]
>> MY NAME IS JOHN MOLLISON, I
INTERVIEW OLD GUYS, I DRAW
THEIR AIRPLANES, AND I'M PART
OF THE PRODUCTION TEAM OF OLD
GUYS AND THEIR AIRPLANES.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD A GREAT
SLATE OF FILMS AND EDUCATIONAL
KITS TO BRING TO THE WORLD.
AND THEN COVID-19 HAPPENED.
WELL, IT SET US BACK, BUT WE
WERE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND
THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES
WE HAD.
AND ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
WAS WITH TECHNOLOGY.
AND IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO
BE EVEN BETTER BECAUSE WHEN WE
GO OUT AND MEET WONDERFUL
PEOPLE OF AMERICAN HISTORY,
MANY PEOPLE SAY, I WISH I
COULD BE IN THE ROOM WITH YOU.
WELL, USING THIS TECHNOLOGY,
NOW WE CAN.
THIS IS CALLED "AN OLD GUYS
AND THEIR AIRPLANES DEBRIEF."
IT'S A LIVE INTERVIEW, AND
THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOU TO INTERACT AND ASK
QUESTIONS.
ON THE SCREEN YOU'LL SEE A
NUMBER THAT COMES UP AND YOU
CAN TEXT YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR
CONTROL BOOTH, AND THEY'LL GET
THEM TO ME IN THIS EARPIECE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU ALREADY
THAT QUESTIONS ARE COMING IN.
SO, IF YOU SEE ME INTERRUPT
OUR GUEST, RECOGNIZE THAT
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO
MEET THIS WONDERFUL GUEST.
AND THIS WONDERFUL GUEST IS
TRULY WONDERFUL.
LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE
BACKGROUND.
HE GREW UP IN THE GREAT
DEPRESSION.
HE WAS PART OF A SINGLE-PARENT
FAMILY.
HE EXPERIENCED RACIAL
SEGREGATION.
AND THEN HE WENT TO WAR AS
PART OF THE FAMED TUSKEGEE
AIRMEN.
AND THEN HE WENT TO WAR AGAIN
IN THE KOREAN WAR AND WAR
AGAIN IN THE VIETNAM WAR,
ACCUMULATING AN ASTOUNDING 408
COMBAT MISSIONS.
BUT IT DOESN'T END THERE.
AFTER HIS MILITARY SERVICE, HE
CONTINUED TO BE A ROLE MODEL
TO MANY, THROUGH BOY SCOUTS
AND JUST RECENTLY HE WAS
AWARDED THE HIGHEST HONOR WE
CAN GIVE A CIVILIAN, THE
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
ON BEHALF OF OLD GUYS AND
AIRPLANES, THE DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS SOCIETY AND SOUTH
DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTINGS,
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES
McGEE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD TO BE HERE TO SHARE WITH
YOU.
>> WELL, IT IS AWESOME TO HAVE
YOU HERE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
NOW I'D LIKE TO START OUT OUR
INTERVIEW BY SETTING SOMETHING
UP.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE, WE HAVE SOME PICTURES.
RICK, WOULD YOU SHOW UP
PICTURE NUMBER 11?
GENERAL McGEE, CAN YOU SEE
THAT PICTURE?
>> YES, I SEE THE PICTURE.
>> SO, TELL US A LITTLE BIT
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, YOU'RE,
WHAT, 18, 17 YEARS OLD?
>> I THINK THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT
MEMORIES DON'T REMAIN SO MUCH
OF THE DAY AND TIME FOR SURE.
BUT THAT IS ME.
AND I THINK I WAS JUST COOLING
IT, IF YOU WILL.
>> WELL, THAT WAS A TIME,
THOUGH, WAS THAT TAKEN IN
CHICAGO, ABOUT?
>> NO.
I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
TAKEN IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.
>> OKAY, OKAY.
WELL, DESCRIBE GROWING UP.
DESCRIBE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
AND DESCRIBE GROWING UP
WITHOUT A MOM AND SOME OF THE
OTHER ASPECTS OF THE TIMES.
>> WELL, LIFE HAS BEEN A
BLESSING AND CERTAINLY THAT'S
ONE OF THEM.
MY DAD WAS ABLE TO, WHEN HE
MOVED FROM THE CLEVELAND AREA
TO THE CHICAGO AREA, FIND A
FAMILY WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF
THREE CHILDREN.
SO MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND I
WERE WITH THE AIRIS FAMILY
WEST OF CHICAGO, WHICH TURNED
OUT TO BE GOOD.
IT WAS NICE TO GO IN TO
CHICAGO TO THE MANY EVENTS AND
MUSEUMS AND SO ON.
BUT FOR SCHOOLING, THERE WAS
ONLY ONE BLACK FAMILY IN TOWN,
SO THERE WAS NO SEGREGATION,
SO I HAD GOOD SCHOOLING.
ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH MY
FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
ALSO HAD A CHANCE THERE TO
JOIN THE BOY SCOUTS, AND I
USED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A
LEAF AND TELL YOU WHAT THE
TREE WAS, BUT DON'T ASK ME
TODAY.
[ Laughter ]
I JUST CHANGE SOME THINGS.
SOME THINGS I REMEMBER, SOME
THINGS I DON'T.
BUT CERTAINLY WONDERFUL
GROWING-UP YEARS.
AS EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE A
MOTHER, WE WERE TOLD TO TREAT
OTHER PEOPLE LIKE YOU WANTED
TO BE TREATED.
THE OLD SAYING, STICKS AND
STONES WILL BREAK MY BONES,
BUT WORDS WON'T HURT ME.
SO WE DIDN'T TRY TO GET IN A
FIGHT BECAUSE SOMEBODY CALLED
US SOME NAMES.
>> WAIT.
DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THAT
GROWING UP?
YOU SAID YOU WERE THE ONLY
BLACK HOUSEHOLD IN A
PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COMMUNITY.
WERE YOU TREATED WELL?
>> WE WERE TREATED EXTREMELY
WELL.
THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S A GOOD
THING IT WAS NOT IN CHICAGO.
CHICAGO WAS NOT THE WELCOME
PLACE, FOR SURE.
