By Jennifer Rigg and

Meg McNichols

As one of the first black military leaders in World War II, Lt. Col. James C. Warren helped to pave the way for other African-Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Warren, along with Lt. Col. Antoine D. Taylor, spoke in celebration of African-American Heritage Month Thursday afternoon in Phipps Lecture Hall in the Physical Science Building.

When Warren wanted to enlist in the United States Air Force, he ran into some barriers because of his race, he said. In March of 1943, Warren was informed by the federal government that he was not allowed to enter any branch of the military. The government explained that, as an African-American, his intelligence was too low, his reflexes too slow and he did not possess the courage to fight in combat.

This did not deter Warren from his dream of fighting for the country that he loved.

In 1942, various civil rights groups joined forces and petitioned the government to change their position on African-Americans in the armed forces. As a result of their persistence, Warren began aviation cadet training at Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1943.

Warren was one of the first five students to graduate from the Tuskegee program. The government did not plan to use the men in combat, and sent the group to a base in North Africa. The Tuskegee Airmen eventually proved that they were not only exceptional aviators, but superior in aerial combat. As a result they found themselves in the midst of World War II.

During his lecture, Warren told his first-hand account of the Tuskegee Airmen’s 200 flawless missions in WWII.

“Not one of our men was shot down or lost in 200 missions straight,” Warren said.

Warren was released from active duty a year after he left World War II; however, that was not the last the military would hear from Warren.

In March 1952, Warren was recalled into duty during the midst of the Korean War and flew 50 combat missions. From 1953 to 1956, he was assigned to McChord Air Force Base in Washington and flew on worldwide routes. He also served as the command navigator for the Commander of the United States Air Force Europe.

In 1960, Warren returned to the continental United States and was assigned to the Military Air Transport Command at Travis Air Force Base in California.

He later went to Vietnam in February 1967 and flew 123 combat missions. While he served in the Vietnam War, 32 Tuskegee Airmen were shot down and claimed as prisoners of war.

“My greatest memory is of the day I was chosen to fly home our first group of rescued POWs,” Warren said. Flying under the call sign of “Homecoming One,” Warren brought in the American soldiers to Clark Air Base in the Phillipines.

After serving in Vietnam, Warren returned to Travis Air Force Base as a navigator. He later became squadron commander of the 60th Service Squadron and 60th Air Base Group Headquarters Squadron and squadron chief navigator.

Warren retired from the Air Force on Nov. 1, 1978. Warren ended his part of the lecture with a personal message.”This is my country and it is the best country,” he said. “Freedom is not free, it must be purchased by generation after generation. It is your turn.”

Following Warren’s speech, Taylor spoke about his experiences in the United States Army. Taylor is currently the director of the ROTC program at Lincoln College in Missouri. As an active member of the military, he gave an account of his experiences.

Taylor first enlisted in 1982, and soon rose through the ranks, fueled by his ability to adapt, he said. Taylor served as a communications officer in Korea from 1986 to 1987, and from 1990 to 1991 was the brigade signal officer in Fort Hood, Texas. This assignment included service in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

“Iraq was not the nicest of places, to say the least,” Taylor said. “The desert terrain was very hard to navigate.”

From 1992 to 1995, Taylor was assigned to a defense satellite system in Washington, D.C.

One of his many assignments also included being stationed in Japan. He was there to host the Japanese Secretary of War for a day. Even though he did not speak a word of Japanese, Taylor completed his assignment successfully, he said.

Taylor said his experience in Japan helped him serve during the Gulf War. Included in Taylor’s many awards for his service is the prestigious Bronze Star.

Taylor told the audience that he admired men like Lt. Col. Warren for helping break down racial barriers in the military. Taylor said he believes that discrimination is still existent in the United States, but he also believes that steps have been made towards equality because of men like Warren.

“The door does not have to be kicked open, but the handle must be turned,” Warren said. “The door is not wide open just yet.”