:31:47,200
lieutenants know that

739
00:31:52,070 --> 00:31:50,559
our job was there to protect american

740
00:31:54,230 --> 00:31:52,080
lives

741
00:31:56,789 --> 00:31:54,240
in fact i think he

742
00:31:59,110 --> 00:31:56,799
he actually said i'll court marshall the

743
00:32:00,710 --> 00:31:59,120
pilot that goes happy hunting

744
00:32:03,830 --> 00:32:00,720
well i don't know how many of you know

745
00:32:06,549 --> 00:32:03,840
what happy hunting is but all of

746
00:32:10,950 --> 00:32:06,559
young pilots want to be an ace

747
00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:13,509
he said

748
00:32:18,230 --> 00:32:15,029
to us

749
00:32:20,389 --> 00:32:18,240
we're there to save american lives

750
00:32:23,350 --> 00:32:20,399
so we only left the

751
00:32:26,310 --> 00:32:23,360
bombers if dispatched or if the bombers

752
00:32:27,590 --> 00:32:26,320
we were escorting

753
00:32:29,350 --> 00:32:27,600
were attacked

754
00:32:30,710 --> 00:32:29,360
even though there were german aircraft

755
00:32:32,870 --> 00:32:30,720
in the air

756
00:32:36,710 --> 00:32:32,880
we didn't leave the bombers to go find

757
00:32:39,110 --> 00:32:36,720
them we only left them if the

758
00:32:41,990 --> 00:32:39,120
german fighters tried to penetrate the

759
00:32:43,990 --> 00:32:42,000
bomber stream that we were escorting and

760
00:32:45,830 --> 00:32:44,000
that that paid off

761
00:32:46,950 --> 00:32:45,840
um

762
00:32:48,950 --> 00:32:46,960
the uh

763
00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:48,960
analysis and the picture up here you see

764
00:32:53,190 --> 00:32:50,480
the red tail

765
00:32:54,630 --> 00:32:53,200
and number one is probably why the red

766
00:32:56,470 --> 00:32:54,640
tail if

767
00:32:58,149 --> 00:32:56,480
it was a war story

768
00:33:00,389 --> 00:32:58,159
they probably heard that some pilots

769
00:33:03,190 --> 00:33:00,399
said painted red

770
00:33:05,029 --> 00:33:03,200
though i mentioned the four groups

771
00:33:07,590 --> 00:33:05,039
picked from 12th air force when they

772
00:33:09,269 --> 00:33:07,600
joined 15th air force

773
00:33:11,350 --> 00:33:09,279
the four groups

774
00:33:13,909 --> 00:33:11,360
one was yellowtail

775
00:33:17,110 --> 00:33:13,919
one was candied stripe one was

776
00:33:19,909 --> 00:33:17,120
checkerboard 332nd private group red

777
00:33:22,789 --> 00:33:19,919
tail and the reason was fortunately

778
00:33:24,789 --> 00:33:22,799
somebody at 15th air force realized

779
00:33:26,789 --> 00:33:24,799
the bomber

780
00:33:28,870 --> 00:33:26,799
crews need to know these aircraft

781
00:33:30,389 --> 00:33:28,880
suddenly showing up are friendly not

782
00:33:32,710 --> 00:33:30,399
german

783
00:33:35,669 --> 00:33:32,720
and and

784
00:33:38,389 --> 00:33:35,679
the red tails turned out to be one of

785
00:33:39,669 --> 00:33:38,399
them and that story has kind of stuck

786
00:33:42,230 --> 00:33:39,679
because

787
00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:47,990
of our leadership under bill davis jr

788
00:33:52,230 --> 00:33:49,830
some of the bomb ghosts

789
00:33:54,310 --> 00:33:52,240
not knowing the red tails were black

790
00:33:56,149 --> 00:33:54,320
pilots but said

791
00:33:57,590 --> 00:33:56,159
by request

792
00:34:00,310 --> 00:33:57,600
if we can get the

793
00:34:02,310 --> 00:34:00,320
red tails they were happy

794
00:34:05,350 --> 00:34:02,320
but it's because of the leadership that

795
00:34:08,310 --> 00:34:05,360
we had under bill davis jr and

796
00:34:11,909 --> 00:34:08,320
so we didn't come home with an ace

797
00:34:14,230 --> 00:34:11,919
we had one almost

798
00:34:15,430 --> 00:34:14,240
but but that's how that came about when

799
00:34:17,109 --> 00:34:15,440
you hear the

800
00:34:19,669 --> 00:34:17,119
the words it's

801
00:34:21,750 --> 00:34:19,679
important to understand what was behind

802
00:34:24,310 --> 00:34:21,760
it

803
00:34:25,750 --> 00:34:24,320
what a great job so as a result of that

804
00:34:29,349 --> 00:34:25,760
um

805
00:34:33,030 --> 00:34:29,359
forces after the war

806
00:34:34,790 --> 00:34:33,040
yes well really before the two stories

807
00:34:38,550 --> 00:34:34,800
and i don't know that many folks

808
00:34:41,750 --> 00:34:38,560
understand the army never changed the

809
00:34:47,510 --> 00:34:44,389
the really there are five phases to the

810
00:34:50,230 --> 00:34:47,520
tuskegee experience

811
00:34:53,990 --> 00:34:50,240
the 99th pursuit squadron is phase one

812
00:34:55,909 --> 00:34:54,000
332nd fighter group phase two

813
00:34:59,190 --> 00:34:55,919
when i graduated in

814
00:35:01,349 --> 00:34:59,200
june of 43 my white instructor said

815
00:35:03,030 --> 00:35:01,359
too bad that might have obama pearl

816
00:35:05,430 --> 00:35:03,040
program for you guys because i think

817
00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:05,440
you'd make a good bomber pilot i didn't