AND, SO, THAT'S WHY I SAY THE
TREATMENT WAS THE BEST BECAUSE
WE WEREN'T TREATED SEPARATELY
OR BECAUSE OF SKIN COLOR AND
HAPPENSTANCE OF BIRTH TREATED
DIFFERENTLY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF MY LIFE'S
BLESSINGS, TO HAVE HAD THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
AND I DECIDED TO DO OR BECOME
HAD IT BEEN DIFFERENT.
>> IN LEADING UP TO THIS,
GENERAL, YOU AND I HAVE HAD A
CHANCE TO HAVE SOME
CONVERSATIONS, AND YOU'VE
TALKED OFTEN ABOUT EDUCATION.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD A
GOOD QUALITY EDUCATION GROWING
UP OR WERE THERE SOME DEFICITS
THAT YOU FELT LIKE YOU HAD TO
MAKE UP SOMEWHERE?
>> WELL, I THINK FIRST THROUGH
THIRD GRADE YEARS IN OHIO
WHERE THERE WAS SEGREGATION IN
THE SCHOOLS, CERTAINLY WEREN'T
THE BEST.
AND, SO, I WAS FORTUNATE TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
CHANGE IN THAT AND BE ABLE TO
GO FROM THIRD GRADE THROUGH
FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL
WHERE THAT SEGREGATION DIDN'T
EXIST.
SO THAT WAS TO MY BENEFIT AND
CERTAINLY A BLESSING TO BE
TREATED EQUALLY, TO NOT BE
DOWNGRADED AT ALL BECAUSE OF
MY BIRTH AND THAT TYPE OF
THING.
ALL I CAN SAY IS, WOW, IT'S
HARD TO EXPLAIN.
>> OKAY.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION COMING IN
RIGHT NOW.
WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?
 A, DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?
AND WHERE DID YOU GO TO
COLLEGE?
AND WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING?
>> OKAY.
THAT'S INTERESTING.
I GRADUATED.
WE MOVED FROM -- MY DAD'S WORK
TOOK US FROM THE CHICAGO AREA
TO IOWA, TWO AND A HALF
WONDERFUL HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH
BLACKS FOR A SEGREGATED
SCHOOL.
HE LEFT IOWA, WENT BACK TO
CHICAGO.
IN CHICAGO, TERRIBLE.
IN FACT, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
ANYTHING -- IN IOWA, EXCELLENT
SCHOOLING.
IN CHICAGO, I DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
BECAUSE THEY WERE THAT FAR
BEHIND, WHERE THE IOWA SCHOOLS
WERE, THAT'S THE SEGREGATED
SCHOOL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
CHICAGO.
>> WOW!
>> UPON GRADUATION, NEEDED TO
DO SOME WORK AND GOT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN THE
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, A
YEAR OF WORK THAT FOCUSED ON
ENGINEERING AND ALSO MADE
ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO GO
TO A STATE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS, AFTER ONE YEAR OF
WORK.
>> SO YOU PAID FOR YOUR OWN
WAY THROUGH COLLEGE?
>> WELL, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
THE CASE.
WORKING ACTION.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE
TOPICS, YOUR FAVORITE COURSES
OF STUDY?
>> WELL, THE ENGINEERING, AS I
SAY, BECAUSE I WAS WORKING MY
WAY THROUGH SCHOOL, YOUR TIME
WAS WELL USED BECAUSE YOU HAD
TO WORK, YOU HAD TO STUDY, YOU
HAD TO GET SOME REST, YOU HAD
TO MEET YOUR CLASS SCHEDULES,
SO THERE WEREN'T LOOSE
MOMENTS, IF YOU WILL, DOING
NOTHING.
YOU WERE KEPT PRETTY BUSY
THROUGHOUT.
BUT I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE
TO GET A JOB SO I HAD FOOD
BECAUSE OF WORK THERE AT
COLLEGE AND ALSO HAD TIME TO
STUDY.
I ALSO HAD TIME TO ENTER A
FRATERNITY, IN THAT CASE I
ENTERED THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA
FRATERNITY AND TO ME, THAT WAS
A GOOD ONE, TOO, BECAUSE
THEY'RE FOCUSED, AT THE
UNIVERSITY, WAS QUALITY
EDUCATION.
IN FACT, THE FRATERNITY
RECEIVED THE SCHOOL'S TROPHY
FOR SCHOLARSHIP OF ALL OF THE
MEMBERSHIP OF THE FRATERNITY.
>> NOW, WERE THEY SEGREGATED?
WAS THAT FRATERNITY
SEGREGATED?
>> OH, YES.
>> OKAY.
>> SEGREGATION EXISTED AROUND
THE UNIVERSITY BUT NOT THAT
MUCH AT THE UNIVERSITY.
IT'S RATHER INTERESTING THAT
ALTHOUGH THE TOWN OF
CHAMPAGNE, URBANA, WAG
SEGREGATED, ON CAMPUS WAS NOT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYBODY
WAS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BUT
ENOUGH THAT IT MADE A PLEASANT
JOURNEY, IF YOU WILL.
WAS SEGREGATED.
>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL,
YOU'RE AN ENGINEERING STUDENT,
AND THEN YOU ENTER THIS MOMENT
OF PERIOD OF TIME WHEN YOU
DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME BUT
YOU'D BECOME FAMOUS.
AND THAT HAPPENS IN WORLD WAR
II, YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A
POLITELY AND YOU JOIN --
POLITE AND YOU JOIN THE
TUSKEGEE -- PILOT.
AND YOU JOIN THE TUSKEGEE
EXPERIMENT PROJECT COMING
THROUGH.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHY IS THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
STORY SO IMPORTANT TO YOU AND
WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF
TODAY?
>> WELL, IT SHOWS WHAT FOCUS
AND BELIEF THAT YOU -- YOU
CAN'T LET SOMEBODY TELL YOU
YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING BE YOUR
FOCUS OR BE AN EXCUSE FOR NOT
ACHIEVING.
IT TURNS OUT THAT 1925 ARMY
WAR COLLEGE STUDY DETERMINED
THAT, THE STUDY, IN FACT, THE
STUDY WAS USE OF NEGRO MAN
POWER GETS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER
WAR.
