Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I wish to honor Leroy Mazell Smith, an aviation mechanic from Fordyce, AR, who was part of the illustrious Tuskegee Airmen and served his country with honor and distinction. Born in 1927, Smith loved to tell the story of his birth with wry humor and fondness. A midwife helped his mother deliver him while on a bridge where some had taken refuge from the great Mississippi River flood of that year. They remained there for 4 days before his birth was documented. The result was that his birth certificate indicated a different date of birth, 4 days after his actual birthday. From that unusual beginning, he went on to lead a remarkable life. He credited his Baptist grandfather with having a large influence on him growing up, including teaching him the value of hard work. He graduated from high school at age 16 and took preflight aeronautical classes. After graduation, Smith joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a mechanic. He completed basic training in Texas and was stationed at Chanute Field in Illinois. Later, during World War II, he was sent to Europe where he was assigned to the Tuskegee Airmen Red Tail squadron. He remembered being scared during his time in theater but always relayed his sense of pride in the work he did and the fact that the Tuskegee unit never lost a bomber. Smith also helped break social and racial barriers in the military.…”