p. o. box 284 randolph afb, tx 78148-0284 sactai...

the $500 scholarship this year

was sponsored by the 99th Fly-

ing Training Squadron (FTS) at

Randolph AFB, whose com-

by Dr. Carolin Sinkfield

On the evening of June 7,

2014, at the Randolph Air

Force Base Enlisted (Kendrick)

Club, the San Antonio Chapter

of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

(SAC-TAI), held its Twenty-

second Annual Education As-

sistance Awards Banquet. It is

at this time that deserving high

school graduating seniors in the

San Antonio and surrounding

areas were recognized as recip-

ients of SAC-TAI scholarships

as a result of a highly competi-

tive process. A total of six

young ladies were this year’s

recipients of the following:

four TAI $1,000 scholarships;

one $1,500 scholarship from

the 323rd Training Squadron at

Lackland AFB Mustang Asso-

ciation; and one $500 scholar-

ship. In addition, two of the

winners received an additional

$1,500 each from the Tuskegee

Airmen Foundation to further

impact their academic endeav-

ors financially. The addition of

2014 Education Assistance Awards Banquet

San Antonio Chapter - Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

P. O. Box 284

Randolph AFB, TX 78148-0284

www.sactai.com

August 2014 Volume 2, Issue 1

SACTAI News

Special points of

interest:

Central Region

Youth Seminar held

in SA

Chapter activities

cover the region

SACTAI DOTA is

Parade Marshal

Inside this issue:

Youth Seminar 2

DOTA Gets his CGM 3

DOTAs Visit the CAF in

West Texas

3

SA AFJROTC Dets Get

TAI Awards

4

Dr. Coggs is Parade

Marshal

4

Warren Harding Eusan Oct. 8

1920 - Jun 14, 2014, a native

of San Antonio, Texas enlisted

in the Army Air Corps after

graduating from Wiley College in 1940, with B. A. Degrees in

Sociology and Education. His

selection for advanced train-

ing after initial assignment

to Tuskegee Army Air Field

sent him to Bryan, Texas,

where he integrated the Base

Instrument Command Flying

School. After graduation, Mr.

Eusan returned to Tuskegee

teaching instrument

flying until his discharge in 1946.

Mr. Eusan returned to San An-

tonio, working as a teacher and

later as School Liaison for the

Superintendent of the San An-

Front L-R: DOTAs William Gray, Granville Coggs, James Bynum, and Eugene Derricotte.

Back L-R; Abigail Pauly ($1,000), Sakina Hakimuddin ($1,000), Kayleigh Arcos ($1,500),

Escense Jackson-Jones ($500)

DOTA Eusan Joins Lonely Eagles Chapter

Cont’d on page 2

Cont’d on page 3

This year’s Seminar was held

in San Antonio, TX June 27-

29, 2013 . Ten students from

across the region attended.

As soon as the students landed

at San Antonio International

Airport, they were whisked

away to tour sites of interest at

Randolph Air Force Base.

Their tour guide at the 99th

Flying Training Squadron (the

successor Squadron of the

famed 99th Fighter Squadron)

was Captain Christine Wag-

ner, T-1A Jayhawk Instructor

Pilot. They also viewed the

historical film -- Double-V.

Afterwards, they were trans-

ported to ride the T-1 & T-6

simulators and tour the air

traffic control tower. That

evening featured a dinner with

the 99th Flying Training

Squadron Commander, Lt Col

Oliver Johnson and 2Lt

Saturday tours included the

Aviation Museum and tower

at Stinson Municipal Airport.

“Ground School” activities

supported by SACTAI Youth

Committee & At-large Mem-

bers, Graddie Robinson, Marie

McGarity, Carol Alexander,

Booker Alexander, and Rick

Sinkfield. Central Region

Representatives included

Marv Abrams, Tyrell Rhodes

and Robin Rhodes.

Evening activities included an

awards banquet during which

the students received their

certificates and got to ask DO-

TA Dr. Eugene Derricotte and

Jeanne Derricotte about their

experiences as a Tuskegee

Airman. Tyrell Rhodes gave

an inspirational talk for the

students..

Sunday’s activities included a

tour of static aircraft at Lack-

land Air Force Base (see photo

below) and a barbeque picnic.

Central Region Youth Seminar

DOTA Eusan Joins Lonely Eagles (continued from Page 1)

SACTAI News

Photo above shows the students with their Central Region & SACTAI spon-

sors and DOTAs at Lackland’s parade field & airpark which now features a

P-51 Redtail.

tonio Independent School Dis-

trict. During his tenure with

the school district, Mr. Eusan

earned his Masters of Educa-

tion degree from Atlanta Uni-

versity (now Clark Atlanta

University) and complet-

ed additional post-grad stud-

ies at Our Lady of the Lake

University, Trinity University,

and the University of Texas,

before retiring after 44 years of

service.

Remaining active after

“retiring”, Mr. Eusan held po-

sitions as adjunct facility mem-

ber at St. Philip’s College, and

supervisor with the San Anto-

nio Play-grounds and Recrea-

tion Department, San Antonio

Neighborhood Youth Organi-

zation (SANYO), and

the Department of Economic

Development of San Antonio.

Mr. Eusan received a Wiley

College special Alumni Award

in recognition of his continued

dedication to the school.

