Airmen screen Tuskegee Airmen documentary at Pentagon

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Tuskegee Airmen Lemuel A. Lewie Jr. (background) and William Broadwater pay respect to the U.S. flag during the national anthem Nov. 10, 2011, at the Pentagon. Lewie and Broadwater were distinguished guests during a special premier of “Double Victory,” an account of the Tuskegee Airmen’s struggles against fascism and racism during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano)
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Airmen screen Tuskegee Airmen documentary at Pentagon

Posted 11/15/2011

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by Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
Defense Media Activity

11/15/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- More than 150 Airmen came out to screen a documentary about the original Tuskegee Airmen during a red-carpet event here Nov. 10.

"Double Victory" was produced by George Lucas, of "Star Wars" fame, in support of his new feature film about the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails."

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Tuskegee Airmen William Broadwater and Lemuel Lewie Jr. attended the screening. Cuba Gooding Jr., the narrator of "Double Victory" and star of "Red Tails", was also on hand for the event to promote both films.

Donley and Gooding opened the documentary with remarks about how the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen have positively affected our nation.

"Our Tuskegee Airmen are national treasures and certainly royalty for our United States Air Force," Donley said. "I was thinking, as we listened to our National Anthem, of the last lines -- 'the land of the free and the home of the brave.' These Tuskegee Airmen helped make it and keep it that way."

During the hour-long film, audience members listened to personal accounts from Tuskegee Airmen about their experiences fighting two concurrent battles -- the battle against discrimination stateside and World War II overseas.

"Today we have to remind ourselves that these brave young men did not start out as legends," said Donley. "During the 1940s in America, far too many people either did not believe they could or did not want them to succeed. The Tuskegee Airmen proved that given equal opportunity and training, African Americans could fly, command, and serve in combat and in combat support units as well as anyone."

After the screening, Broadwater, Lewie and Gooding answered questions during a panel-style question and answer session.

Gooding, who became a Tuskegee Airmen enthusiast while doing research for his first Tuskegee Airmen film, told the audience how he became drawn to the men's story.

"I didn't know anything about the history, the legacy of what these men did and what they went through," he said. "They didn't have it in history class when I went through high school. When I got the first movie role, I was embarrassed because I didn't know anything."

Gooding talked about how he sees the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen reflect directly upon leaders of today. He said a man from another country once told him he was amazed that Americans would elect an African-American president.

"I said, 'If you knew the history of African-Americans and what we've accomplished, you would know...it was just a matter of time,'" Gooding said.

Red Tails is scheduled to be released Jan. 20, 2012.