Ron Armstead: Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust--Honored at the March 3, 2016 Breakfast2/27/2016 We celebrate the achievements of Ron Armstead, who is the Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust. He will be honored at the March 3, 2016 Black History Breakfast at the Boston Colonnade Hotel. Ron E. Armstead, is the Executive Director for the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans BraIntrust (CBCVB) located in Washington, DC, and a past consultant to the late Secretary Jesse Brown’s Veterans Administration’s Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. He has served as Executive Director of the CBCVB since its inception in 1988, first under Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), a decorated Korean War combat veteran and Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, and currently under Reps. Corrine Brown (D-FL), new Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Ranking Democratic Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Co-Chair of the bi-partisan Congressional Military Families Caucus.
Under his leadership the Veterans Braintrust has expanded from its small core group to become one of the premiere forums for policy debate between veterans of African descent and representatives of government in the country. Lastly, Ron holds a Master Degree in City Planning (MCP) with a concentration in Affordable Housing and Community Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is currently on an extended leave of absence from Howard University’s Graduate School of Social Work Doctoral Program focusing on Social Policy and Planning. The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.
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We celebrate the achievements of Kenn Turner, who served in the US Navy for 26 years before retiring in 2006. He will be honored at the March 3, 2016 Black History Breakfast at the Boston Colonnade Hotel.
============= Kenneth L. Turner, Director of Diversity & Inclusion/Compliance, joined the Authority in June 2013. He oversees and manages the Authority’s multiple diversity programs, including business and supplier diversity, workforce diversity, and airport concessions, as well as all compliance initiatives associated with Massport’s Disadvantaged/Minority/Women Business Enterprise programs. Prior to joining Massport, Mr. Turner served as Deputy Secretary for Administration & Finance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services. He also has over 20-years of general management and executive experience in various Fortune 100 companies including having served as a Senior Vice President at AOL Time Warner. A retired U.S. Navy Captain with 26-years of service, Mr. Turner began his military career as NRTOC scholarship midshipman and received his B.S. degree in Liberal Arts and a commission in the Navy from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge LA. Upon graduating college he completed the Submarine Officer Basic Course, the Torpedo Officer Course, and Tactical Weapons Officer Course at Naval Submarine Base New London; the C-3 Poseidon Missile Strategic Weapons Officer course at Naval Guided Missiles School Dam Neck; and the Trident C-4 Missile Strategic Weapons Officer course before reporting aboard USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN 634 Blue Crew) as Assistant Weapons Officer. During his initial sea tour Capt. Turner completed the officer submarine warfare requirements to receive his gold dolphins and was certified as a Strategic Nuclear Weapons Systems Officer. He was assigned shore duty at Naval Guided Missiles School Dam Neck where he served as course supervisor for the Prospective Commanding Officer/Executive Officer Trident C-4 Nuclear Weapons System Course and received his Master Training Specialist qualification. Transferring to the Naval Reserves Capt. Turner served in nine units over the course of 20-years and was selected as Commanding Officer of three reserve units: NR AFDM-6 Competent Det. 0618 Pearl Harbor; NR SUBASE Pearl Harbor Det. 918; COMSUBGRU 2 Det. 101 New London. After 911 he transferred to The Pentagon in Washington DC where he served on the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) OPNAV staff as Deputy Chief of Staff, Programming Division, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Resources, Warfare Requirements, and Assessments). Capt. Turner retired in 2006. Over the course of his career Captain Turner received numerous awards for his service to include: the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards); the Navy Achievement Medal (4 awards); the Navy Sea Ribbon (2 awards); the Armed Forces Reserve Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal. The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. From Left to Right: Enoch Woodhouse, Willie Shellman, Harvey Sanford, The Late William Vickers, Delbrook Binns and Dr. Harold May Photographer: Dennis Stein/Metrowest Daily News ===================================================================================== Our March 3, 2016 Black History Breakfast will pay tribute to the six LIVING New England area Tuskegee Airmen and the Tuskegee Airman who just passed away earlier in February. Below are their biographical profiles and the history of the New England chapter, headed by Willie Shellman. All will be honored at the Breakfast. Special Thanks to Willie Shellman for providing this article about these extraordinary men. -Carole Copeland Thomas A Short History of the Tuskegee Airmen and Biography Notes of Massachusetts Tuskegee Airmen The New England Chapter is based in Massachusetts and is one of approximately 50 chapters of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated (TAI) is a national civic organization that was formed in 1973. The goals of TAI are to:
