At Dallas-Fort Worth, Tuskegee Airmen Recall Challenges

By Kathryn Bond, program analyst, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

From left are TSO Titus Varghese; Supervisory TSOs Tracie Ellis and Hannah Garcia; TSO Jeff Hamic; Don Elder, retired Tuskegee Airman; Supervisory TSOs Nikki Maiden and Fred Pfisterer; Dr. Claude Platte, retired Tuskegee Airman; and Supervisory TSO John Holmes.  Photo by Ken Riley

In recognition of African-American History Month, TSA at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) hosted several events in February, including a visit by two members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of nearly 1,000 elite African-American military fighter pilots during World War II.

Security Manager Ken Riley, who organized the visit, said, "I wanted to give our workforce the opportunity to meet some true pioneers of this great nation of ours and to learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen as part of our Black History Month celebration." 

Tuskegee Airmen Donald Elder, who was a corporal, and Dr. Claude R. Platte, who was a captain, talked about challenges they had to overcome in order to serve their country.

"Part of what contributed to our success as pilots was that no one bothered us while we were flying as a segregated group," Platte told TSA, airline and airport employees. "It wasn't too long until they found out that we could actually do something and then they decided to call upon s to escort the bombers." 

Elder recalled that when asked about the Tuskegee Airmen, he would say they "were just a bunch of good ol' red-blooded American patriots who fought for their country and did their job well without any expectation of any kind of recognition or fanfare."

Later, Supervisory TSO Nikitria Maiden said "being a part of this event was an awesome experience . To be in the presence of gentlemen who endured the struggle and didn't let anything stop them from accomplishing their dreams was enlightening."

Other DFW African American History Month events included special guest speaker William Blair, Jr., who played in the Negro Baseball League, and a game that involved matching names to pictures of prominent African-Americans.

"It is so impressive to see employees continually display innovation and team spirit as we continue to foster our model workplace through celebrations of diversity," said Michael S. Donnelly, assistant FSD for Operations. 

Security Managers Bill Connell, Aundrea Richardson, Ken Riley and Lisa Stubblefield contributed to this article.