818
00:35:11,109 --> 00:35:06,450
ask him what he meant

819
00:35:13,190 --> 00:35:11,119
[Laughter]

820
00:35:15,190 --> 00:35:13,200
he didn't know nor did i they had

821
00:35:17,510 --> 00:35:15,200
already approved and

822
00:35:19,670 --> 00:35:17,520
three months later they

823
00:35:21,990 --> 00:35:19,680
started medium bomber training at

824
00:35:25,349 --> 00:35:22,000
tuskegee army airfield

825
00:35:31,430 --> 00:35:25,359
so phase three of the experience 477's

826
00:35:36,950 --> 00:35:34,560
they're training to go the pacific

827
00:35:39,109 --> 00:35:36,960
[Music]

828
00:35:41,910 --> 00:35:39,119
part of their story well i think it was

829
00:35:45,190 --> 00:35:41,920
a pittsburgh courier and some folks some

830
00:35:47,349 --> 00:35:45,200
of you may know that a courier

831
00:35:50,870 --> 00:35:47,359
wrote an article once saying oh we're

832
00:35:53,190 --> 00:35:50,880
fighting for two victories victory over

833
00:35:56,630 --> 00:35:53,200
hitler and europe and

834
00:35:59,109 --> 00:35:56,640
victory over racism here at home

835
00:36:01,589 --> 00:35:59,119
that affected the bomb

836
00:36:04,150 --> 00:36:01,599
bomb group we went through some problems

837
00:36:06,470 --> 00:36:04,160
moving from tuskegee to

838
00:36:08,790 --> 00:36:06,480
michigan

839
00:36:14,630 --> 00:36:11,349
colonel selway the commander of the base

840
00:36:16,630 --> 00:36:14,640
where the 99th was i mean where the port

841
00:36:20,390 --> 00:36:16,640
77 was training

842
00:36:22,870 --> 00:36:20,400
had general hunters okay to say that

843
00:36:24,550 --> 00:36:22,880
even though army regulation had already

844
00:36:26,950 --> 00:36:24,560
been written that there should be no

845
00:36:30,630 --> 00:36:26,960
segregation based on grace creed and

846
00:36:35,030 --> 00:36:33,349
gave colonel's cell way the okay to say

847
00:36:37,589 --> 00:36:35,040
on his base

848
00:36:39,030 --> 00:36:37,599
trainees can only use the facility he

849
00:36:41,430 --> 00:36:39,040
designated

850
00:36:43,990 --> 00:36:41,440
why was that he didn't want black paws

851
00:36:45,270 --> 00:36:44,000
going into the the white officers club

852
00:36:46,150 --> 00:36:45,280
if you will

853
00:36:48,550 --> 00:36:46,160
um

854
00:36:50,550 --> 00:36:48,560
army regulations in fact at that time

855
00:36:53,349 --> 00:36:50,560
your club dues were taken out of your

856
00:36:55,030 --> 00:36:53,359
pay before you even received officers

857
00:36:56,550 --> 00:36:55,040
477

858
00:36:59,349 --> 00:36:56,560
fully aware

859
00:37:02,069 --> 00:36:59,359
army rules

860
00:37:03,670 --> 00:37:02,079
tried to peacefully in the so-called

861
00:37:06,150 --> 00:37:03,680
white club

862
00:37:09,190 --> 00:37:06,160
colonel selway upset

863
00:37:11,510 --> 00:37:09,200
called the officers in please read my

864
00:37:17,030 --> 00:37:11,520
regulation again and sign

865
00:37:20,310 --> 00:37:19,109
the officers knew what the regulation

866
00:37:21,349 --> 00:37:20,320
was

867
00:37:24,390 --> 00:37:21,359
they

868
00:37:27,030 --> 00:37:24,400
tried in twos and threes peacefully in

869
00:37:29,990 --> 00:37:27,040
the white club were denied

870
00:37:33,109 --> 00:37:30,000
that upset colonel selway of course

871
00:37:35,109 --> 00:37:33,119
so we asked him please sign this

872
00:37:37,910 --> 00:37:35,119
read my regulation again sign that

873
00:37:40,230 --> 00:37:37,920
you'll agree 101 refused and were

874
00:37:41,750 --> 00:37:40,240
immediately shipped off from seymour

875
00:37:44,790 --> 00:37:41,760
indiana to

876
00:37:47,030 --> 00:37:44,800
godmanfield kentucky guarded

877
00:37:52,310 --> 00:37:47,040
behind the worst treatment than german

878
00:37:55,990 --> 00:37:53,430
but they

879
00:38:00,390 --> 00:37:56,000
that brought a hearing

880
00:38:04,710 --> 00:38:01,910
i don't know where they sent colonel

881
00:38:06,150 --> 00:38:04,720
cell away but

882
00:38:07,580 --> 00:38:06,160
the

883
00:38:11,510 --> 00:38:07,590
army finally said

884
00:38:16,550 --> 00:38:13,510
war is over

885
00:38:19,270 --> 00:38:16,560
332nd fire group has come back home

886
00:38:22,390 --> 00:38:19,280
we'll have the 477th composite group

887
00:38:24,230 --> 00:38:22,400
we'll keep two of the b-25 squadrons

888
00:38:26,870 --> 00:38:24,240
um

889
00:38:32,870 --> 00:38:30,310
reactivate the 99th

890
00:38:34,950 --> 00:38:32,880
goblin field too small

891
00:38:41,150 --> 00:38:34,960
oh we'll open up

892
00:38:48,150 --> 00:38:44,870
477 composite group moves

893
00:38:54,069 --> 00:38:52,950
19 of course the war was over in 45 1946

894
00:38:55,910 --> 00:38:54,079
training

895
00:38:58,550 --> 00:38:55,920
was

896
00:39:00,870 --> 00:38:58,560
dying down those of us that were a

897
00:39:03,750 --> 00:39:00,880
tuskegee at that time hadn't come home

898
00:39:06,470 --> 00:39:03,760
and were in training programs there word

899
00:39:11,390 --> 00:39:06,480
we go lockburn air base

900
00:39:17,349 --> 00:39:15,270
1947 the air force separated from the

901
00:39:18,950 --> 00:39:17,359
ground forces

902
00:39:21,990 --> 00:39:18,960
in the air force

903
00:39:24,470 --> 00:39:22,000
oh everybody wasn't for integration

904
00:39:26,790 --> 00:39:24,480
but they determined you know we need to

905
00:39:30,790 --> 00:39:26,800
use people based on training and

906
00:39:35,750 --> 00:39:33,430
to fill our fulfill our needs not

907
00:39:38,069 --> 00:39:35,760
separated because of

908
00:39:39,580 --> 00:39:38,079
happenstance of births and we're not

909
00:39:41,109 --> 00:39:39,590
getting enough money to

910
00:39:44,310 --> 00:39:41,119
[Music]