On January 16, 1941 the War Department announced the formation of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, a black flying unit, to be trained at Tuskegee, Alabama, the home of the Tuskegee Institute. Thus the "Lonely Eagles," as the black pilots called themselves, became reality. The first class, which was designated 42-C, began on July 19, 1941. Five students completed the training and received their wings on March 7, 1942 The 99th was later joined other Tuskegee squadrons to form the 332nd Fighter Group. The 332nd flew P-40, P-39, P-47, and P-51 aircraft in combat throughout the Mediterranean and European Theaters and became a respected and decorated group of fighter pilots. The group was known as the "Red Tails" for their aircraft paint scheme. The bulk of the Black flyers were in the 332nd Fighter Group. Veterans of the 332nd Fighter group and newly trained pilots were used to form the 477th Bombardment Group. The Bombardment squadrons were equipped with B-26 aircraft and later with B-25s. The war ended before the 477th Bombardment Group was deployed overseas. From the inception of the 99th through the period that signaled the ending of World War II (1946), the following number of black combat flyers completed their training:
Class 46-C, which graduated on June 29, 1946, was the last pilot class to finish at TAAF. In order to support the black flyers ten times as many administrative and ground support personnel were trained. In order to keep the pilots flying the Army Air Corps trained and deployed Black servicemen in all the required support functions (mechanics, ground crew, nurses, etc.). The “Tuskegee Experiment” succeeded beyond the expectations of even those who proposed the program. The excellent record of the 332nd Fighter Group in combat led to a review of the War Department's racial policies and a presidential order in 1947 to desegregate the United States Armed Forces. There were 14 pilots and numerous support personnel from Massachusetts. Today the following Tuskegee Airmen are living in Massachusetts. *Raymond Baker entered the U.S. Army in 1944. He went to Biloxi MS for basic training and then was assigned to Tuskegee Army Airfield. After several months Raymond began pilot training as a member of Class 45I. The war ended before his completion of the flying program. Mr. Baker was discharged in July 5, 1946 and returned to Brockton, MA. *Jack Bryant grew up in Chicago, IL and followed his brother into pilot training in the Army Air Corp in 1945. The pilot training program at Tuskegee Army Air Field was discontinued before Jack’s class completed training and Jack was discharged in 1946. Jack entered the University of Michigan and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1961 Jack moved to Boston and started Bryant Engineering, a civil engineering firm specializing in major infrastructure projects. *George W. Giddings from Yonkers, N.Y attended Fisk University. He entered Aviation Cadet training in 1942 and was assigned to Class 43H at Tuskegee Army Air Field. Served until 1946. George was grounded due to an eye problem. He then attended Navigator training at Hondo AAF, Texas, Bombardier training at Roswell AAF, NM and Gunnery training at Yuma AAF, AZ and was discharged in 1946. *Harold May, MD. from Poughkeepsie NY, completed two years of undergraduate study at Harvard University before joining the Army Air Corp in 1945. The war ended before Harold could complete his pilot training and upon discharge he returned to Harvard University to complete his undergraduate studies and completed the medical degree program and Harvard Medical School. Dr. May began a missionary medical assignment in Haiti and stayed for eleven years. Upon his return to the United States Dr. May practiced medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital until retirement. Dr. May remains active as a founder and Board member of the humanitarian organization Family, a human service organization operating in Dorchester Massachusetts and Haiti. *Harvey F. Sanford graduated from the Boston Trade High School in Airplane Engine mechanics in 1944. In 1945 Harvey entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed at Tuskegee Army Air Field as an Air Inspector (Airplane and Engine) until his discharge in 1946. While at Tuskegee Harvey often traveled with the Base Commander while being responsible for the maintenance of the commander’s aircraft. And, from 1950 to 1952 during the Korean Conflict served in light Aviation Aircraft maintenance in the 272nd field Artillery group. Returning to Boston Harvey worked in aircraft research and development at Hanscom Air Force base until 1970. And, from 1970 until retirement in 1983 he worked as a FAA Airworthiness Inspector assigned to Logan Airport Boston, MA. *Enoch Woodhouse II, Esq. graduated from English High School in Boston, MA. Joined the U. S. Army Air Corps and completed the Officers Candidate School in 1946, at the age of 19. Served as Finance Officer for the 477th Bombardment Group at Lockbourne AF, OH. He was discharged from active duty in 1949 and joined the Air Force Reserves. While in the Air Force Reserves, Enoch attended Yale University and Boston University Law School. He was assigned to the Air Force JAG Office in 1956, while serving as a reservist at Hanscom AFB. Mr. Woodhouse retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lt. Colonel in 1972. Attorney Woodhouse practiced law in Boston and served as a Diplomatic Courier for the U.S. State Department in Europe, Africa and South America. He is former Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston and served as Public Member for Promotion of the State Department of Officers. Sadly, Mr. William Vickers passed away on February 2, 2016. Here