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Huntington Vietnam veteran honors Tuskegee Airmen with library display
Huntington Vietnam veteran Velma “Bernie” Layne put together a Black History Month display on the Tuskegee Airmen. He is the president of the West Virginia chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Until Velma "Bernie" Layne saw a television movie on the Tuskegee Airmen, he didn't even know the World War II African-American military men existed.
Now, the Vietnam veteran and fellow African American vows to make sure they will not be forgotten.
Layne put together a Tuskegee Airmen display for Black History Month at the Cabell County Public Library in Downtown Huntington. On the first floor, near the exit, a table and an easel hold dozens of framed pictures of the black men who earned respect by guarding the bomber pilots and their precious, destructive cargo.
But the Tuskegee Airmen started off as the Tuskegee Experiment, after members of Congress and high-ranking military officials said black men could never be pilots.
"Finally, the airmen got their shot to fight the Germans," Layne said. "They were fighter escort pilots guarding our bombers, and they never lost a bomber."
Layne said the same white bomber pilots who didn't want to be guarded by black escort pilots were requesting them, and the mindset started to change.
The Tuskegee Airmen also included air crew, ground crew and operations support training in the Army Air Corps during WWII.
Layne also learned that there were two Tri-State natives who were a part of the airmen -- William Lee Hill and Earl B. Rudisill. Hill was shot down at least three times and lived, eventually becoming a lifelong military man. He has since passed away.
Rudisill is 92 now and continues to tell the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen. Lanye plans to take his display on tour to Tri-State schools, and he said Rudisill plans on speaking when he can.
Layne is the president of the West Virginia chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and creator of www.greatAfricanAmericans. org. He hopes educating the public and the youth will inspire people to not look at their circumstances as insurmountable.
"Some people say these men had to die twice," Layne said of the airmen. "They went out and fought for their country so maybe they could have a chance to make a difference."
The display will be at the library through the end of the month. The West Virginia chapter's vice president Marvin Linthicum helped Layne with background research. Linthicum passed away Feb. 12, and Layne will share the display in his honor this year.
If you would like to schedule a presentation for your school, church or organization, send an e-mail to greatafricanamericans@yahoo.com.