911
00:39:46,310 --> 00:39:44,320
keep a base open lock burn

912
00:39:47,510 --> 00:39:46,320
and not able to

913
00:39:48,470 --> 00:39:47,520
fully

914
00:39:51,349 --> 00:39:48,480
use it

915
00:39:53,030 --> 00:39:51,359
based on our needs because of

916
00:39:54,950 --> 00:39:53,040
trying to keep

917
00:39:57,990 --> 00:39:54,960
keep it segregated so we need to

918
00:40:00,069 --> 00:39:58,000
integrate they were back a few months

919
00:40:01,910 --> 00:40:00,079
later by a very courageous president

920
00:40:03,910 --> 00:40:01,920
harry truman

921
00:40:06,630 --> 00:40:03,920
i think he's the president said the buck

922
00:40:07,829 --> 00:40:06,640
stopped here but he issued executive

923
00:40:09,510 --> 00:40:07,839
order

924
00:40:10,870 --> 00:40:09,520
9981

925
00:40:12,870 --> 00:40:10,880
mandating

926
00:40:14,950 --> 00:40:12,880
all of the services

927
00:40:17,270 --> 00:40:14,960
need to integrate

928
00:40:19,109 --> 00:40:17,280
well folks if you don't know the history

929
00:40:21,430 --> 00:40:19,119
the air force

930
00:40:23,109 --> 00:40:21,440
led the country

931
00:40:25,670 --> 00:40:23,119
in integration

932
00:40:28,870 --> 00:40:25,680
now that's a statement that's on that

933
00:40:30,950 --> 00:40:28,880
everything takes takes time

934
00:40:32,470 --> 00:40:30,960
1949

935
00:40:35,030 --> 00:40:32,480
first of july

936
00:40:37,270 --> 00:40:35,040
the air force closed

937
00:40:39,750 --> 00:40:37,280
logbrine air base and we were scattered

938
00:40:40,550 --> 00:40:39,760
around the world

939
00:40:43,190 --> 00:40:40,560
well

940
00:40:45,109 --> 00:40:43,200
the army in the navy really

941
00:40:47,750 --> 00:40:45,119
came on board

942
00:40:49,750 --> 00:40:47,760
more fully during the korean

943
00:40:52,069 --> 00:40:49,760
time of

944
00:40:54,550 --> 00:40:52,079
korean war which came a few you know a

945
00:40:55,829 --> 00:40:54,560
few months few months later but that's

946
00:40:56,710 --> 00:40:55,839
the way

947
00:40:59,430 --> 00:40:56,720
the

948
00:41:01,510 --> 00:40:59,440
now

949
00:41:04,470 --> 00:41:01,520
called tuskegee airmen

950
00:41:05,510 --> 00:41:04,480
served our country

951
00:41:12,710 --> 00:41:05,520
and

952
00:41:16,309 --> 00:41:12,720
folks may not know

953
00:41:19,109 --> 00:41:16,319
the tuskegee program produced

954
00:41:21,829 --> 00:41:19,119
some 900 pilots there were some

955
00:41:24,470 --> 00:41:21,839
on pilots our story kind of get gets

956
00:41:26,069 --> 00:41:24,480
lost because they were then sent to

957
00:41:30,150 --> 00:41:26,079
individuals to

958
00:41:32,230 --> 00:41:30,160
our army units units as needed

959
00:41:35,030 --> 00:41:32,240
but

960
00:41:38,870 --> 00:41:35,040
that experience uh

961
00:41:43,030 --> 00:41:41,670
things to grow in in there you did it it

962
00:41:44,550 --> 00:41:43,040
broke the trail for the rest of us to

963
00:41:46,069 --> 00:41:44,560
come behind you and we well thank you

964
00:41:47,990 --> 00:41:46,079
for your service i personally thank you

965
00:41:50,069 --> 00:41:48,000
for making it an opportunity for me

966
00:41:52,510 --> 00:41:50,079
thank you for the statement

967
00:42:23,190 --> 00:41:52,520
around the faucet

968
00:42:26,950 --> 00:42:24,790
