Tag Archives: Tuskegee Airmen

Prepare To Be Ready

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My research into the Tuskegee Airmen recently took me to Internet Archives Digital Library, and a fifteen minute video tribute. I found the video fascinating. Once again I was impressed with the sacrifices men and women in the various military services of the United States have given for this country, and what they have accomplished through their efforts.

Thank you one and all.

Near the end of the internet video, General Chappie James said:

“Freedom must be re-purchased by every new generation. Prepare yourself so that when your Tuskegee appears, you will be ready.”

Prepare yourself to be ready for your Tuskegee. Your opportunity. Your moment to shine. The dream God has dreamed for you.

I expect my Tuskegee looks different from yours. My Tuskegee involves me being prepared to write what God wants me to write, send it where I think he wants it to be published, and get it in front of the people I believe he wants it in front of.

Some of you reading this post are also writers. You know what I’m talking about.

Some of you may be preparing to venture out into new areas in your careers, or relationships, or ministries. You’ve done your homework. Prepared yourself. Got your ducks in a row, as my mother would say. You’re ready.

Prepare yourself so that when your Tuskegee appears, you will be ready.

Sounds good, but how might one go about doing that?

For me, I believe no matter what is around the corner, we need to be grounded in God’s word. Seek to know his will. Strive to please him above all others.

It took fourteen years before God moved David from shepherd to king, but when the time finally came, David was prepared for his Tuskegee.

Just as the Airmen needed to understand their equipment and study their manuals, so do we. We need to study God’s word DAILY. Not just once a week. We need to listen to Godly counsel. Pay attention to the things God’s showing in his world that he wants us to apply to our lives.

It won’t do any good for someone to read an instruction manual, sit in on class lectures, study weather charts and navigation, then turn around and forget all that information once they get into a plane. That plane’s not gonna’ fly.

Pilots can fly airplanes because they’ve trained and studied the flight manuals. We can navigate life and be prepared for what’s around the corner because we have studied our manual – the Bible.

I pray each of us is ready when our Tuskegee comes. Ready for the dream God has dreamed for us.

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Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means. 2 Timothy 2:15 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Tell a Veteran Thanks

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Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who are serving, and who have served in our military. Thank you very much for your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of your families.

I’ve mentioned before that my father served in the US Navy, and was on board a ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when it was bombed on December 7, 1941.

My dad didn’t talk much about his experiences in the war. Although I wish he had, I understand why he didn’t.

I asked my niece’s son who served in Afghanistan, if he ever talked about his war experiences. No. Only with those who’d been there. I get it. How can anyone who hasn’t been there truly understand what it was like for you to go through what you went through?

There were a few things my dad did tell me.

He told me how difficult it was to watch the buddy he fought next to get killed, while Dad was physically, unscathed.

He told me how he walked into a restaurant, and someone he knew was shocked. They’d heard Dad’s ship was destroyed. It was, but Dad had been tendered to another ship, to take over for their deceased gunner, before Dad’s ship was hit.

My father told me how much it hurt to come back to the States, the country he’d proudly fought and sacrificed for, to see a sign in front of a business that said, Sailors and dogs keep off the grass.

He put his life on the line for this?Right now, I’m researching the Tuskegee Airmen, and their contributions to winning the Double Victory. These men and women, like Dr. Bickham and Mr. Harold Alston, Sr. who have helped me with my research, made sacrifices to defeat Hitler overseas and Jim Crow at home.

They returned to the States to face much worse than signs telling them to keep off the grass. (Please join me in praying for Mr. Alston’s family, at his passing this week.)

And here’s where Jesus comes in. Jesus left his throne in glory to come to this earth as a man to fight for us. To win the victory over sin for us. He endured all things we as humans endure to pay the price for our freedom from Satan’s claws of death.

Jesus knew the joys. The pains. The prejudices. The humiliation. The betrayal. The love. The loss.

While I can sympathize and get upset about the unfair treatment others face, unless I’ve walked a mile in their moccasins, I cannot truly comprehend the raw emotions and pain events in their lives cause.

But Jesus can.

He won the victory. He is the conqueror. His death and resurrection bought our freedom. Praise God.

It’s obvious, of course, that he (Jesus) didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed. Hebrew 2:16-18 (MSG)

 

Know a veteran? Tell them thanks. Even better, join Sissy and me, as we create knitted and crocheted scarves to donate to VA Centers across the US. Here is a link for info on the National WWII Museum’s Knit Your Bit campaign.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Tuskegee Red Tails

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Last month, Pilot and I had the opportunity to attend an event featuring former Tuskegee Airman, 90-year-old, Dr. Luzine Bickham. Dr. Bickham shared some of his experiences training for, and flying with, the Red Tails during World War II.

The brave pilots and support personnel of the Tuskegee Airmen not only faced the hard rigors of their Army Air Corps training, they did it under the unbearable circumstances of segregation and prejudice against African Americans. They persevered, though the odds were stacked mightily against them. They excelled as one of the most decorated and respected fighter escorts of US bombers that targeted enemy installations in Europe. The Red Tails risked their lives to defeat the enemy, Hitler, so people could be free.

During the question and answer section of the program, an African-American who is currently serving our country in the US Air Force thanked Dr. Bickham and all the others who went before, for opening the door that allows him to serve his country today.

An acquaintance of mine was once complimented on being one of the first high ranking, female Army Chaplains. Her response? The glass shards hurt when you are breaking that ceiling.

I’m sure the Red Tails would agree.

 

So, I’m thinking … Jesus faced unbearable circumstances when he walked as a human here on this earth. He was despised. Forsaken. Rejected. Falsely accused. Betrayed. Abandoned. Tortured. Murdered.

All to make a way for us to be free from our enemy, Satan.

The Red Tails did not back down. They stood their ground. They knew what they fought for was worth it.

So did Jesus.

The Tuskegee Airmen opened the door that proved they were more than competent, capable, and committed to serving their country as military pilots in a time of war.

Jesus opened the door for each of us to reach the Father in Heaven. Jesus was the curtain that was torn in two which allows us to approach God’s throne. It is through Christ Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross of Calvary we have the opportunity to serve our LORD.

Just as the men of the 99th and 332nd were faithful to the tasks before them and set an example for others to follow, Jesus set an example for us to follow as well.

All of us can be trailblazers. We can show the way to Heaven through Jesus. As Steve Green sings, may all who come behind us find us faithful to the tasks that have been set before us.

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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