is his biographical profile. *William Vickers graduated from Boston Trade High School and entered the U. S. Army in 1944 qualifying for assignment in Pilot Training program. Mr. Vickers took basic training at Kessler Field in Biloxi, MS. Mr. Vickers was stationed in Sebring Florida as a member of the B-17 Ground Crew. Later William was sent to Bombay India and stationed in the Assam Valley in India as part of the Air Transport Command. Upon discharge in 1946, Mr. Vickers joined the National Guard and was recalled to active duty in 1950 and stationed at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and later sent to Helicopter school before his release from active duty in 1952. Mr. Vickers continued to serve and retired from the National Guard after 22 years of service. **************** ![]() Willie Shellman joined Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. as a civilian in 1985 and currently serves as President of the New England Chapter. He graduated from high school in Chicago, IL. and later graduated from Tuskegee University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Willie was employed as an Auto Pilot Design Engineer on C-5 and F-14 aircrafts and as an Avionics Design Engineer in missile systems. Mr. Shellman majored in Business Administration at Northeastern University and was employed as a Sales Operations manager in the computer and internet industries. Mr. Shellman most recent employment was as the Executive Director of the YMCA Achievers Programs at the YMCA of Greater Boston. Mr. Shellman is currently retired. Having lived in several cities around the United States, Willie and his wife Maxine, along with their daughter and son have resided in Sudbury Massachusetts for the past thirty-five years. Acknowledgements: Many dedicated Massachusetts Tuskegee Airmen have preceded us in their Homecoming. We dearly remember George S. Lima, Jr. (Rhode Island), William Bennett, Vernon Burke, Charles Diggs, James Fischer, Lloyd Godfrey, Daniel Grant, Stephen Hargrove, Milton Hopkins, Fuzzy Hector, Luther McIlwain, James McLaurin, Allen Monroe, Daniel Moore, Robert Newton Sr., John Roach, Frank Roberts, Thomas Ross, Willis Saunders, Herman Wells and many others.
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Log Onto: www.blogtalkradio.com/globalcarole Listen LIVE or Download Anytime At This Blog Post. Each broadcast can be replayed immediately following the show. ======================== The military assumption of the 1930s was that Black men didn’t have the mental or physical capacity to fly airplanes. White wisdom, widespread racism and the steady hand of Jim Crow reinforced that assumption. So when America entered World War II in 1941, where would they turn to get the military and aviation manpower to fight off the Japanese, Germans, Italians and Austrians while protecting the American home front? The answer rested in the very Black men who were maligned and mistreated and assumed unfit for aviation duty. Their ranks would grow and their dignity and courage prevailed through unending discrimination and mistrust. They started out as members of the US Army Air Corps. They would later be known as the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. Today as Black History Month comes to a close, we pay tribute to the brave men who flew the planes, repaired them, maintained them, conducted military missions overseas and supervised the soldiers…The Tuskegee Airmen. And we’ll pay special tribute to the men we’ll honor at the March 3rd Black History Breakfast, including my father the late, 2nd Lieutenant Wilson A. Copeland who served with his fellow Tuskegee Airmen with dignity, pride and excellence. Black History IS American History! =============================== History of the Tuskegee Airmen For More Information visit: www.tuskegeeairmen.org This is the official organization for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The term, "Tuskegee Airmen," refers to the men and women, African-Americans and Caucasians, who were involved in the socalled "Tuskegee Experience", the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, radio operators, navigators, bombardiers, aircraft maintenance, support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air. Virtually all black military pilots during World War II received their primary flight training at Moton Field and then their basic and advanced flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF). Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) is headquartered in Tuskegee, Alabama (about 35 miles east of Montgomery), where the training of black military pilots during World War II began. There are currently 57 active chapters of TAI located in major cities and military installations throughout the United States. ============================= The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. Reverend Kenneth L. Whitley
Reverend Ken Whitley was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where he progressed through the public school system. After high school he headed for the University of Pittsburgh but his time in Pittsburgh was cut short. While at Pitt he considered applying for a Congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. He didn’t expect to get the nomination but he knew there was zero chance if he didn’t apply. To his surprise, he received an appointment from his US Congressman, which he quickly accepted. Four years later he graduated from the AF Academy in Colorado Springs CO with a Bachelors degree in one hand and an Air Force commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the other hand. Later in 1990 Rev Whitley added a MS degree in business to his academic credentials. After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Rev Whitley served his country for the next 