Semester Dos, Blog 2

Dear Darla,

How are things going in New York for you? I miss it there... Tuskegee, Alabama just isn't my cup of tea. I have met many new young men that are becoming my friends though. They all have such interesting stories and perspective that they share with the rest of us and there are so many stories to be heard. There are 996 of us and those are just the pilots! There are also 15000 ground personnel! They are all from ranging states too. From Washington, to Los Angeles, to Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and there are even a few other boys who are also from New York.
Anyways, I miss your cooking so much because there are simply long tables which we sit at to eat whatever the kitchen crew slops down in front of us. I also our sweet privacy that we had at home. Here at training camp, we are all crammed into bunk beds in relatively small rooms, but no matter, it will be worth it once I get my chance to serve in a war for my great country. You know, some of the boys and I were talking about it the other night and it may surprise people how dedicated we all are to our country considering the treatment this country has given us in the near past, but I guess our love is strong and true and cannot be broken.
You would be proud to hear that my commending officer was telling us the other day that since we are the first class and began our training in July 1941, we should be completing our training in only March of '42! There are thirteen men in our class and I plan on being one of the ones who complete the training!
My only complaint at this time would be that I heard that they are running low on qualified airmen for the war and even though we are perfect for the job, they still aren't letting us serve with them white men just because of the color of our skin! Boy, slavery may have ended 75 years ago, but I sure do still feel it in the air. All I can do at this point though is to just continue to hope that maybe one day all people of this great country will have the same rights and maybe even black pilots will be just as respected as them white folks. So maybe I can't get a promotion today because of my color but later I hope I might get one, I sure would love a promotion.
While everything is OK for me now, it could always be better. I am still worried about how you are doing back at home. I hope none of them neighbors are giving you any grief about having a black husband in the air force. If they do, you you have my complete permission to sick Rover on them. You wont have to deal with them for too much longer. However this brings me to my next fear (and I don't want you to go get upset), but there is always the possibility of my not returning home because of some accident that happened to me while at war. I am a little bit worried about this outcome just because I want you to be taken care of if in fact this situation were to come true. Even if I do return home, what will be the reactions of everyone once I arrive? Will they commend me? Will they be upset? Will they look down on me? I might even perform some heroic act at war and our country's government may not even honor me for it! All that work and I may still be looked down upon? Anyways, I am sorry to end this letter on a sad note, but it seems as though it is time for us to go to lunch now. I love you and hope to come home soon having assisted in winning our country a victory.

Love,
Bobby

Sources:
1. http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/uploads/Who_Were_The_Tuskegee_Airmen.pdf