PARAGRAPH 3 ON THE FIRST PAGE
WAS FACTORS BEARING ON THE
PROBLEM.
IT WAS A PROBLEM TO SOMEBODY.
GUESS WHO?
[ Laughter ]
I WON'T MENTION THAT RIGHT
NOW.
BUT FIRST LINE OF THAT SAID,
NEGROS QUALIFIED FOR SERVICE.
THE NEGRO IS LESS INTELLIGENT
THAN THE WHITE MAN.
THE NEGRO IS LESS -- ANY AREA
YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT WAS
DOWNGRADED AND, THEREFORE, THE
POLICY WAS SENT TO WASHINGTON
TO SAY THAT IF AMERICA GOT
INVOLVED IN ANOTHER WAR, WE
COULD DIG DITCHES, COOK FOOD,
DRIVE TRUCKS, BUILD ROADS, BUT
FLY AND MAINTAIN AN AIRCRAFT,
IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD STUDIED
IT.
I HAVEN'T GONE BACK, BUT I
THINK YOU COULD PRETTY QUICKLY
FIGURE WHO THE POLICY MAKERS
WERE IN 1925.
BUT THE ARMY BOUGHT THAT AND
ALTHOUGH THE COUNTRY COMING
OUT, TEN YEARS OF DEPRESSION
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL IN
THE WAR BUILDUP AND THE NEED,
IT, AS I SAY, DIDN'T CHANGE
SEGREGATION, BUT DID PROVIDE
AN OPPORTUNITY.
BECAUSE I WAS IN SCHOOL, MY
DRAFT BOARD WASN'T PULLING MY
NUMBER, BUT I HEARD ABOUT THE
AVIATION PROGRAM BECAUSE PART
OF THE ARMY POLICY WAS THAT
THEY CAN USE A BLACK PILOT
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
BLACK MECHANICS.
SEGREGATION WAS PART OF THEIR
BASE.
>> SO, LET ME GET THIS
STRAIGHT.
THE BLACK MECHANICS WERE
ACTUALLY THE FOUNDATION OF THE
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN PROGRAM,
BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T HAVE
PILOTS WITHOUT THE MECHANICS,
CORRECT?
>> THAT'S VERY CORRECT.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT OF THE
NOW CALLED TUSKEGEE AIRMEN,
THE FIRST MECHANICS EXPECTED
TO FAIL, ENTERED INTO THE
TRAINING PROGRAM IN RANTOUL,
ILLINOIS, 14 MILES AWAY FROM
THE UNIVERSITY, THAT'S WHERE I
HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT
THE MECHANICS WERE BEING
TRAINED.
I THINK PERHAPS MY ROTC
INSTRUCTOR SAID, GO FOR A
PILOT, NOT A MECHANIC.
ANYWAY, SO I WAS INFLUENCED TO
GO TAKE THE PILOT EXAM.
PASSED IT.
AND GOT CALLED IN IN OCTOBER,
GOING DIRECTLY INTO TRAINING
AS A CADET.
THROUGH ROTC HAD A LOT TO DO
WITH THAT.
>> I HAVE TO INTERRUPT FOR A
SECOND HERE, GENERAL McGEE.
THE QUESTIONS ARE CRAZY HERE.
>> GOODNESS.
>> CONTROL ROOM, WOULD YOU PUT
UP PICTURE NUMBER 1.
THIS IS JUST A COOL PICTURE.
AND I THINK IT TELLS THE STORY
PRETTY WELL HERE.
THAT'S YOU WITH YOUR MECHANIC,
CORRECT?
YOUR CREW CHIEF OF YOUR
AIRPLANE.
HE FIRST OF ALL, WHO IS THAT
GUY?
WHO'S YOUR CREW CHIEF?
>> MY CREW CHIEF WAS NATE
WILSON.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE GOT
TOGETHER A SHORT TIME, 40
YEARS AFTER THE WAR ENDED, BUT
HE, UNFORTUNATELY, PASSED
EARLY.
HE WAS WORKING IN THE
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IN THE
DETROIT AREA WHEN WE LAST HAD
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT NATE WILSON WAS MY CREW
CHIEF AND I HAD KITTEN ON MY
AIRCRAFT BECAUSE IT WAS MY
LAST NICKNAME, I SAID, PUT IT
ON BOTH SIDES, AND IT'S THERE
ALSO BECAUSE HE'S KEEPING THIS
ENGINE PURRING LIKE A KITTEN.
>> OKAY.
HEY, RICK, WOULD YOU PUT UP
PICTURE NUMBER 11, PLEASE?
NUMBER 11.
OH, EXCUSE ME.
NO.
I THINK I GOT THE WRONG ONE
THERE.
I THOUGHT WE HAD ONE OF
KITTEN.
I GUESS WE DON'T.
YEAH.
I WANT TO SHOW THIS PICTURE
BECAUSE THIS IS -- WELL, YEAH,
I THOUGHT WE HAD A PICTURE OF
GENERAL McGEE'S WIFE.
BUT WHEN YOU --
>> THAT'S 8.
>> NUMBER 8, OKAY.
AWESOME.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE WE GO.
SO THAT'S YOUR BRIDE ON THE
RIGHT.
AND WHAT'S HER NAME?
>> FRANCIS.
>> FRANCIS.
OKAY.
NOW, WERE YOU MARRIED WHEN YOU
WENT OFF TO WAR?
>> YES, INDEED.
AND THAT STORY, WE MET ON
CAMPUS, AND, AS I SAY, IN THE
SPRING I PASSED THE EXAMS FOR
PILOT TRAINING.
NOTHING WAS HAPPENING WITHIN
THE SCHOOL.
SHE WAS A GRADUATE.
BUT WAITING AND KNOWING THAT
ONE DAY THE DRAFT'S GOING TO
CATCH UP, WE DECIDED TO GET
MARRIED IN OCTOBER.
MONTHS WERE PASSING.
NOTHING HAPPENED.
WE GOT MARRIED ON A SATURDAY
IN OCTOBER OF '42.
AND YOU'D KNOW, MONDAY
MORNING'S MAIL, REPORT TO
TUSKEGEE.