Tour of Texas Aviation Museum at Stin-

son Field.

Touring the 99th Flying Training Squad-

ron

Simulator rides

Lt Col Johnson speaks to the students

mander is Lt Col Oliver Johnson. This

scholarship was designed as a memorial

scholarship - the Victoria Elise McMillan

Memorial Scholarship – in memory of

young Victoria McMillan, whose untimely

death prompted this vision that was devel-

oped from within the 99th FTS. Her dad

was a pilot within this organization. This

year’s theme “Successes of the Past, Role

Models of Today, Visionaries of Tomor-

row” clearly set the stage for this event as

is reflective of the Tuskegee Airmen’s

contributions, which promoted freedom for

this country along ith human and civil

rights for all Americans.

The speaker for the banquet, Rev. Edward

K. Maney, offered encouragement for the

banquet attendees with his message of

spirituality, courage, and dedication as the

foundation of success. Rev. Maney is defi-

nitely a role model of success within the

San Antonio community as he graduated

from a local high school, Sam Houston

High School, and attended the United

States Military Academy at West Point,

New York.

The six recipients of the 2014 SAC-TAI

Education Assistance Awards are: Abigail

Pauly, Kayleigh Arcos, Sakina Hakimud-

din, and Ecense Jackson-Jones. Addition-

ally, Kaylena Dornes and Schlyce Mitch-

ell, were recognized in their absence due to

the conflict of their high school graduation

occurring on the same evening.

Finally, we had the pleasure of having the

participation of four SAC-TAI Document-

ed Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOTAs) in

the festivities – Mr. William Gray, Dr.

Granville Coggs, Mr. James Bynum, and

Dr. Eugene Derricotte.

DOTAs Granville Coggs and

Theodore Johnson speak about

their own Tuskegee Experience

to over 600 local attendees at the

2014 Memorial Day Observance

in Midland, Texas. Graddie Rob-

inson (back row, left) and Rick

Sinkfield (r) were SACTAI es-

corts.

The event was sponsored by the

Commemorative Air Force.

Banquet (cont’d)

DOTAs Visit Commemorative Air Force in West TX

DOTA Bynum Gets His CGM

Mr. James Bynum, a WWII veteran and

recently confirmed DOTA, was presented

his replica of his Congressional Gold Med-

al (CGM) at this year’s Banquet. Mr.

Bynum was born in Lexington Coun-

ty, South Carolina but grew up in Philadel-

phia, Pennsylvania. It was there that he

joined the Army in 1041 until his initial

discharge in 1945. In less than six months,

Mr. Bynum was back in his same uniform

at Fort Meade, Maryland and then with the

332nd at Lockbourne,

Ohio. Various assignments in Washing-

ton, Japan, Vermont, ROTC duties

at Tennessee State University, Texas, and

then the Supreme Headquarters Allied

Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris,

France before a return to Texas, highlight-

ed his 30-year military career, culminating

in 1971.

Mr. Bynum then dedicated his time and

efforts to a career in real estate be-

fore retiring again to enjoy traveling with

his wife, Dorothy, and visiting their two

daughters.

Volume 2, Issue 1

Dr. Coggs & Mr. Johnson tell the story in their own

words. They had the audience captivated.

DOTAs Coggs and Johnson signed autographs

and spoke with attendees.

Chaplain Maney

was guest speaker.


P. O. Box 284


www.sactai.com

E-mail: [email protected]

...Our goals

-Perpetuate achievements of the Tuskegee men and

women

-Motivate minority youth to achievement and leadership

...Our objectives

-Research and document Tuskegee Airmen

achievements

-Motivate youth to seek aviation and aerospace careers

-Inspire local youth to outstanding achievement and

leadership


P. O. Box 284


Led by SACTAI Youth Committee

(Graddie Robinson, Chair & Marie

McGarity, Co-Chair), the Chapter assist-

ed in presenting TAI Air Force Junior

Reserve Officer Training Corps Awards

at High School Detachments across the

city including John Jay, Holmes, Warren,

Brandeis, Clemens, Judson, Steele, and

Clark High Schools. The faculty officers

and students were impressed that

SACTAI was able to send DOTAs and

members to make the awards in person.

SACTAI DOTAs and Members Assist to Present TAI Awards

“To be renowned for all we do

...and respected for how well we do it.”

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/SACTAI or at www.SACTAI.com

Mr. Robinson (center) and Ms McGarity (left)

present the TAI Award at Holmes High School.

DOTA Coggs was on hand with Mr . Robinson

(left) and Rick Sinkfield (right) to present the

TAI Award at Judson High School.

DOTA Coggs is San Antonio Parade Marshal

The Armed Forces River Parade included 25

professionally decorated barge floats featur-

ing members from each branch of the mili-

tary as well as veterans and military support

groups. This year, DOTA Dr. Granville

Coggs, a World War II veteran and member

of the San Antonio Chapter, Tuskegee Air-

men, Inc., served as grand marshal. Dr.

Coggs brought his “gut bucket,” his accom-

panist (Mike McLean, new SACTAI mem-

ber), and many Chapter members cheering

him on his barge.

Known as “Military City USA,” the tele-

vised parade recognizes men and women of

the Armed Services and those who served in

conflicts throughout recent history.

p. o. box 284 randolph afb, tx 78148-0284 sactai...

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