26 years. For half of his career he served as a bomber crew member and the other half he spent as an acquisition officer. He retired in the rank of full Colonel. But more important is the fact that he never lost sight of his Christian roots. As a child, his parents and family friends made sure Ken was in church. Rev Whitley will tell you that even though he went through a period of weak church attendance, God was always in his life. Sometimes the devil puts distractions in our path but God is always there if we just look for him. As Rev Whitley approached the end of his military career, doors opened for him to follow his wife into seminary. He graduated from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary with a MDiv degree in 2008 and was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church that same year. Rev Whitley currently works as a civilian acquisition manager for the United States Air Force. He also serves as the assistant Pastor of People’s A.M.E. Church in Chelsea where his wife and long time friend, the Rev Dr. Sandra Gatlin Whitley serves as Pastor. Rev Whitley’s favorite scripture comes from Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ========== Reverend Dr. Sandra Gatlin Whitley The Reverend Dr. Sandra Gatlin Whitley shares the sentiments of her life journey as the Apostle Paul “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect…(1Cor. 15:10).” She is faithfully serving in her second career “calling’ as an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was appointed to Pastor the People’s A.M.E. Church in Chelsea MA during the 156th Session of the New England Annual Conference in 2007. She was born in Montgomery Alabama and the eldest daughter of eight. Her father was military giving the family the experience of living in many different parts of the world. After the separation and later divorce of her parents, Montgomery AL once again became home. She graduated from George Washington Carver High School and Alabama State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Prior to her calling to the ordained ministry, she served on active duty as a commissioned officer through the Air Force ROTC program. Dr. Whitley served our country for 22 dedicated years travelling to and serving in places like Texas, Japan, California, Colorado, Ohio, Washington D.C., including Massachusetts where she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. She had a successful Air Force contracting career with varied responsibilities in the acquisition and management of government contracts with private industry. She served as a Chief and Director of Contracting, a master instructor, a Department of Defense staff officer, policy-writer at the Pentagon and on special duty as Chief, Joint Operations on the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee in support of the 53rd Presidential Inauguration. On active duty, she earned her Masters Degree from Webster University in Business Management. She received numerous military awards and decorations. Dr. Sandra Whitley has dedicated her life to serving God through her relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. Her life’s experiences, education, and ministerial positions, all contributed to her dual calling as a military member and as a servant of the Lord fulfilling His “Great Commission,” while on active duty. At various military bases she was actively involved in chapel programs, including the Protestant Women of the Chapel on the local and regional levels. Upon making the transition for active duty to active ministry, someone shared “you are going from saving lives to saving souls.” She graduated from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary where she earned in 2004 dual degrees of a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts and in 2015 she was conferred a Doctor of Ministry degree. She is happily married to her friend and God-sent mate from Philadelphia PA, Reverend Kenneth L. Whitley. He also served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years as a navigator and acquisition program manager. Together they share the love of God, travel, photography, people, and spoiling their nieces, nephews and god-children. They now serve in ministry together. She is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Air Force Association, the Girl Scouts of America, a charter member of the Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial. She was appointed by Massachusetts Governor to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. She serves locally on the board of directors of Chelsea Rotary Club. She is a teacher, preacher, author, marriage and family pastoral counselor and Beloved Community advocate. She attests to the Apostle John’s revelation “…He testifies to what he has seen and heard…the man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit (John 3:32-33).” ============== The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. Biography Of The Late