>> WOW.
>> SO I WENT SOUTH.
BUT, AS I SAY, IT WAS A
BLESSING FOR ME BECAUSE I
COULD FOCUS ON THE TRAINING
AND WHEN WE HAD SOME TIME OFF,
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, I DIDN'T
HAVE TO GO TO ATLANTA OR
MONTGOMERY, LOOKING FOR
COMPANY AND A GIRLFRIENDMENT.
 AND A GIRLFRIEND.
I HAD A WIFE THERE WITH ME.
SHE WORKED FOR THE DOCTOR AT
THE TUSKEGEE HOSPITAL.
SO MY FOCUS WAS PERFECT.
>> COOL.
>> CONCENTRATING ON THE
TRAINING AND KEEP HER HAPPY.
>> HEY, NOW, WHEN IT CAME TO
THE TRAINING, WAS THE TRAINING
FOR YOU, AS PART OF THE
TUSKEGEE PROJECT, ANY
DIFFERENT THAN THE TRAINING
FOR THE REST OF THE U.S. ARMY
AIR FORCES?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
FORTUNATELY, SOUTHEAST
TRAINING COMMAND DIDN'T SET
ANY SPECIAL STANDARDS OR SO
ON.
WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE
STANDARDS AND, FORTUNATELY,
THERE WERE ENOUGH FOLKS THAT
CAME FORTH, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS
THAT WE HAD, THERE WERE A
COUPLE THAT WEREN'T THAT
INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM,
BUT, FORTUNATELY, THEY GOT
MOVED OUT PRETTY EARLY IN THE
TRAINING, AND THOSE THAT WERE
THERE WERE GLAD WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY AND MOST ASSURED
THEY COULDN'T CHANGE THE
CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT ENSURE THAT
THE OPPORTUNITY WAS SUCCESSFUL
AND IT WAS.
>> SO, WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST
DEPLOYMENT WHEN YOU WENT INTO
WORLD WAR II?
WHERE DID YOU GO?
>> WELL, THE STORY FOR THE
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN VARIES BECAUSE
THE FIRST SQUADRON, PURSUIT
SQUADRON WHERE THE FIRST
MECHANICS WENT INTO, WAS
COMBAT READY IN DECEMBER OF
'42, AND THAT'S WHEN I FIRST
GOT STARTED -- STARTED MY
FLYING TRAINING.
COMMANDER, THEY CONTINUED THEM
IN TRAINING FOR ANOTHER THREE
OR FOUR MONTHS, AND FINALLY IN
THE SPRING OF '44 -- OR '43,
RATHER, SENT THEM TO NORTH
AFRICA ATTACHED TO A WHITE
GROUP.
BUT THE GROUP DIDN'T WANT THEM
AND THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THE
STORY.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE TUSKEGEE
EXPERIENCE NOW, THE STORY, I
REALLY SAY, THERE ARE FIVE
PHASES.
PHASE ONE IS THE STORY OF THE
99th AND THEIR EXPERIENCE,
AND LATER IN THE WAR BECAME A
PART OF THE 332nd PILOT
GROUP.
BEHIND THEM, THREE ADDITIONAL
SINGLE-ENGINE FIRE SQUADRONS,
101st, 302nd, I WAS
ASSIGNED TO THE 302nd WHEN
I GRADUATED AND WE WENT
DIRECTLY TO ITALY AS OUR FIRST
FLYING EXPERIENCE.
AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE COMBAT
READY IN THE P-40, SAID THEY
SHOULD BE PATROLLING LIBERIA.
WHERE ARE THE GERMANS.
I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND.
BUT WHEN WE BEGAN OUR
TRAINING, THE 99 HAD MOVED OUT
OF AFRICA INTO SICILY, OUT OF
SICILY INTO ITALY.
THE 332nd AT THE SAME TIME
WENT DIRECTLY TO ITALY.
THEY SAID, OH, YOU ARE GOING
TO DO SOME PATROL WORK?
WE SWITCHED LEFT THE STATES ON
TIME TO THE -- SO THE
332nd FIGHTER GROUP WAS
PATROLLING NAPLES TO THE BEACH
HEAD.
99th, MOVING OUT OF AFRICA,
SICILY, INTO ITALY, AND I'D
SAY THERE WAS LITTLE
INTEGRATION THEN BECAUSE
COLONEL BATES OF THE 79th
FIRE GROUP WAS JUST GLAD TO
HAVE MORE PILOTS AND MORE
AIRCRAFT TO ACCOMPLISH THE
ASSIGNMENTS.
BEACH HEAD WITH THAT GROUP,
THE 99th SHOT DOWN MORE
THAN A DOZEN GERMAN AIRCRAFT.
IT WAS A MET OPPORTUNITY.
>> RICK, IF YOU COULD PUT UP
PICTURE NUMBER 1, PLEASE.
NO.
PICTURE NUMBER 2, EXCUSE ME.
I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THERE WE GO.
YEAH.
ARE YOU SEEING YOUR P-51,
GENERAL?
>> YES, I DO.
I SEE, NUMBER 78 WAS MY
NUMBER, FOR SURE, 302nd
SQUADRON.
THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE
332nd GROUP, WHEN THE
15th AIR FORCE REALIZED
OUR BOMBER NEEDED ESCORT
PULLED THE 332nd FIGHTER
GROUP WITH THREE OTHER FIGHTER
GROUPS TO BEGIN THAT ESCORT
WORK.
AND WE GAVE OUR P-39 TO THE
RUSSIANS, PICKED UP P-47
THUNDERBOLT, BUT ONLY FLEW IT
ABOUT THREE MONTHS AND THEN
GOT THAT P-51.
>> SO WHERE DID YOU GUYS --
WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO PAINT
THE TAILS RED?
WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR THIS.
>> OH, THAT CAME ABOUT,
SOMEBODY IN 15th AIR FORCE
REALIZED THAT THE GUNNERS ON
OUR B-17s AND B-24s,
REALIZED THAT THESE PLANES
SUDDENLY SHOWING UP ARE
FRIENDLY AND NOT GERMAN.
