Tuskegee Airman,Donald Williams-interviewed on June17, 2013
Surrounded
by shelves of family photos and books, I met with Tuskegee airman, Donald R.
Williams, to talk about what makes him important to Brevard County history. Mr.
Williams, a resident of Merritt Island for 26 years, is known for his strong
values and distinguished civil and military service career. Just as important,
he is a DOTA-Documented Official Tuskegee Airman who lives here in Brevard
County.
Williams
grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at a time that our country still posted “No
Colored” signs both on building walls and in the unwritten rules of conduct.
Williams spent much of his childhood helping in his daddy’s barbershop and
uncle’s restaurant. However, he recalls that he experienced his first incident
of racism near his high school graduation in 1942 when, “ I was not able to
attend my high school prom because no coloreds were allowed to attend.” “I got
along with my classmates. But I have never heard from any of them. Not even for
class reunions.”
As a
pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State College
(now Penn State University), he fit in with the structure of an Ivy League
school but his social life affected his studies. After failing to pass
calculus, he gathered his wits and completed mechanical drafting training, and
was soon drafted into the war. Because he had such needed skills as a
draftsman, his first job was in Washington D.C. working for the War Department.
“ I was in tall cotton, then”, he exclaimed. “ I was getting a salary and rose
through the (pay grade) ranks.” He was then ready to settle down and marry
Ruth.
Soon
after, he was sent to the aviation engineering battalion in the Philippines,
where his oldest son was born. When he returned, he worked to earn his pay
grade level back. He found work in the Veteran’s Administration although it was
at a lower pay grade. “That is when I learned what it meant to be Black,” he
said. Williams explained how he spent a few years working for the VA creating
statistical charts and graphs. “I was able to use my mechanical drafting skills
as a one man show during that time.” When the Air Force opened a base at Port
Newark in Newark, New Jersey, he worked as a statistical draftsman. Just like
many trained and talented African Americans, he was relinquished to a job that
was below his skill level, but told that he did not have enough experience to
move up to the next level.
“Before I
was stationed at Tuskegee Airfield, I had a duty post in Northern Missouri,
Moton Army Air Field. Moton was the primary flight training location under
contract with the Tuskegee Institute. “ I was there for only a few weeks and was
glad to get out of there,” he said. Williams shared stories revealing that he
experienced Jim Crow law restrictions, even within his highly skilled work as a
statistical draftsman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
He worked
as an enlisted man from 1943-1947, reaching the rank of sergeant, but continued
working for the military as a civil servant for the FAA through the duration of
his career. Williams became a part of the 10,000 personnel who supported the
corps of pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Williams
and his wife Ruth have been married for 68 years.
The
Williams family moved to Cocoa Beach in 1978, and to Merritt Island in 1987,
where they still reside. Williams smiled as he joked about throwing himself a
party for his 90th birthday in September.
Donald
Williams has a local and national impact on history: he is a part of Brevard
County history.
In 2007,
the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest
civilian honor given by the US Congress.
In 2008, Williams,
along with other surviving Tuskegee Airmen, received the distinction of being
invited to the inauguration activities for newly elected president Barak Obama.
In 2012,
the Mayor of Cocoa, Florida, recognized Williams in “Tuskegee Airman Donald Williams
Day”.
For more
information about the Tuskegee Airmen:
Congressional
Gold Medal, Public Law 109-213, April 11, 2006
Mr. Williams was nice enough to give up 2 hours so that I could record his history. Thank you, sir.