i assume there's going to be a question

969
00:42:28,870 --> 00:42:26,960
coming from about that

970
00:42:31,589 --> 00:42:28,880
we'll see what comes next sorry i was i

971
00:42:33,910 --> 00:42:31,599
fell down on the job i think yeah

972
00:42:35,510 --> 00:42:33,920
i was so riveted with the with the story

973
00:42:37,270 --> 00:42:35,520
it's hard to it's hard to kind of

974
00:42:39,750 --> 00:42:37,280
transition okay so we're going to take a

975
00:42:41,910 --> 00:42:39,760
couple of questions from the audience

976
00:42:43,990 --> 00:42:41,920
for general mcgee

977
00:42:45,829 --> 00:42:44,000
please uh we have hopefully we got a

978
00:42:54,150 --> 00:42:45,839
couple microphones here so please just

979
00:43:01,190 --> 00:42:56,950
name is uh robert weston

980
00:43:04,950 --> 00:43:03,670
i went to school down at tuskegee

981
00:43:06,950 --> 00:43:04,960
and i'm one of those guys who was

982
00:43:09,750 --> 00:43:06,960
following in your footsteps

983
00:43:10,630 --> 00:43:09,760
i always had a great deal of respect for

984
00:43:14,630 --> 00:43:10,640
you

985
00:43:17,510 --> 00:43:14,640
and uh it was far easier for us i went

986
00:43:19,670 --> 00:43:17,520
to tuskegee and was trained by

987
00:43:22,150 --> 00:43:19,680
uh one of the

988
00:43:24,870 --> 00:43:22,160
greatest pilots i ever met

989
00:43:26,390 --> 00:43:24,880
chief anderson

990
00:43:29,990 --> 00:43:26,400
that's a gentleman i know that you

991
00:43:32,470 --> 00:43:30,000
remember from tuskegee yes he trained uh

992
00:43:35,030 --> 00:43:32,480
uh also uh general james

993
00:43:36,710 --> 00:43:35,040
and many others at that afl

994
00:43:38,950 --> 00:43:36,720
but i just wanted to let you know

995
00:43:41,510 --> 00:43:38,960
there's somebody in the house here

996
00:43:51,990 --> 00:43:41,520
today who's from tuskegee

997
00:43:56,790 --> 00:43:54,710
what is key is that you mentioned

998
00:44:00,069 --> 00:43:56,800
people

999
00:44:01,910 --> 00:44:00,079
as i say segregation wasn't changed but

1000
00:44:03,829 --> 00:44:01,920
there were people who believed in the

1001
00:44:06,710 --> 00:44:03,839
opportunity

1002
00:44:10,150 --> 00:44:06,720
and did a lot to assure that

1003
00:44:12,630 --> 00:44:10,160
the opportunity didn't didn't disappear

1004
00:44:13,589 --> 00:44:12,640
and fortunately

1005
00:44:16,470 --> 00:44:13,599
we

1006
00:44:19,349 --> 00:44:16,480
prevailed in the way that

1007
00:44:21,990 --> 00:44:19,359
it became meaningful meaningful for many

1008
00:44:23,430 --> 00:44:22,000
others as you say you say you stand on

1009
00:44:25,109 --> 00:44:23,440
our shoulders well

1010
00:44:26,790 --> 00:44:25,119
all that says

1011
00:44:28,069 --> 00:44:26,800
it's awful good that we were strong

1012
00:44:29,349 --> 00:44:28,079
enough and

1013
00:44:31,270 --> 00:44:29,359
tall

1014
00:44:33,030 --> 00:44:31,280
enough for you to

1015
00:44:35,829 --> 00:44:33,040
to make that step but

1016
00:44:38,950 --> 00:44:35,839
thank you chief anderson you know

1017
00:44:40,710 --> 00:44:38,960
tuskegee institute had a very good

1018
00:44:43,670 --> 00:44:40,720
survival

1019
00:44:44,010 --> 00:44:43,680
civilian pilot training program

1020
00:44:47,109 --> 00:44:44,020
and

1021
00:44:47,990 --> 00:44:47,119
[Music]

