RODEO 2009: Two Tuskegee Airmen visit RODEO

Published July 22, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard
RODEO 2009 Public Affairs

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Almost all Air Mobility RODEO 2009 guests have driven down Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard here, but most of them probably did not expect two of the Tuskegee Airmen themselves to be at RODEO.

Retired Lt. Cols. Edward Drummond Jr. and Bill Holloman stopped at RODEO today during the opening ceremony to speak with RODEO personnel.

"It is exciting and I am impressed to see people from so many countries and everything is integrated," said Mr. Drummond. "Everyone here is so nice and there doesn't seem to be any prejudices."

Mr. Drummond explained that he was one of the youngest Tuskegee Airmen when he graduated in June of 1946. At the time, African Americans could only be stationed at Tuskegee Army Airfield, Ala., or Lockbourne Air Base, Ohio. He was sent to the latter where he flew B-25s and P-47s.

"I'm from the ancient days where everything was (propeller) planes," he said. "Now everything uses jet power."

Although the military became integrated July 26, 1948, Mr. Drummond did not move to an integrated base until June 1949 when he was assigned to the 49th Fighter Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan as a P-80 pilot. During the Korean War, he was one of the first two African American fighter pilots to fly in combat. Overall, he flew 104 combat missions in Korea.

The Pennsylvania native was stationed here in 1965 and decided McChord was the best place to be compared to his other duty stations.

"McChord used to be an Air Defense Command base and the 62nd was just a tenant," he said. "It is the best base to be assigned to; the people are like a big family."

Mr. Drummond did a tour in Vietnam and Europe before retiring after 25 years of military service.

Mr. Drummond compares RODEO to all his years of traveling in the military.

"When I would go from the U.S. to England, I would take my kids and they'd learn about the English. Then we moved to France and then Japan and they were exposed to people of other countries," he said. "Regardless of the language you speak, we are all here to maintain freedom and democracy. We can establish common methods of getting things done which is a great contribution to civilization to reach common goals."

Mr. Drummond also sees gratitude when he sees RODEO.

"I think we have arrived at a point of appreciation on the significance that we, as Tuskegee Airmen, had when I see young folks of all races and grades ... even women," he said. "It makes me happy to have had some influence in that we were doing what they thought we weren't supposed to. Now, military service opportunities are available to everyone."

Mr. Holloman was the other Tuskegee Airmen to visit RODEO, and was equally impressed with the event.

"I think any Air Force competition is good because it sharpens people up," he said. They work harder because they want to come here. Those who do come here gain a lot. It also builds teamwork."

Mr. Holloman said he wished there were more competitions like this. They enhance networking among Airmen.

As a fighter pilot, he began with P-51s then moved on to P-47s after World War II. He was also the first African American helicopter pilot in the Air Force. In 1958, he joined the Reserves and also became a commercial pilot.

"The Guard and Reserves is so much better these days, they have made it so it mirrors active duty now," he said.

But Vietnam prompted him to return to service. This time with the Army. Mr. Hollman served five years and retired. Like Mr. Drummond, the St. Louis, Mo., native was stationed at McChord AFB and decided to make the area his home.

"The Air Force is more casual now with the uniforms," he said. "We used to not be able to go off base with them. We couldn't even go to the club after work with our flightsuits. You had to be in Class As or civilian clothes. Now, people go in town or travel with them."

"Computers are another thing," he added. "I saw my first computer during my last three years in the Army when I was commissary commander in Germany. We used them for inventory. It was more efficient and I got my supplies quicker. Now everything is computerized."

When asked about being a Tuskegee Airman, Mr. Holloman said, "I didn't think I did that much. I was one of eight Tuskegee Airmen to go to combat in three wars, but now I focus on telling the history."

Mr. Holloman is currently working with George Lucas on a movie about the Tuskegee Airmen which is slated to premiere in two years. Both also travel the world as guest speakers.