AND THEY DECIDED OF THE FOUR
GROUPS, ONE HAD A YELLOW TAIL,
ONE HAD CANDY-STRIPED RED AND
WHITE -- RATHER, ORANGE AND
BLACK, I BELIEVE, ANOTHER WAS
YELLOW TAIL, PIN STRIPED,
CHECKERBOARD, 332nd, RED
TAILS.
THAT WAS TO HELP RECOGNITION
AS WE WERE ASSIGNED TO THE
DIFFERENT BOMBERS ON THE
DIFFERENT MISSIONS.
>> OKAY.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION.
WE GOT ONE, THIS IS A QUESTION
THAT GETS TO SOMETIMES HOW 0
HOLLYWOOD -- HOW HOLLYWOOD
MOVIES SHOW THINGS.
WHEN YOU WERE FLYING COVER
FOR A BOMBER STREAM, DID YOU
EVER TALK TO THE BOMBERS?
DID YOU EVER INTERACT WITH
THEM OR W YOU SIMPLY -- WERE
YOU SIMPLY DOING YOUR JOB,
THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB?
>> WE WERE DOING OUR JOB.
HOLLYWOOD MOVIES, THEY PUT IN
THINGS THAT HELP MAKE THE
MOVIE ATTRACTIVE TO THE
GENERAL POPULATION AND NOT THE
ACCURACY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
IN FACT, RADIO SILENCE WAS
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENT
TO -- SO THAT THE GERMANS
DIDN'T EVEN OFTEN KNOW THAT
THE AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE AIR.
>> BUT YOU GOT A VICTORY.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE DATE THAT
YOU GOT YOUR AERIAL VICTORY?
>> AUGUST OF '44.
AND THAT WAS OUR LEADERSHIP
UNDER BEN DAVIS, SAID, WE
STUCK WITH THE BOMBER UNLESS
DISPATCHED TO FIGHT OFF SOME
GERMANS, ATTEMPTING TO
PENETRATE THE STREAM WE WERE
ESCORTING.
IT HAPPENED THAT DAY.
MY ELEMENT WAS DISPATCHED TO
FIGHT OFF AND HE THOUGHT HE
COULD DIVE AWAY, BUT,
FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO
STAY ON HIS TAIL AND HE MADE A
WRONG TURN AND PUT HIM RIGHT
IN MY GUN SIGHTS.
SO THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENED.
BUT, AS I SAY, WE STUCK WITH
THE BOMBERS AND THAT'S WHY
LATER EVEN DAVIS, OUR LEADER'S
AIRCRAFT, WAS RENAMED BY
REQUEST BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH
MANY OF THE BOMBERS MEMBERS
DIDN'T KNOW THE RED TAILS WERE
BLACK PILOTS, THEY KNEW THAT
WE STUCK WITH THE BOMBERS AS
LONG AS WE HAD THE FUEL TO DO
IT.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THAT
YOU WERE PART OF A
HISTORY-MAKING UNIT WITH THE
RED TAILS?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
I KNOW MANY OF THE PILOTS GOT
INTO SOMETHING THEY WANTED AS
A KID.
BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE,
AS I SAY, THE COUNTRY CAME
BEHIND THE DECISION TO DECLARE
WAR IN SUPPORT OF OUR ALLIES
IN EUROPE DIDN'T CHANGE
SEGREGATION, BUT IT PROVIDED
AN OPPORTUNITY AND OUR
PERFORMANCE ALLOWED THAT TO BE
PASSED ON WHEN THE AIR FORCE
SEPARATED FROM THE GROUND
FORCES AND DETERMINED THAT
SEGREGATION NEEDED TO END.
>> SO YOU CAME BACK FROM WORLD
WAR II, AND YOU MADE THE
DECISION TO STAY IN THE
MILITARY.
WHAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND
CONTINUING ON?
AND NOT LEAVING AND STARTING
YOUR OWN LIFE AS A CIVILIAN?
>> IT HAPPENED SOMETHING I'D
LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUNG FOLKS
TODAY, DETERMINE YOUR TALENTS
AND WHAT TO DO, HOPEFULLY YOU
FIND SOMETHING YOU LOVE TO DO.
I WAS HOOKED AFTER MY FIRST
FLIGHT.
EXACTLY WHY OR HOW, I STILL
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.
BUT I LOVE THE FLYING.
I KEPT GETTING GOOD
ASSIGNMENTS WITHOUT ASKING FOR
IT.
AND ACTIVELY FLEW 27 OF MY 30
YEARS OF SERVICE.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.
BUT I CAN LOOK AT THE RECORD.
IT WAS SOMETHING I ENJOYED
DOING AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE
TO PASS ON.
>> SURE.
OKAY, GUYS, I THINK WE GOT A
PICTURE SET UP NOW.
COULD YOU GO TO PICTURE NUMBER
3?
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, THIS IS A PICTURE OF YOU
IN AN F-51.
IT'S A P-51 RENAMED FOR THE
NEW AIR FORCE, THE F-51.
AND NOW YOU'RE IN THE KOREAN
WAR.
>> CORRECT.
>> AND IT WAS IN THIS WAR, I
THINK THE AUDIENCE SHOULD KNOW
THAT THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING
CROSS SOCIETY IS ONE OF THE
GREAT PATRONS BEHIND THESE
DEBRIEFS.
AND IT WAS IN THE KOREAN WAR
THAT YOU WERE AWARDED THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
YOUR KOREAN WAR SERVICE?
WHAT DID YOU DO AND WHAT KIND
OF EXPERIENCES COME TO MIND?
>> WELL, AGAIN, IT WAS THE
P-51, OF COURSE, NOW WE HAVE
THE D MODEL BUBBLE CANOPY
RATHER THAN THE FEE MODEL.
BUT WONDERFUL FLYING.
OUR PARTICIPATION WAS STRICTLY
WITH INTERDICTION AND GROUND
SUPPORT IS THE WAY I PUT IT,
MY WAR EXPERIENCE IN EUROPE
WAS AIR SUPERIORITY.
KOREA, INTERDICTION GROUND
SUPPORT.