1022
00:44:50,470 --> 00:44:48,000
chief

1023
00:44:55,349 --> 00:44:50,480
charles alfred anderson

1024
00:44:59,030 --> 00:44:55,359
was a self-taught pilot in the 30s

1025
00:45:01,349 --> 00:44:59,040
wanted to fly but because he was black

1026
00:45:02,630 --> 00:45:01,359
he didn't have any help there were a

1027
00:45:04,870 --> 00:45:02,640
couple of the

1028
00:45:07,109 --> 00:45:04,880
army pilots understand across the

1029
00:45:08,950 --> 00:45:07,119
country i think one's in arkansas or

1030
00:45:11,270 --> 00:45:08,960
somewhere like that that helped

1031
00:45:13,190 --> 00:45:11,280
blacks get into aviation but many in

1032
00:45:15,910 --> 00:45:13,200
that early year

1033
00:45:18,710 --> 00:45:15,920
had to help themselves charles alford

1034
00:45:21,750 --> 00:45:18,720
anderson was one of it

1035
00:45:25,030 --> 00:45:23,349
i know whether he borrowed some money or

1036
00:45:27,030 --> 00:45:25,040
was given to him

1037
00:45:30,230 --> 00:45:27,040
bought an airplane

1038
00:45:33,349 --> 00:45:30,240
and taught himself to fly

1039
00:45:37,190 --> 00:45:33,359
but he'd love to teach others to fly

1040
00:45:37,990 --> 00:45:37,200
and probably had over 60 000 hours when

1041
00:45:42,710 --> 00:45:38,000
he

1042
00:45:45,829 --> 00:45:42,720
always loved to

1043
00:45:49,190 --> 00:45:45,839
help somebody else and part of our story

1044
00:45:50,309 --> 00:45:49,200
is eleanor roosevelt visited tuskegee i

1045
00:45:53,109 --> 00:45:50,319
think it was

1046
00:45:54,710 --> 00:45:53,119
for rules and all fund program activity

1047
00:45:56,870 --> 00:45:54,720
funds that maybe have helped him to

1048
00:45:57,990 --> 00:45:56,880
build molten field

1049
00:46:00,470 --> 00:45:58,000
whatever

1050
00:46:01,510 --> 00:46:00,480
but while there she

1051
00:46:04,470 --> 00:46:01,520
flew

1052
00:46:07,829 --> 00:46:04,480
with charles alfred anderson some

1053
00:46:10,950 --> 00:46:07,839
30 minutes of course her

1054
00:46:12,069 --> 00:46:10,960
escorts were upset and even i understand

1055
00:46:13,990 --> 00:46:12,079
they say

1056
00:46:15,430 --> 00:46:14,000
they called washington said she wants to

1057
00:46:17,750 --> 00:46:15,440
fly with the black

1058
00:46:19,250 --> 00:46:17,760
i understand that her husband said if

1059
00:46:22,790 --> 00:46:19,260
she wants to fly she can

1060
00:46:24,710 --> 00:46:22,800
[Laughter]

1061
00:46:26,630 --> 00:46:24,720
but

1062
00:46:27,750 --> 00:46:26,640
that's a part of the program type of

1063
00:46:30,309 --> 00:46:27,760
person

1064
00:46:31,910 --> 00:46:30,319
charles alfred anderson was

1065
00:46:34,630 --> 00:46:31,920
he became

1066
00:46:37,349 --> 00:46:34,640
the head of the

1067
00:46:39,670 --> 00:46:37,359
primary training program for tuskegee

1068
00:46:41,990 --> 00:46:39,680
institute that took place for us at boat

1069
00:46:44,950 --> 00:46:42,000
and field and of course then for basic

1070
00:46:46,630 --> 00:46:44,960
advance we went out to the army airfield

1071
00:46:49,109 --> 00:46:46,640
but

1072
00:46:51,030 --> 00:46:49,119
chief was a wonderful person and

1073
00:46:53,589 --> 00:46:51,040
continued to fly

1074
00:46:57,030 --> 00:46:53,599
i think until just a few

1075
00:46:59,270 --> 00:46:57,040
weeks before his death

1076
00:47:01,510 --> 00:46:59,280
chappie james

1077
00:47:03,270 --> 00:47:01,520
when i

1078
00:47:05,589 --> 00:47:03,280
entered

1079
00:47:07,990 --> 00:47:05,599
my training

1080
00:47:10,470 --> 00:47:08,000
daniel chappie james

1081
00:47:12,950 --> 00:47:10,480
was an instructor with tuskegee

1082
00:47:15,670 --> 00:47:12,960
institute's civilian pilot training

1083
00:47:19,030 --> 00:47:15,680
program but you have to understand

1084
00:47:21,349 --> 00:47:19,040
chapter term he could play football

1085
00:47:23,589 --> 00:47:21,359
he could direct a band he could probably

1086
00:47:26,470 --> 00:47:23,599
play all the instruments

1087
00:47:29,430 --> 00:47:26,480
in the band quite an all-around person

1088
00:47:34,230 --> 00:47:29,440
but he was an instructor in tuskegee

1089
00:47:37,589 --> 00:47:36,150
somewhere along there they were all

1090
00:47:40,230 --> 00:47:37,599
civilian

1091
00:47:43,270 --> 00:47:40,240
the army wanted them to become

1092
00:47:45,990 --> 00:47:43,280
come on active duty most of them wanted

1093
00:47:48,069 --> 00:47:46,000
the state's division he chose to come on

1094
00:47:51,589 --> 00:47:48,079
that day so he immediately went through

1095
00:47:54,390 --> 00:47:51,599
basic in advance and as you know became

1096
00:47:55,990 --> 00:47:54,400
our country's first black four-star

1097
00:47:57,430 --> 00:47:56,000
general

1098
00:47:58,750 --> 00:47:57,440
but again

1099
00:48:04,950 --> 00:47:58,760
opportunity please

1100
00:48:06,790 --> 00:48:04,960
[Applause]

1101
00:48:08,549 --> 00:48:06,800
even because of his

1102
00:48:10,630 --> 00:48:08,559
interest in what he has done for

1103
00:48:13,510 --> 00:48:10,640
aviation i believe it's

1104
00:48:14,549 --> 00:48:13,520
the family there's there is a tuskegee i

1105
00:48:17,349 --> 00:48:14,559
mean a

1106
00:48:19,670 --> 00:48:17,359
charles alfred anderson foundation

1107
00:48:21,109 --> 00:48:19,680
today still carrying on the name of

1108
00:48:23,910 --> 00:48:21,119
someone who

1109
00:48:26,230 --> 00:48:23,920
loved to fly and did so much for

1110
00:48:28,630 --> 00:48:26,240
our growth in aviation

1111
00:48:31,910 --> 00:48:28,640
here in the country

1112
00:48:36,549 --> 00:48:34,470
there's another question yeah you know

1113
00:48:38,549 --> 00:48:36,559
we're going to run a little short on

1114
00:48:41,030 --> 00:48:38,559
time so we're going to move on to the

1115
00:48:43,349 --> 00:48:41,040
the presentation i just let me thank

1116
00:48:44,630 --> 00:48:43,359
colonel drew and and and general mcgee

1117
00:48:46,549 --> 00:48:44,640
thank you i think all of us could sit

1118
00:48:48,430 --> 00:48:46,559
here almost all day and listen to your

1119
00:48:52,230 --> 00:48:48,440
story it's just amazing

1120
00:48:52,860 --> 00:48:52,240
[Applause]

1121
00:48:54,309 --> 00:48:52,870
okay

1122
00:48:57,190 --> 00:48:54,319
[Applause]

