another soldier reporting, sir

the wife brought home the sad news today, of the passing of another AMERICAN hero, LT.COL.LEE ARCHER. ARCHER was probably the most famous of the tuskegee airmen of world war II fame. ARCHER was among AMERICA'S first black pilots that began training at tuskegee university in 1941. graduating first in his class in 1943, ARCHER was commissioned as a 2nd lieutnant, and was assigned to the 302nd fighter squadron, 322nd fighter group, which fought in the mediterranean theater of operations.

on 12 october 1944, ARCHER became AMERICA'S first and only black ace, when he shot down 5 planes in combat, including 3 of nazi germany's very good fighters, the ME 109. ARCHER was awarded the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, flew combat missions during the korean war, and retired after 29 years of service to THE REPUBLIC.

ARCHER'S wartime ride, INA, THE MACON BELLE

after he retired from the military in 1970, ARCHER joined general foods corp., becoming one of the era’s few black corporate vice presidents of a major AMERICAN company. among his other lifetime achievements, LT.COL. ARCHER received the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL with other tuskegee airmen, for their service during the war from president George W. Bush. due to the tuskegee airmen's outstanding service during WWII, president harry truman desegregated the military in 1948 by executive order.

LEE ARCHER died in new york on 27 january 2010, at the age of 90.

Godspeed, sir.