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| Liberty (AGTR-5) Division US Naval Sea Cadet Corps Amityville, NY http://www.libertyagtr5div.org/ |
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Westbury's Lt. Col. Spann Watson, one of the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airman, the famed World War II 332nd Fighter Group, held a discussion session with young men and women from the Liberty Division of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) during a May 8 event at the Amityville-based United States Armed Forces Reserve Center. Approximately 45 members of the reserve center community along with cadet family members participated in a historic talk about patriotism, segregation and life in an era that has shaped the world today.
Formed in July 1941, the Tuskegee Airman was the first black aviation unit in the United States armed services. At this time, the military had just begun to be integrated while most of American society was not. Members of the unit had to pass the same muster as their fellow white officers and enlisted counterparts.
The 332nd Fighter Group was involved in 1,578 combat missions with no pilot losses. They damaged or destroyed 409 enemy aircraft and garnered 744 Air Medals, 150 of them were the Distinguished Flying Cross.
LTC Watson began his aviation training at Howard University in 1939 where he studied mechanical engineering and was in the original College Pilot Training Program. He continued under the same program at Tuskegee Institute and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flying cadet. LTC Watson, an original member of the famed 99th Fighter Squadron, was one of eight pilots who successfully fought the German elite Luftwaffe over the Mediterranean Sea, marking the first time African-American pilots fought in air combat. In World War II, he distinguished himself flying missions over North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern Europe.
LTC Watson's efforts were instrumental in the integration of the armed forces and federal agencies. With a segregated military during the 1940s, LTC Watson played a key role in developing an integration plan for the Armed Forces that became the nation's official policy. In 1965, after a 23-year military career, he joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an equal opportunity specialist and subsequently as an air traffic specialist.
LTC Watson told the young men and women of the Liberty AGTR-5 Division to stay in school and to avoid temptations to use drugs and join gangs.
"What a thrill to actually meet one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen" said 13-year-old Vincent Lamanna of Amityville. Vinnie, as his shipmates call him, is a seventh-grader who has been a Naval League Cadet with Liberty AGTR-5 Division for the past three years. Next month, Vinnie will be graduating into the Sea Cadet program for young men and women ages 13 to 18.
"We are very honored to have the colonel come and talk with us today" said Lt. jg Forrest Woodward, commanding officer of the Liberty AGTR-5 Division. "This is the kind of exposure we work hard at (within the NSCC) to give these young adults a sense of our nation's history and those role models that can make a positive influence on their personal and professional lives." To Lt. jg Woodward, this was very personal too. His father was one of the B-17 bomber crewmembers to fly 50 bombing missions over war-torn Europe with the 775th Squadron of the 463rd Bomb Group (H) out of Foggia, Italy during 1944-1945.
Lt. Col. Watson also flew out of the airfields in Foggia during the same years. "Lt. Col. Watson, without doubt, flew cover for my father and his crew" said Lt. jg Woodward.
The USS LIBERTY AGTR-5 Division of the NSCC stationed at the Amityville-based US Armed Forces Reserve Center. NSCC is a nationwide organization dedicated to helping American youth realize personal success and achievement through a nautically oriented training program. Through Sea Cadet leadership, young Americans ages 13 through 17 develop interest and skill in basic seamanship and its naval adaptations, while learning the value of patriotism, courage, self-reliance, teamwork and accountability, and the value of education. Continued success and participation in the NSCC is dependent on maintaining good grades in school.
Membership in the Sea Cadets allows teenagers to sample military life with no obligation to join any branch of the armed forces. Should cadets decide to enlist in the Navy or Coast Guard, their training may allow them entry at an advance pay grade. NSCC affords equal opportunity for participation to all young Americans regardless of race, color, religion or sex.
The USNSCC is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible.