1123
00:48:59,030 --> 00:48:57,200
so i am going to bring up back up

1124
00:49:01,270 --> 00:48:59,040
melanie saunders and i'm also going to

1125
00:49:04,069 --> 00:49:01,280
bring up judea taylor dunn and laverne

1126
00:49:18,549 --> 00:49:04,079
randolph to do the presentation and some

1127
00:49:22,790 --> 00:49:20,470
general mcgee we have a little something

1128
00:49:23,829 --> 00:49:22,800
for you um that aligns with nasa

1129
00:49:25,430 --> 00:49:23,839
tradition

1130
00:49:27,190 --> 00:49:25,440
um thank you very much for joining us

1131
00:49:29,190 --> 00:49:27,200
here today what an honor and a privilege

1132
00:49:31,109 --> 00:49:29,200
it is for all of us to hear you talk

1133
00:49:34,710 --> 00:49:31,119
about your amazing career

1134
00:49:36,549 --> 00:49:34,720
in life um so uh this memento which

1135
00:49:39,430 --> 00:49:36,559
they're gonna unveil in a minute

1136
00:49:41,510 --> 00:49:39,440
it's a um includes uh space shuttle

1137
00:49:43,270 --> 00:49:41,520
program pins which are the official nasa

1138
00:49:44,870 --> 00:49:43,280
editions and contain metal flown aboard

1139
00:49:47,510 --> 00:49:44,880
a space shuttle mission

1140
00:49:49,190 --> 00:49:47,520
these united states and ohio state flags

1141
00:49:52,230 --> 00:49:49,200
were flown to the international space

1142
00:49:56,309 --> 00:49:52,240
station aboard the last shuttle flight

1143
00:49:58,470 --> 00:49:56,319
aboard sts-135 july 8th 2011

1144
00:50:00,230 --> 00:49:58,480
to july 21st 2011

1145
00:50:02,790 --> 00:50:00,240
and nasa is presenting this to you in

1146
00:50:04,870 --> 00:50:02,800
honor of the courage the leadership and

1147
00:50:06,710 --> 00:50:04,880
innovation that you have consistently

1148
00:50:07,990 --> 00:50:06,720
demonstrated throughout a lifetime of

1149
00:50:09,829 --> 00:50:08,000
achievement

1150
00:50:12,309 --> 00:50:09,839
in the field of aviation for the

1151
00:50:14,470 --> 00:50:12,319
inspiration that you provide to the next

1152
00:50:16,790 --> 00:50:14,480
generation of air and space travelers

1153
00:50:19,109 --> 00:50:16,800
and for your service to our nation

1154
00:50:20,549 --> 00:50:19,119
we offer our deepest gratitude from the

1155
00:50:23,190 --> 00:50:20,559
national aeronautics and space

1156
00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:23,200
administration february 2020. thank you

1157
00:50:51,030 --> 00:50:24,610
very much

1158
00:50:51,040 --> 00:51:05,430
thank you

1159
00:51:09,190 --> 00:51:06,870
to say a word

1160
00:51:12,150 --> 00:51:09,200
in thanks

1161
00:51:13,589 --> 00:51:12,160
to me what's most important and i'd like

1162
00:51:16,950 --> 00:51:13,599
to pass on

1163
00:51:22,069 --> 00:51:19,349
are you mentoring a youngster coming

1164
00:51:24,950 --> 00:51:22,079
along behind you

1165
00:51:27,109 --> 00:51:24,960
whether it's in your family

1166
00:51:28,710 --> 00:51:27,119
in your neighborhood

1167
00:51:31,990 --> 00:51:28,720
or in the city

1168
00:51:33,829 --> 00:51:32,000
there are youngsters needing that

1169
00:51:35,349 --> 00:51:33,839
if you don't have a

1170
00:51:37,349 --> 00:51:35,359
mentor

1171
00:51:38,790 --> 00:51:37,359
somewhere in your neighborhood there is

1172
00:51:40,069 --> 00:51:38,800
one

1173
00:51:42,390 --> 00:51:40,079
in need

1174
00:51:44,870 --> 00:51:42,400
don't overlook that

1175
00:51:48,390 --> 00:51:44,880
because those young folks

1176
00:51:51,030 --> 00:51:48,400
are the future are a few space walkers i

1177
00:51:53,030 --> 00:51:51,040
tell middle school when i talked to them

1178
00:51:54,309 --> 00:51:53,040
and said you all know we're going to

1179
00:51:56,069 --> 00:51:54,319
mars

1180
00:51:57,589 --> 00:51:56,079
oh yeah yeah

1181
00:51:58,870 --> 00:51:57,599
i said guess who's going to make the

1182
00:52:00,790 --> 00:51:58,880
trip

1183
00:52:02,549 --> 00:52:00,800
when it gets all planned i think the

1184
00:52:06,790 --> 00:52:02,559
planners are going to be too old and

1185
00:52:11,030 --> 00:52:09,190
it's a message we need to take all

1186
00:52:13,270 --> 00:52:11,040
across our country

1187
00:52:16,630 --> 00:52:13,280
and that's why i say to you

1188
00:52:19,510 --> 00:52:16,640
if you aren't mentoring a youngster

1189
00:52:22,069 --> 00:52:19,520
find one because out there and they are

1190
00:52:23,190 --> 00:52:22,079
in need and they are our future of our

1191
00:52:24,950 --> 00:52:23,200
country

1192
00:52:27,589 --> 00:52:24,960
so please

1193
00:52:29,510 --> 00:52:27,599
thank you so much for the recognition

1194
00:52:47,589 --> 00:52:29,520
that

1195
00:52:47,599 --> 00:52:54,670
um

1196
00:52:54,680 --> 00:53:00,309
[Applause]