Captain James Franklin Fitzgerald, M.D. U.S. Army Medical Corp Written by his Son in Law, Attorney Wilson A. Copeland, II Dr. James Franklin Fitzgerald was born in February,1919 to James and Lillian Fitzgerald and lived in Wilmington, Delaware from his birth through high school graduation. His undergraduate life was spent at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University, where he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, followed by what proved to be his inadvertent path to a most memorable military experience, matriculation at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he received his M.D. degree. Like all other American medical schools, Meharry was taken over by the United States Army during the Second World War due to the pressing need for physicians, dentists, and nurses in the Armed Forces. This situation resulted in the students essentially being conscripted, with their tuition being paid by the government, going to class in uniform, attending school year round, with graduations being conducted three times a year and culminating in reporting for duty following a one year internship. March of 1944 proved to be a busy month for James Franklin Fitzgerald; graduating from Meharry on the 19th, marrying Fisk University graduate, Alberta Price on the 26th, and establishing a new home for his bride and himself in Washington, D.C., where he would spend his next year as an intern at Howard University’s Freedom Hospital. While at Freedman’s, a pyrrhic victory of sorts occurred when a letter from the Army arrived advising him that the ebbing World War had resulted in a reduction of the need for health care professionals and he needn’t report for duty. Thus, upon completion of his internship, he headed for Detroit, Michigan to begin his practice and, where believing himself to be in the Army Reserve, he gave short shift to the letters from the U.S. Navy that arrived in the late 1940’s, believing them to be recruitment efforts and knowing the Navy was the least receptive of all the Armed Services about President Truman’s 1948 desegregation orders. The onset of hostilities in Korea were the precursor to a visit to his office from the two FBI agents who arrested him for failing to report for induction; it seems those ‘recruiting letters’ were in fact notices advising him that he had been transferred to the Naval Reserve. He was released from a federal detention cell that evening with the understanding he was to report for duty the next day. He did, entering the office of the Naval Recruiting Center that morning, the officer on duty took one look at him, asked with some degree of chagrin and incredulity, “You’re James Franklin Fitzgerald?” and receiving the affirmative reply, immediately blurted out, “There must be some mistake, just go home and we’ll contact you sometime in the future.” It seems the name James Franklin Fitzgerald fit someone ‘From the Old Sod’ – his skin color, however, did not – and the Navy realized there had indeed been a mistake. Over the next few months, an administrative transfer back to the Army took place and Captain James Franklin Fitzgerald, M.D. found himself in a MASH unit in Korea, where he served with distinction from 1952 to 1954. During the course of his service in Korea, Captain Fitzgerald was awarded three Purple Hearts. One coming as a result of assisting in a surgical procedure on a wounded GI and together with the rest of the surgical team, continuing the operation, despite incoming artillery shells, for this act the Purple Heart he was given for the injuries caused by those shells was accompanied by the Bronze Star. Returning to Detroit after completing his service to his country, Dr. Fitzgerald practiced medicine until his untimely death from an untreatable abdominal infection on Thanksgiving Day 1960 at the age of 41. He was survived by his wife, Alberta and their daughter, Deborah Fitzgerald Copeland. ==================== Deborah Fitzgerald Copeland will fly in from her home in Detroit, Michigan to received the Black History Month award on behalf of her late Father. Special Thanks to JET BLUE AIRLINES, who are Breakfast Sponsors and responsible for Mrs. Copeland's travel arrangements. =================== The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. I am so excited and proud about ALL of those who will be honored at our March 3rd Black History Breakfast. However, you need to read this biographical profile of a true American hero who followed his love of airplanes and never got sidetracked because of his race. The story of Harvey Sanford is so compelling that I urge you to share it with your children, friends, grandkids, colleagues and staff members to help them understand the true grit of these men of action. Harvey Sanford was a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen and is a current member of the New England Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Special thanks to Dr. Judith Sanford-Harris for sharing this wonderful profile about her father. It will make you proud of the outstanding achievements of African American men and women whose bravery and dedication have made our country great. Harvey Sanford is enjoying his retirement years with with his beautiful wife and family in suburban Boston. He will be honored at the March 3, 2016 Black History Breakfast at the Boston Colonnade Hotel. Come meet the heroes and sheroes and thank them for their dedicated service to America. Harvey F. Sanford Harvey was born on Hammond Street in Boston’s South End in 1926 to Oswald Sanford and Georgianna (Jones) Sanford. He was an only child and was lovingly called “Sonny” by his parents. As a boy he spent summers with his mother’s family in Annapolis, MD and is a connoisseur of crab cakes. He also went with his father each month to visit his Mashpee Wampanoag family on the Cape. His mother said that his favorite toy at a very early age was an airplane he made from popsicle sticks and his love of airplanes has continued through his lifetime. Harvey attended Boston Trade High School for Boys in the aeronautics program and played the fife in the school’s fife & drum corps. He was one of four students who completed his high school credits one year early, and the four were hired by what was then known at East Boston Airport to work as aircraft mechanics for their senior year. The airport was already familiar to him, as he had visited many times as a boy with his father to watch the trucks bring landfill to dump into the harbor to extend the runways. A year after graduation, in 1945, he was drafted and “…shipped to Tuskegee,” assigned to Squadron A, 