Tuskegee Airmen still inspire - Alamo Wing maintainer comments on recent convention Published Dec. 13, 2007 By Master Sergeant Vincent Moore 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Lackland AFB -- History is sometimes easy to forget, because it's history. However, some people and some events should be remembered because the impact and struggles they represent changed our lives forever. That is the case of the Tuskegee Airmen. While attending the Annual Tuskegee Airmen Conference, I learned new facts about the daily struggles that the men faced. Like the events that took place when 162 of the Tuskegee officers attempted to enter a "whites only" officers club. The officers were arrested and then later refused to sign letters acknowledging they had done anything wrong. They believed that members serving in the military should all have the same rights. I think the most important thing I learned though, is that the Tuskegee Airmen weren't about black and white but about achieving a goal. They had an objective to reach, to prove that African Americans were as intelligent and courageous as others. They overcame many obstacles to meet their goal, including racism, discrimination and the effects that those things can have on a family. Today, the Tuskegee Airmen still desire for African Americans to achieve success. While at the conference, I attended an Executive Senior Leadership panel I felt was beneficial because it consisted of men and women who are leaders and gave an idea of the struggles people in different situations face in order to achieve a goal. One such struggle can be money. At the conference, a financial seminar called Money Matters was held. I found this to be one of the most rewarding events I attended because I think everyone would like to have advice on how to live life with the least possible amount of debt. While at the conference I also had the privilege of meeting retired Lt. Col. Granville Coggs, one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Meeting Colonel Coggs was an inspiration to me because he has achieved so much in his life, earning military badges for aerial gunner, aerial bombardier and multi-engine pilot. He didn't stop there though; he served in the Air Force Reserve until 1985 and is now a doctor practicing radiology at Brooke Army Medical Center and a medalist in the Senior Olympic Games. There were so many opportunities during the Tuskegee Airmen's Conference to learn how to better yourself and achieve your goals from people who were still achieving goals after so many years.