1197
00:53:06,549 --> 00:53:02,790
at this time we want to also thank

1198
00:53:08,549 --> 00:53:06,559
our colonel alvin benjamin alvin drew

1199
00:53:11,349 --> 00:53:08,559
we'd like to thank you for your support

1200
00:53:13,670 --> 00:53:11,359
of nasa headquarters chapter big

1201
00:53:16,870 --> 00:53:13,680
your service to nasa

1202
00:53:18,390 --> 00:53:16,880
our nation and to humankind so will you

1203
00:53:30,600 --> 00:53:18,400
please accept this token of our

1204
00:53:30,610 --> 00:53:36,470
[Applause]

1205
00:53:47,349 --> 00:53:37,600
here

1206
00:53:47,359 --> 00:54:08,069
i want to see what's inside

1207
00:54:22,069 --> 00:54:10,910
there we go

1208
00:54:22,079 --> 00:54:33,670
thank you

1209
00:54:39,030 --> 00:54:36,630
okay so as my final duty today it's my

1210
00:54:42,190 --> 00:54:39,040
pleasure to introduce my colleague the

1211
00:54:49,589 --> 00:54:42,200
langley center director clayton turner

1212
00:54:51,829 --> 00:54:49,599
[Applause]

1213
00:54:53,829 --> 00:54:51,839
good afternoon it's been an honor and a

1214
00:54:55,750 --> 00:54:53,839
pleasure to hear from a distinguished

1215
00:54:58,630 --> 00:54:55,760
trailblazers brigadier general charles

1216
00:55:00,390 --> 00:54:58,640
mcgee and colonel alvin drew

1217
00:55:02,309 --> 00:55:00,400
their lives and their service to our

1218
00:55:04,069 --> 00:55:02,319
nation is inspiring

1219
00:55:06,710 --> 00:55:04,079
we are fortunate to have such role

1220
00:55:09,430 --> 00:55:06,720
models in our midst general mcgee

1221
00:55:12,630 --> 00:55:09,440
colonel drew are true trailblazers they

1222
00:55:13,910 --> 00:55:12,640
have blazed trails and pass for others

1223
00:55:16,069 --> 00:55:13,920
to follow

1224
00:55:18,870 --> 00:55:16,079
they both remind us that as you blaze a

1225
00:55:20,870 --> 00:55:18,880
trail you must leave a path and you must

1226
00:55:23,030 --> 00:55:20,880
be a guide

1227
00:55:25,349 --> 00:55:23,040
in that vein my first day as center

1228
00:55:27,670 --> 00:55:25,359
director i spent with a classroom full

1229
00:55:29,990 --> 00:55:27,680
of four-year-olds creating a solar

1230
00:55:31,109 --> 00:55:30,000
system so imagine the revolving and

1231
00:55:33,030 --> 00:55:31,119
spinning in the glee of the

1232
00:55:34,630 --> 00:55:33,040
four-year-olds and then think about the

1233
00:55:36,789 --> 00:55:34,640
spark in those little minds that are

1234
00:55:38,390 --> 00:55:36,799
going to do as the general said take us

1235
00:55:40,870 --> 00:55:38,400
on to mars

1236
00:55:43,030 --> 00:55:40,880
i also spent time that same day with a

1237
00:55:45,349 --> 00:55:43,040
classroom full of three-year-olds and we

1238
00:55:48,390 --> 00:55:45,359
talked about gravity aerothermal

1239
00:55:49,430 --> 00:55:48,400
dynamics aerospace engineering and

1240
00:55:51,430 --> 00:55:49,440
coding

1241
00:55:53,190 --> 00:55:51,440
and i know that sounds wild but as i

1242
00:55:55,510 --> 00:55:53,200
explained gravity

1243
00:55:57,670 --> 00:55:55,520
a three-year-old when i asked why did

1244
00:56:00,230 --> 00:55:57,680
the ball fall to the ground

1245
00:56:03,349 --> 00:56:00,240
she told me because it wasn't a balloon

1246
00:56:05,990 --> 00:56:03,359
and she told me why the balloon went up

1247
00:56:08,390 --> 00:56:06,000
so if you have the opportunity as the

1248
00:56:10,710 --> 00:56:08,400
general said i highly recommend the

1249
00:56:12,630 --> 00:56:10,720
experience having a bumpy day go out and

1250
00:56:14,549 --> 00:56:12,640
talk to some three and four year olds go

1251
00:56:15,829 --> 00:56:14,559
out and talk to some middle schoolers go

1252
00:56:17,510 --> 00:56:15,839
out and talk to somebody and make a

1253
00:56:18,950 --> 00:56:17,520
difference in their lives

1254
00:56:21,349 --> 00:56:18,960
you know as i listened to our honored

1255
00:56:23,829 --> 00:56:21,359
guests and their amazing accomplishments

1256
00:56:25,829 --> 00:56:23,839
i thought about general mcgee's courage

1257
00:56:28,150 --> 00:56:25,839
and determination to break through

1258
00:56:30,630 --> 00:56:28,160
barriers and to overcome tremendous

1259
00:56:32,950 --> 00:56:30,640
obstacles to achieve accomplishments

1260
00:56:35,750 --> 00:56:32,960
that many thought impossible

1261
00:56:37,910 --> 00:56:35,760
and how he is still a trailblazer today

1262
00:56:40,390 --> 00:56:37,920
i thought about colonel drew achieving

1263
00:56:43,030 --> 00:56:40,400
his dream to become a pilot and on to

1264
00:56:45,829 --> 00:56:43,040
become an astronaut and how his example

1265
00:56:47,190 --> 00:56:45,839
illustrated that hard does not mean

1266