385th Army Air Force Base Unit. He vividly remembers his train ride south to Chehaw Station, Alabama. Black passengers could sit anywhere when they got on the train in Boston but once they crossed the Mason-Dixon line in Washington, DC, they all had to get off of the train and move to the front car of the train – the one closest to the smoke and dust from the coal engine. Once at Tuskegee Army Air Field/Moton Field, they were lined up for jobs and Ralph White, who was from Boston and had been there for several months, recognized him and asked why he was there. Harvey said, “They told us we were going to build airplanes,” to which Ralph replied, “Already built.” Harvey explained what he’d been doing at East Boston Airport and Ralph took Harvey and his files to his boss, Major Boyd, second in command. Major Boyd said, “You’re just what we need. You’ll work for me and the base commander. You will have no other duties.” He than told Ralph to get Harvey a room. Harvey says, “I didn’t have stripe the first but I was with all non-coms.” Harvey was eventually promoted to the rank of sergeant. His job was to inspect all aircraft and engines after every 25 hours of flying, on the ground and during test flights with the pilots. Once per month he would fly Major Boyd and the base commander, Major Parrish, to Washington, DC for meetings and he would spend time with family in Annapolis. When he would return the next morning, his plane would have been moved and parked in a far corner of the air base, away from all of the “white” planes. Tuskegee, Alabama was a “dry” town. Now and then Harvey would have to fly to Chicago and, since he didn’t drink, the guys trusted him and would hive him money to buy liquor. Before leaving Chicago a truck would back up to the plane and load the liquor. Pat Evans, the Macon County sheriff and a notorious racist, never did figure out how liquor was getting onto the base. Evans was known for arresting black soldiers on false charges when they went into town and putting them to work on local chain gangs, so being able to bring the liquor in without Evans knowing how was a mini-victory. Harvey received an honorable discharge in October of 1946 and went to work at Fort Devens, MA as a National Guard aircraft mechanic. During the Korean Conflict, from 1950-52 he did light aviation aircraft maintenance with the 272nd Mass. National Guard Field Artillery, first in Wisconsin where it was so cold that guns didn’t fire, children got frostbite while sleeping, and water inside the barracks froze, and then in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. Part of his role during this time was to fly along the German border with Chuck Lee, also a Boston native, doing border patrol. He also served with Billy and “Lafe” Bingham, whom he knew from home. On his return home, his job was airforce research and development at Hanscom Air Base, including supervising the installation of test equipment. He was authorized to “run up” supersonic aircraft including the F101, F102, and F106, and other aircraft such as the T-39 and the KC-135. From 1974 until his retirement in 1984 he worked as an airworthiness inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at Logan Airport, specializing in accident investigation and the inspection of airline aircraft, and then as an FAA consultant. Harvey’s hobbies before retirement were building an extensive model railroad in his basement and one for his granddaughters, and building and flying radio control airplanes. Since retirement, Harvey has volunteered every Saturday with the Collings Foundation and with MayoCraft on aircraft restoration and repair. Aircraft have included a B-17, B-24, B-25, B-6, PT-17, T-6, Wright B-Flyer, two Piper Cubs, a 1911 Bleriot, and a Waco Cabin. The MayoCraft volunteers also built an airworthy P-26D from scratch. While with the Collings Foundation, Harvey and Ret. Col. John Roach flew the B-17 and B-25 to air shows around the country and took the public up for rides. As an Original Tuskegee Airman, Harvey is a member of the New England Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. In 1996 he was recognized as “the youngest African American maintenance inspector to take part in the advanced training group at the Tuskegee Army/Air Field” and in 2007 traveled to Washington DC as one of 300 recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, a prestigious award given by Congress for their service. He was also awarded an Honorary Citizen’s Award at the 73rd annual convention of the NAACP in Boston in 1982. As a member of the New England TAI chapter, he has received many certificates and accolades in appreciation of his and their service and their many presentations around New England to educate young people about the Tuskegee Airmen. Harvey’s first love is obviously airplanes in any shape or form, but his wife of 65 years, Alice (Taylor) Sanford and family are equally important. Harvey and Alice met when they were 12 years old and married shortly after her graduation from Wheaton College in 1950. They have one daughter, Dr. Judith Sanford-Harris, a son-in-law, Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Joseph Harris, and two granddaughters, Stacey and Stephanie Harris. Harvey was known over the years as the Mr. Fixit of his family, friends, and neighbors. He was often the go-to person for car repairs, plumbing, minor electrical repairs, and some construction and installation, skills he learned from his father, a talented auto mechanic. He never said no when asked for help. Harvey is a gentle man with a quiet, dry wit who has always played a strong, supporting role to everyone who knows him. If life were a movie, he’d win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor! The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.
