Stars visible at, from LA observatory

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Matt Proietti
  • Air Force Public Affairs Agency
LOS ANGELES (AFNS) --  Senior Air Force leaders rubbed elbows with entertainment industry figures Nov. 18 during an Air Force Week reception at the Griffith Observatory here. 

Hosted by the Friends of the Observatory, a nonprofit organization which supports the world's most visited public observatory, the event honored Tuskegee Airmen, the Doolittle Raiders, the World War II contributions of women, and two Airmen injured in the Middle East. 

The Air Force, Air Force Space Command and the National Reconnaissance Office were recognized for their contributions to youth education programs at the observatory. 

The site annually hosts nearly a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren, and has been featured in movies including "Rebel Without a Cause" starring James Dean and "The Terminator" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. It reopened in 2006 following a five-year renovation. 

the astronomy complex is "where your ability to reach the stars is only limited by your imagination," said Camille Lombardo, the executive director of the Friends of the Observatory. 

The Friends of the Observatory presented crystal awards in the shape of a monument at the facility that features the likenesses of six historic astronomers: Hipparchus, Nicholas Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton and William Herschel. 

The first recipients were Lt. Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, the commander of the Air Force Space Command; Lt. Gen. John T. "Tom" Sheridan, the commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base; and Maj. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, the deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Va. They accepted the awards on behalf of their organizations. 

"(You) have touched much of how we show and tell the story of humankind's change in perspective as we launched ourselves into space," Ms. Lombardo said. 

Studies by the observatory staff shows that two-thirds of young adults who visit the site leave more interested in science and half of that amount say they are interested in pursuing a career in it. 

General Kehler said that 44 former Airmen have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Among them are Morgan Freeman, Charlton Heston and Jack Nicholson, who served as an Air National Guard firefighter. 

"Can you picture Jack as an Airman talking to a sergeant?" the general asked. 

General Kehler noted that 38,000 Airmen are currently deployed, including 30,000 in the Persian Gulf, and spoke of contributions made by the nation's first black military pilots, who fought in World War II after training in Tuskegee, Ala. 

"You can see the pathfinding job that our Tuskegee Airmen did at a time when it was a very difficult step for them to make in our Air Force and for the nation at large," General Kehler said. 

Actor Ernie Hudson presented an award honoring Tuskegee Airmen to veterans 2nd Lt. Oliver Goodall and Staff Sgt. James Pratt. 

"These young men came from every part of the country with the singular goal and the strong desire to serve their country to the best of their ability," said Mr. Hudson, star of the TV series "Oz" and known for his movie roles in "Ghostbusters," "The Crow" and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle."

"They all possessed the necessary skills to fully function as Army Air Corps pilots ... and served in the war in Europe with outstanding war records, but returned home to these United States and continued racism and bigotry," Mr. Hudson said. 

President Truman ended racial segregation in the services in 1948. 

"Now, here we are less than a generation later (and) U.S. Airmen will soon have an African-American commander in chief," he said. "We salute the Tuskegees for their service to our country. We appreciate their courage, their discipline, and we honor these men not for the color of their skin, but for the content of their character." 

Actress Jane Kaczmarek, daughter of a retired Air Force Reserve colonel, spoke about the World War II contributions of nurses and Women Airforce Service Pilots. She presented the award to Edith McClure, a nurse who served overseas, caring for Americans and German prisoners of war. 

"Nothing makes me happier or (feel) safer or prouder than seeing an Air Force uniform," said Ms. Kaczmarek, who played the mother on "Malcolm in the Middle" and now portrays a judge on the show, "Raising the Bar." 

WASP pilots broke in new aircraft and tested repair planes while receiving no rank or benefits, she said. "Their work was so dangerous that no private insurer would cover them. Despite their tough job, they were expected to fly wearing dresses, hosiery and high heels." 

Actor Rick Schroder presented the observatory award to Capt. Grady Tucker and Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Coffin, both of whom were injured while serving in the Middle East. 

"I'm so jealous of you men in uniform," said Mr. Schroder, who starred as a child in the movie "The Champ" and TV series "Silver Spoons" and has recently acted on the programs "24" and "NYPD Blue." 

"There's a lot of us out there who haven't had the chance to serve for whatever reason, but we're with you and we support you," Mr. Schroder said. 

Captain Tucker is commander of the military personnel element at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., while Sergeant Coffin is an Air Force reservist assigned to the 4th Combat Camera Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. 

"The intersection between a man's destiny and his commitment is frequently a terrifying one," Mr. Schroder said. "These two Airmen did not give in to fear and pain, but they rose to the challenge of the Airmen's Creed to be excellent in all things." 

Movie producer and director Robert E. Relyea honored the historic flight of the Doolittle Raiders, who struck Tokyo after launching from an aircraft carrier four months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. 

Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle led a group of men flying stripped-down B-25s, each of which "was essentially a large gas can with bombs," said Mr. Relyea, past president of the Entertainment Industry Liaison Board of the Air Force. 

"Eighty young Airmen hardened in their youth by a crushing Great Depression were willing to gamble on this astounding plan," he said. "They also bet that broomsticks, painted black and mounted in the tail of their aircraft, would be mistaken for the machine guns that were too heavy to carry. It was a fatal gamble for some." 

The men were hailed as heroes at home, said Mr. Relyea, who produced the movies "Bullitt" and "The Reivers" starring Steve McQueen and "The Last Action Hero." He also worked on "The Great Escape," "Jailhouse Rock," "West Side Story" and "The Magnificent Seven." 

"The Doolittle raid was the first good news in an America despondent from the attack on Pearl Harbor. (It) was proof that Yankee ingenuity was well met with red, white and blue courage," Mr. Relyea said. "(The Raiders) are even more precious to us now as they are so few." 

Accepting the award were Doolittle Raiders' veterans Lt. Col. Richard Cole and Maj. Thomas Griffin, who were joined by Tung Sheng Liu, who helped rescue an aircrew after they ditched their aircraft in his native China. 

The ceremony also featured a performance by seven-time Grammy winners Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., who sang "Up, Up and Away," the 1967 hit with their former group, The Fifth Dimension. 

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