00:56:49,270 --> 00:56:47,200
impossible

1267
00:56:51,270 --> 00:56:49,280
how he is sharing that lesson and deeds

1268
00:56:53,109 --> 00:56:51,280
and words and how he is still a

1269
00:56:55,349 --> 00:56:53,119
trailblazer today

1270
00:56:57,990 --> 00:56:55,359
i thought about catherine johnson

1271
00:57:00,150 --> 00:56:58,000
mary jackson and dorothy vaughn and

1272
00:57:01,589 --> 00:57:00,160
their journey and the story we know so

1273
00:57:03,270 --> 00:57:01,599
well today

1274
00:57:05,750 --> 00:57:03,280
i thought about the countless number

1275
00:57:06,950 --> 00:57:05,760
whose names we don't know whose stories

1276
00:57:08,789 --> 00:57:06,960
we don't know

1277
00:57:11,109 --> 00:57:08,799
and how much they had to overcome and

1278
00:57:12,870 --> 00:57:11,119
how much they achieved and it's a legacy

1279
00:57:15,510 --> 00:57:12,880
that we honor today

1280
00:57:17,270 --> 00:57:15,520
just like general mcgee and colonel drew

1281
00:57:19,910 --> 00:57:17,280
at nasa we are part of making the

1282
00:57:22,630 --> 00:57:19,920
impossible possible as we celebrate our

1283
00:57:25,750 --> 00:57:22,640
two trailblazers let our celebration be

1284
00:57:28,309 --> 00:57:25,760
a call to action to follow their example

1285
00:57:31,030 --> 00:57:28,319
to overcome the challenges we still face

1286
00:57:32,230 --> 00:57:31,040
to inspire the nation as we take on the

1287
00:57:35,430 --> 00:57:32,240
impossible

1288
00:57:38,309 --> 00:57:35,440
just as power powered flight inspired

1289
00:57:41,190 --> 00:57:38,319
just as apollo inspired artemis will

1290
00:57:43,190 --> 00:57:41,200
inspire and as we land the first woman

1291
00:57:45,190 --> 00:57:43,200
and the next man on the moon

1292
00:57:47,990 --> 00:57:45,200
as we learn to live and work on the

1293
00:57:51,430 --> 00:57:48,000
lunar surface as we learn to leave home

1294
00:57:52,870 --> 00:57:51,440
planet and go on to mars we will inspire

1295
00:57:55,589 --> 00:57:52,880
a generation

1296
00:57:58,309 --> 00:57:55,599
we will do these amazing things and we

1297
00:58:01,030 --> 00:57:58,319
will as our honored guests have done

1298
00:58:04,069 --> 00:58:01,040
also inspire that generation the artemis

1299
00:58:07,270 --> 00:58:04,079
generation to not only join us but to be

1300
00:58:09,910 --> 00:58:07,280
prepared to go beyond us and to reach

1301
00:58:12,230 --> 00:58:09,920
for new heights to reveal the unknown

1302
00:58:13,670 --> 00:58:12,240
for the benefit of humankind

1303
00:58:16,390 --> 00:58:13,680
thank you for being part of today's

1304
00:58:19,190 --> 00:58:16,400
celebration and now it is my pleasure to

1305
00:58:22,230 --> 00:58:19,200
introduce the all souls church unitarian

1306
00:58:28,720 --> 00:58:22,240
choir who will lead us in the concluding

1307
00:58:28,730 --> 00:58:46,390
[Applause]

1308
00:58:54,349 --> 00:58:50,549
lift every voice

1309
00:59:00,309 --> 00:58:58,630
tiller then heaven

1310
00:59:12,789 --> 00:59:00,319
ring

1311
00:59:12,799 --> 00:59:17,870
let our rejoicing

1312
00:59:17,880 --> 00:59:24,910
rise high is the listening

1313
00:59:29,829 --> 00:59:26,630
skies

1314
00:59:33,100 --> 00:59:29,839
let it resound

1315
00:59:34,309 --> 00:59:33,110
loud as the road

1316
00:59:37,510 --> 00:59:34,319
[Music]

1317
00:59:39,910 --> 00:59:38,789
sing

1318
00:59:41,109 --> 00:59:39,920
a

1319
00:59:44,870 --> 00:59:41,119
song

1320
00:59:47,870 --> 00:59:44,880
full of the faith that the dark past has

1321
00:59:50,150 --> 00:59:47,880
taught us

1322
00:59:51,510 --> 00:59:50,160
singing a

1323
00:59:56,750 --> 00:59:51,520
song

1324
01:00:00,190 --> 00:59:56,760
full of the hope that the present has

1325
01:00:01,880 --> 01:00:00,200
brought us

1326
01:00:03,309 --> 01:00:01,890
facing the

1327
01:00:06,150 --> 01:00:03,319
[Music]

1328
01:00:09,670 --> 01:00:06,160
rising sun

1329
01:00:12,789 --> 01:00:09,680
of a new day

1330
01:00:17,030 --> 01:00:15,430
let us march on

1331
01:00:19,990 --> 01:00:17,040
till victory

1332
01:00:29,360 --> 01:00:20,000
[Music]

1333
01:00:38,069 --> 01:00:29,370
everywhere

1334
01:00:49,829 --> 01:00:40,370
ring with

1335
01:00:56,470 --> 01:00:52,700
let our rejoice

1336
01:01:02,300 --> 01:00:59,150
as the

1337
01:01:13,710 --> 01:01:02,310
listening skies

1338
01:01:17,510 --> 01:01:16,069
sing a

1339
01:01:21,589 --> 01:01:17,520
song

1340
01:01:24,470 --> 01:01:21,599
full of the faith that the darkness

1341
01:01:26,109 --> 01:01:24,480
taught

1342
01:01:28,630 --> 01:01:26,119
sing

1343
01:01:38,309 --> 01:01:28,640
a song

1344
01:01:44,700 --> 01:01:42,549
facing the rising

1345
01:02:27,670 --> 01:01:44,710
sun