NEVER SAW A MEG BECAUSE THEY
WERE DOWN IN TREES WHERE WE
WERE SUPPORTING THE GROUND
FORCES.
MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND.
THAT WAS SOMETHING.
P-51 WAS STILL GREAT WHERE YOU
COULD CARRY BOMBS, WE COULD
PUT ROCKETS UNDER THE RING.
WE JUST HAD GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE ABLE
TO FULFILL.
SO IT WAS GOOD TO BE PART OF
THE 67 FLIGHTER BOMBER
SQUADRON.
>> OH, GO AHEAD.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY,
THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I HAD
GONE TO THE PHILIPPINES AND I
WAS IN BASE OPERATIONS AT THE
TIME.
WHEN THE WAR BROKE OUT, WE
DIDN'T HAVE JETS IN PLACE TO
SUPPORT OUR NEEDS, BUT THERE
WERE PLENTY OF P-51s.
AND THE GROUP THERE IN THE
PHILIPPINES HAD JUST DROPPED
THEIR P-51s AND STARTED
FLYING THE F-80.
SO THEY HAD PLENTY OF PILOTS
AND PLENTY OF PLANES, AND
THAT'S HOW WE CAME ABOUT, TWO
SQUADRONS PICKING UP P-51s
IN JAPAN, FLYING OUR FIRST
MISSIONS OUT OF JAPAN WHILE
THEY BUILT THE FIRST STRIP
INSIDE THE PERIMETER AND THEN
MOVING OVER AND CONTINUING TO
SERVE THE WAR.
AND I FLEW SOME MISSIONS OUT
OF THE AIRPLANE IN THE NORTH.
WE WERE THAT CLOSE TO WINNING
THE WAR, BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET
OUR LEADER KEEP THE CHINESE
OUT.
SO WE BACKED UP AND WE STILL
HAVE A --
>> RIGHT.
>> -- TO ASSURE SOUTH KOREA
WAS THERE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION COMING
IN.
DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY RACIAL
SEGREGATION AT ALL IN THE
KOREAN WAR OR BY THEN WAS IT
PASSED OUT OF THE AIR FORCE?
>> IT'S AMAZING THAT MY
EXPERIENCE, AND, AGAIN, I
DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER WHY ME OR
HOW ME, I NEVER RAN INTO A BIT
OF A PROBLEM WITH THE PILOTS
THAT I FLEW WITH.
EARLY IN MY CAREER, THEY HAD
SAID, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ELSE OTHER THAN FLY.
SOME WENT TO WEATHER SCHOOL.
I WENT TO THE AIRCRAFT
MAINTENANCE SCHOOL.
SO, BESIDES FLYING, I ALSO DID
MATERIAL AND MAINTENANCE
SUPPORT TASKS.
SO WHEN I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE
SQUADRON, I WAS FIRST THE
SQUADRON MAINTENANCE OFFICER.
WE LOST OUR COMMANDER EARLY IN
THE WAR AND THE OPERATIONS
TOOK COMMAND, I MOVED FROM
MAINTENANCE TO OPERATIONS.
THOSE EXPERIENCES.
BUT I HAD NOT ONE INSTANCE OF
WHERE MY COLOR AFFECTED THE
TASK AND THE OPERATION IN MY
ASSIGNMENTS.
AND, AGAIN, WHY ME, HOW ME, I
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT ALL
I CAN SAY, LIFE HAS BEEN A
BLESSING.
>> YES, SIR.
OKAY.
SO, ONE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT
YOU ALSO EXPERIENCED, YOU
MOVED TO THE VIETNAM WAR.
TERRIBLY, TUMULTUOUS TIME FOR
OUR COUNTRY IN THE '60s, FOR
EVERY REASON.
BUT YOU'RE FLYING COMBAT IN
VIETNAM.
BUT YOU'RE ALSO FLYING UNARMED
COMBAT.
WHAT GOT YOU -- NOW YOU'RE
FLYING THE F-4 PHANTOM, BUT
YOU'RE FLYING AN UNARMED
VERSION THAT ONLY HAS CAMERAS
ON IT.
AND YOU'RE GOING STRAIGHT INTO
THE ENEMY TO TAKE PICTURES.
WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THAT
MOMENT?
>> WELL, IT WAS GOOD TRAINING.
THEY DECIDED THEY NEEDED
TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE AND, SO,
THEY STARTED TWO NEW
SQUADRONS, 12 AND 16 RECON
SQUADRONS.
WE ALONE WITH OUR CREWS AND
MECHANICS WENT TO THE SCHOOL
IN VIRGINIA, IDAHO, F-4, WE
WENT THROUGH A COURSE,
SURVIVAL TRAINING HERE AND
ALSO IN THE PHILIPPINES.
AND THEN TWO OF US WERE THE
LIEUTENANT COLONELS, I ENDED
UP BEING MADE COMMANDER OF THE
16th SQUADRON, TAKING IT
TO VIETNAM, AND THE OTHER
LIEUTENANT COLONEL TOOK THE
12th SQUADRON TO THAILAND.
BUT IT WAS SOMETHING WE DID
DAY, NIGHT, ALL TYPES OF
INTELLIGENCE GATHERING BUT HAD
NO WEAPONS.
SO SPEED WAS OUR ONLY DEFENSE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SIR, WE'RE GETTING REALLY SOME
GREAT QUESTIONS.
BUT YOU'RE NEARING THE END OF
YOUR SERVICE.
AND YOU RETIRE AND YOU GO ON
AND YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN
SCOUTING.
I KNOW YOU WERE A SCOUT AS A
KID.
BUT WE'RE GETTING QUESTIONS,
WHAT ABOUT SCOUTING WAS SO
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S
SOMETHING I CAN STILL SAY, ON
MY HONOR, DO MY BEST, DUE TO
MY DUTY TO GOD, TO COUNTRY,
HELP OTHERS AT ALL TIMES, KEEP
MYSELF PHYSICALLY STRONG,
MENTALLY AWAKE, MORALLY
STRAIGHT, AND THEN BE
TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL, FRIENDLY,
COURTEOUS, KIND, OBEDIENT,
THRIFTY, BRAVE, CLEAN DRIVEN.
GOT SOMETHING BETTER?