Elaine Harris (left) and Doreen Harris (right) In addition to the those who served in the military, the March 3rd Black History Breakfast will pay tribute to a few community activists whose contributions have added value to our society at large. Today we celebrate the achievements of identical twins Elaine and Doreen Harris, retired educators, who continue to make a difference in Boston, India and around the world.
Elaine E. Harris Elaine Harris is a retired Special Needs Teacher from the Boston Public Schools. Elaine earned her Bachelor of Science from Boston University School of Education, Boston, MA., and a Master of Education from Cambridge, College, Cambridge, MA. Her career spanned 32 years of teaching Special Needs Students at the Grover Cleveland Middle School and The Curley K-8 School. While at the Grover Cleveland Middle School, Elaine served on the Instructional Leadership Team for several years as well as a member of the Performance Information Mapping Team, Education In-Dept Review Team and the School Site Council. Elaine also provided professional development and mentor to grade six math teachers and new teachers. Through her leadership, Instructional Educational Plans were written and implemented for Special Needs Students. As a global educator, she attended the Pan African Reading Conference for Educators in Dar Salam, Tanzania. Elaine was also awarded as one of the prestigious recipients of 2005 Boston Teacher of the Year Award. Elaine has been a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jamaica Plain, MA for the past 27 years. She has served as Co-Leader of the Elders Ministry, a Trustee for more than 5 years, Church School Superintendent, New Members Coordinator for Capital Campaign, Co-Leader for Small Groups and presently serving as the President of the Christiana R. Gray Women’s Missionary Society. Hobbies include traveling, cooking and gardening. Most importantly, Elaine is always looking for opportunities to serve God’s people. Doreen Harris, Educational Consultant Doreen has been an educator for the past 28years and holds a Master of Education from Boston University, a Bachelor of Science from Suffolk University, Cum Laude Honors; and is a certified trainer in “ 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens”. In 2011, Doreen retired from the Boston Public Schools as a Cooperative Educational Counselor providing placement, site-supervision and follow-up services for students participating in cooperative work experiences at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Boston, MA. Doreen was one of the initial educators at this high school that was instrumental in launching the pilot year for the Construction Mentoring Program for the Compliance Mentor Group. Throughout her tenure as an educator, Doreen demonstrated strong organization, planning and interpersonal abilities which earned her a reputation for commitment and exceeding expectation among her peers. Doreen has also been able to pursue her personal passion and interests in global education. In 2005, Doreen travelled to South Africa to assist teachers in training to remote schools in several parts of South Africa. Continuing to support global education, in 2009 Doreen attended the Pan African Reading Conference for educators across the globe in Dar Salam, Tanzania. For these efforts and more, Doreen was recognized and received the Achiever Award given by the Private Industry Council of Boston whose mission is to connect the youth and adults of Boston to education and employment opportunities. Doreen actively volunteers and presently serves as Advisory Board Member for The Compliance Mentor Group and continues to provide her support and educational services to the mentoring program. Doreen is a founding and active member of Bethel AME Church, Jamaica Plain, former member of the Steward Board and the Pastor’s Steward Emeritus. She previously served as Advisory Board Member of Generation Excel (an inner city youth organization); and former Board of Director of Urban Home Makers. The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. ![]() Roger Harris was born and raised in the Roxbury section of Boston, attended the Boston Public Schools, served three years of active duty with the United States Marine Corps, including a thirteen month tour of duty with a combat unit in Vietnam. He was a football standout at Boston University, where he earned “Most Valuable Backfield Player” and a Bachelors Degree. He received a Masters Degree from the University of Massachusetts (formerly Boston State College), a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Boston College, and is a member of the LeadBoston class of ‘97. Dr. Harris has devoted 41 years working with youth in Boston’s public schools. He has recently retired as Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School, and has been elected to serve as President of the Renaissance Foundation. Dr. Harris is the founder and president of Urban School Specialists, LLC. He is the Executive Producer of The Positive Youth Project and It Takes A Village educational series aired on Boston Neighborhood