I THINK IF EVERYBODY LIVED BY
THE BOY SCOUT LAWS, WE'D HAVE
A DIFFERENT COUNTRY TODAY.
JUST A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
TO LEARN TO HANDLE A CANOE AND
DO THINGS AND THERE WAS A DAY
AS I TELL FOLKS NOW, I COULD
LOOK AT A LEAF AND TELL YOU
ABOUT THE TREE.
DON'T ASK ME TO DO THAT NOW.
BUT THERE WAS A TIME THAT THAT
WAS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.
BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO
GROW UP, AND THE CHALLENGES AS
A YOUNGSTER STILL HAVING NOT
DECIDED EXACTLY WHERE OR WHAT
I WANTED TO BE OR DO.
>> THESE QUESTIONS ARE BEING
BROADCAST ALL OVER.
WE'VE GOT A QUESTION FROM A
MILITARY CHAPLAIN RIGHT NOW.
AND HE WANTS TO KNOW, DID YOU
EVER INTERACT WITH CHAPLAINS
AND IF YOU DID, WHAT WAS THAT
INTERACTION LIKE?
BECAUSE CHARACTER AND VALUES
AND TAKING POSITIVE ACTION ON
OPPORTUNITIES IS JUST PART OF
YOUR LIFE.
SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU
GOT INVOLVED IN THE SPIRITUAL
FORMATION OF YOUR MEN OR EVEN
YOURSELF WITH A MILITARY
CHAPLAIN?
>> WELL, I DID, BECAUSE IT'S
INTERESTING, IN MY CAREER,
AND, AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE THE
ANSWER WHY ME OR HOW ME, BUT I
COMMANDED THE 44th FIGHTER
BOMBER SQUAD IN THE
PHILIPPINES FOR TWO YEARS.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE WERE
CHAPLAINS ON BASE AND SO ON.
CERTAINLY THE IDEA OF HELPING
OTHERS AND KEEPING YOURSELF
STRONG, THAT APPROACH IS A
PART OF THAT.
AND ALSO LATER ON, I SERVED IN
THE COLD WAR AS WELL, AND THE
TIME THERE AS A COMMANDER OF
THE SUPPORT UNIT, WELL, THERE
WAS TWO PARTS TO THE GROUP,
THE SUPPORT AND THOSE ACTIVELY
INVOLVED.
WE HAD A CATHOLIC AND A
PROTESTANT CHAPLAIN, AND IT'S
VERY INTERESTING THAT OUR
PROTESTANT CHAPLAIN HAPPENED
TO BE FROM THE SOUTH.
AND HE DIDN'T GET ALONG VERY
WELL, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU
THAT YEARS AFTER THE WAR --
AFTER THAT, BACK AT HOME, HE
HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.
BUT I THINK IT'S THE PEOPLE
THAT HE WAS T TRYING TO SERVE
THAT HELPED BRING HIM ABOUT TO
REALIZEHAT IT'S NOT COLOR OF
SKIN OR HAPPENSTANCE OF BIRTH
THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT, AS I
SAY, IT'S HOW YOU LIVE.
AND I CAN POINT TO THE SCOUT
EXPERIENCE.
>> OKAY.
GUYS, BRING UP GENERAL
McGEE'S P-51 AGAIN.
IT'S PICTURE NUMBER 2.
THE TITLE OF THIS PRINT IS
"SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO
YOU, YOU CALL IT THE 4 Ps.
FIRST OF ALL, WHEN DID YOU
DEVELOP THE FOUR Ps AND WHAT
ARE THEY?
>> WELL, THE FOUR Ps CAME
ABOUT IN SOME OF MY RECENT
YEARS IN TALKING TO GROUPS,
TRYING TO HELP THEM REALIZE
OUR NEED TO MOTIVATE THE YOUTH
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW
THESE WORDS CAME TO ME, BUT IT
FIT THE MESSAGE THAT I WAS
TRYING TO PASS ON AND STILL DO
TO YOUNG FOLKS AND TO THOSE
MENTORING YOUNG FOLKS BECAUSE
THEY NEED TO HAVE THE TRACK
THAT THEY USE TO ASSURE THE
MENTORING IS GOING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND SOMEWHERE I PUT THOSE
TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING,
WHEN WE LOOK AT MILITARY
EXPERIENCE, THREE Ds,
DETERMINATION, THAT TYPE OF
THING, THE FOUR Ps KIND OF
HIT ME.
PERCEIVE, PREPARE, PERFORM,
PERSEVERE.
PERCEIVE, DREAM YOUR DREAMS.
I LIKE TO ADD FOR THE YOUNG
FOLKS, HOPEFULLY PUT YOUR
FINGER ON SOMETHING YOU LIKE
TO DO.
I LOVE THE FLYING AND WAS
FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE THAT IN MY LIFE.
BUT PREPARE, GET A GOOD
EDUCATION AND DEVELOP THE
TALENTS THAT YOU PERCEIVED.
AND THEN PERFORM, ALWAYS DOING
YOUR BEST, WHATEVER YOU DO,
WITH EXCELLENCE AS A GOAL.
THIS IS SO MEANINGFUL TO
FAMILIES, I TELL YOUNGSTERS,
WELL, WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU IS
GOOD FOR FAMILY, WHAT'S GOOD
FOR FAMILY IS GOOD FOR
COMMUNITY, WHAT'S GOOD FOR
COMMUNITY IS GOOD FOR THE
STATE AND IT GOES ON UP.
UP THE LINE.
SO THESE VALUE LESSONS ARE
CERTAINLY A PART OF THAT.
AND FINALLY, PERSEVERE, YOU
KNOW, WE COULD HAVE BOWED OUR
HEADS AND SAID, THEY CALLED ME
NAMES, THEY DON'T LIKE ME,
THEY WON'T LET ME GO OFF AND
SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE DONE?
BECAUSE OUR EXPERIENCE ALLOWED
THE AIR FORCE TO WORK WITH A
GREAT PRESIDENT, HARRY TRUMAN,
TO FINALLY REALIZE EQUAL
ACCESS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
IS THE PATH FOR ALL AMERICANS,
NOT HAPPENSTANCE OF BIRTH IS
NOT THE DETERMINATION.