Network television. Dr. Harris has served as 2nd Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association and Vice President of the Boston Charter School Alliance. He is the former Principal of the two-time National Blue Ribbon Award winning Timilty Middle School in Boston. He is a co-founder of the award-winning Roxbury Preparatory Charter School of Boston. Dr. Harris has worked in charter and traditional Boston public high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools as a classroom teacher, athletic coach, mentor, dean, assistant headmaster, and principal, earning national and international recognition as an outstanding urban educator. Dr. Harris is Assistant Professor of Practice at the Boston University School of Education (his alma mater) and has recently been appointed Faculty Director, of BU’s K-12 Education Leadership and Policy Studies department. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at the Boston College Lynch School of Education, Curry College, in Milton, Massachusetts, and has taught as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Massachusetts Boston. He has served for over ten years as a mentor principal to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and has been the recipient of numerous civic and community awards, including the Boston University School of Education’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the Massachusetts Principal of the Year Award, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Distinguished Principal Award, and the President’s Award from the NAACP, Boston. Dr. Harris travels extensively to China, serving as a delegate to the Chinese Bridge to American Schools Program, and has developed partnerships and exchange programs with Chinese Universities and K-12 schools. He is married to Cheryl Watson-Harris, Brooklyn South Borough Director, New York City Public Schools. The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. Mary-dith E. Tuitt, “Ms. Mary” served fourteen (14) years as a Navy Aviation Machinists Mate, first on active duty and then in the active & inactive Reserves. Her military career included positions in Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California, South Weymouth, Massachusetts,Rota, Spain and other Reserves stations. In 1991 she returned to Boston and became a student of East Coast Aero Technical School. Mary did some military archive research on women of color in the United States Navy and in 2010 she received information that as far as the archival research shows she was the first African American Aviation Machinist Mate (jet mechanic) in the Navy.
Mary was born on the Island of Montserrat in the British West Indies to Henrietta and Michael Tuitt. In the mid 1970’s Mary and her brothers came to America to join their parents. She graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1985 before entering the United States Navy. Mary currently serves as Chief of Staff for State Representative Gloria L. Fox. She has worked as Constituent Services Coordinator for Boston City Councillor Charles Yancey, providing support to the underserved communities of Boston. She has worked on various political campaigns. Over the years Mary has always been involved and vested in her community. She served as a volunteer with Boston Public Schools, with various community youth groups, and with her church St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She has been active with organizations and groups that focus on Veteran and Women’s Issues, and is presently the Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Mary is the Senior Vice Commander at the William E. Carter American Legion Post 16, the former Associate member of the Veterans of Foreign War post 1018 and the Organization of African American Veterans. Mary is a proud mother of two children; a daughter Mya and a son Maliek. Mary is a life-long believer of “giving back to the community.” A sampling of Mary’s community activism includes her involvement as: ♣ A Justice of the Peace for Suffolk County ♣ Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ♣ Member of the American Legion Dept Legislative committee and the Committee on International Affairs ♣ A member Board of Trustees for “We Are Educators with A Touch of Class” (WEATOC) ♣ Former Governing Board for Boston Community Leadership Academy – a pilot high school (BCLA) Former member and creator of Family Advisory Council (FAC) for Boston Community Leadership Academy ♣ Former Development Officer for “Fair Foods Incorporated” (a dollar bag program for the needy) FFI ♣ Public Relations Officer for the “Montserrat Progressive Society of Boston” (MPS) ♣ Member of the Codman Hill Neighborhood Civic Association ♣ Host and Producer of an IRadio, VIBE 105.3FM talk show: “Positive Impact” Mary continues to use her many skills to enrich, enhance and empower her Community. ===================== The Black History Month Breakfast will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 at the Boston Colonnade Hotel from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. |
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