PERSEVERE, DON'T LET
CIRCUMSTANCES OR SOMEBODY
TELLING YOU YOU CAN'T DO
SOMETHING BE YOUR EXCUSE FOR
NOT ACHIEVING.
SO, THE VALUE LESSONS THAT
SUSTAINED US ARE GOOD FOR THE
YOUNG FOLKS TODAY AND WHAT
THEY'RE FACING.
IN SOME CASES WE DON'T HAVE
THE ANSWER YET.
BUT CERTAINLY THE VALUE
LESSONS ARE STILL GOOD TO HELP
PREPARE.
>> GUYS, WOULD YOU PUT UP
PICTURE NUMBER 6?
GENERAL, YOU'VE COME A LONG
WAY IN THAT PICTURE SINCE THE
PICTURE THAT WE SHOWED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS INTERVIEW.
YOU AS A 19-YEAR-OLD,
18-YEAR-OLD.
THAT AROUND YOUR NECK IS THE
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD
WHEN YOU WERE AWARDED THAT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS
ASTOUNDING AND ALMOST BEYOND
BELIEF TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT
OF THE COUNTRY SALUTE US
SAYING, I SALUTE YOU FOR THOSE
SALUTES YOU DIDN'T GET ALONG
THE WAY.
CERTAINLY A VERY PROUD MOMENT.
IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT.
AND, AGAIN, A MOMENT, THE
VALUE LESSONS TO PASS ON TO
YOUNG FOLKS, SOMEBODY TELLING
YOU YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING
SHOULD BE WHAT YOU GRAB ONTO
AND REALIZE THAT THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO BE AN
AMERICAN CITIZEN, SERVE OUR
COUNTRY DON'T COME FROM FOLKS
THAT TELL YOU YOU CAN'T DO
SOMETHING.
IT COMES FROM YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO NOT LET THAT BE AN EXCUSE.
>> SO, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR
YOU TO BE AN AMERICAN?
>> NOT AN EASY ANSWER, FOR
SURE.
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD,
THE OPPORTUNITIES STILL
AVAILABLE IN THIS COUNTRY, THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE WITH
OTHERS, PASS ON THE VALUE
LESSONS, THESE ARE ALL A PART
OF BEING AMERICAN.
NOBODY TELLING YOU BECAUSE OF
YOUR HAPPENSTANCE OF BIRTH
THAT YOU DON'T FIT OR YOU
DON'T BELONG HERE OR YOU CAN'T
DO SOMETHING.
THAT'S NOT VALUE LESSON WHEN
IT COMES TO YOU, NOR IS IT THE
MENTORING THAT YOU DESERVE AND
SHOULD RECEIVE TO CONTINUE
FORWARD KEEPING AMERICA STRONG
AND FREE.
>> EXCELLENT.
GENERAL, WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF
TIME.
AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL, NOT
ONLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BEING
HERE, BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL WITH
YOUR LIFE, THAT YOU'VE BEEN
ABLE TO LIVE ACCORDINGLY AND
ARE TODAY AN EXAMPLE FOR
EVERYONE TO SEE HOW IT'S DONE,
THE FOUR Ps YOU'VE LIVED
OUT, BUT THEY APPLY TO US.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D
LIKE TO SHARE BEFORE WE END
OUR INTERVIEW TODAY?
>> WELL, JUST I THINK AMONG
THE ADULTS LISTENING, THERE
ARE MANY YOUNGSTERS OUT THERE
THAT NEED MENTORING.
UNFORTUNATELY, ALL OF OUR
SCHOOLS AREN'T PRODUCING THE
YOUNGSTERS THAT THEY CAN AND
SHOULD BE DOING.
THERE'S A LOT OF VARIANCE.
SO DON'T LET THE OPPORTUNITY
GO AWAY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN
YOUR FAMILY, IT MIGHT BE A
NEIGHBOR, IT MIGHT BE DOWN THE
STREET, GOT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
YOUR CONTACT, BUT THE
YOUNGSTERS OUT THERE, DON'T
PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PASS ON VALUE LESSONS TO THEM
BECAUSE THE YOUNGSTERS ARE THE
FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY.
>> GENERAL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, FROM THE DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS SOCIETY, DO SOUTH
DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCAST -- TO
SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING, AND ALL OF US AT
OLD GUYS AND THEIR AIRPLANES,
YOU SET THE BAR HIGH.
AND YOUR EXAMPLE MAKES US ALL
WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT TOO.
GENERAL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
CERTAINLY THE OLD GUYS WITH
THE AIRPLANES HAS BEEN ONE OF
MY LIFE'S BLESSINGS, AND VERY
PLEASED, THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF
YOUR STEPS FORWARD TODAY.
STAY SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
THIS IS JUST TERRIFIC.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
OLD GUYS AND THEIR AIRPLANES
AND THE DFC SOCIETY AND THE
PUBLIC BROADCASTING, WE GET UP
AND DO OUR JOB.
THIS IS THE KIND OF LIFE, THE
KIND OF EXAMPLE THAT WE ALL
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.
IN OUR PRODUCTION MEETINGS, WE
HAVE A SAYING, WHEN AN OLD MAN
DIES, A LIBRARY BURNS.
TODAY WE SAW THAT THE LIBRARY
OF GENERAL CHARLES McGEE IS
NOT ONLY OPEN BUT IT'S ALIVE
AND VIBRANT.
AND HIS WORDS, FIND A MENTOR,
FIND ANOTHER LIBRARY TO CHECK
OUT, THOSE ARE TIMELESS.
WE HAVE MET THE BEST PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO BRINGING MORE OF THESE
DEBRIEFS TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
UNTIL THEN, RECOGNIZE THAT
WHEN THIS DEBRIEF IS DONE, WE
WILL BE POSTING THIS SHOW ON
THE DFCSOCIETY.ORG WEBSITE.
AND REMEMBER THAT ONE OF OUR
OTHER MANTRAS ARE IS THAT
HISTORY IS NUTRITIOUS, SO
PLEASE DIG IN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE
NEXT DEBRIEF WITH YOU.
