The San Antonio Independent
School District invited SACTAI to
a Back-To-School event August
14, 2014 at the Claude Black
Community Center, San Antonio.
There over 600 students were able
to get vaccines and school
registrations, access educational
resources, and learn about some
special educational groups in
town. SACTAI took this
opportunity to publicize our
Speakers Bureau which is
available to schools throughout
the year to inform students and
faculty of what we're about and
what we do.
San Antonio Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
February 2015 Volume 3, Issue 1
Renowned
Special points
of interest:
Spreading the
Tuskegee
Airmen
Experience to
Youth
Veterans Day
includes DOTAs
and Buffalo
Soldiers
Inside this issue:
Veterans Day 2
DOTAs at the 99th 4
Bynum Surprise 4
99th Commanders 5
DOTAs at UTSA 6
The Music and Performing Arts
Conference (MPAC) conducted
a regional Gospel Workshop at
San Antonio’s True Vision
Church October 4, 2014,
intended to expose youth choirs
and praise dance groups from
across Texas to current trends
and to encourage them to follow
their dreams. The 2-day
program included worship
services and concerts for over
200 youth. SACTAI was
invited to give a short talk about
the values and successes of the
Tuskegee Airmen during one of
the programs. The SACTAI
historical expo display tells the
Tuskegee Experience story.
Here SACTAI Youth Chair Grady Robinson gets Sparky up
to speed on the Tuskegee Airmen on a break between
large groups of children wanting to know what resources
we have.
SACTAI & MPAC Collaborate
Mr. Roddray Walker, SACTAI Public Relations Officer,
gives more detail about the Tuskegee Airmen display, the
artifacts, and the presentation to one of the choir mem-
ber parents.
Students Learn about Tuskegee Airmen
SACTAI joins Buffalo Soldiers to
Honor Veterans
DOTAs James Bynum, Eugene Derricotte,
Granville Coggs, Thomas Ellis, Theodore Johnson
and Chapter members were on hand at San
Antonio’s National Cemetery to honor veterans.
The program was facilitated by the Bexar County
Buffalo Soldiers and joined by both DOTAs and
Chapter Members. The ceremony included a
Buffalo Soldier Honor Guard, the national anthem,
speeches by local officials, and a keynote speech
by Brig. Gen. Robert D. LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base
Wing and Joint Base San Antonio Commander.
Volume 3, Issue 1
Following the cemetery ceremony, Chapter members
treated DOTAs at our Vet Day “Lunch with the DOTAs” at a
nearby restaurant.
DOTAs Derricotte, Johnson, Ellis and Bynum visit attendees.
DOTAs Derricotte (with spouse Jean), Johnson, and Ellis get
situated before the ceremony.
DOTAs Johnson, Coggs, and Ellis are escorted by new
member, Ed Jones
Veteran’s Day 2014
Page 2
Veteran’s Day 2014
Page 3
Volume 3, Issue 1
Howsman Elementary School Administrators
continued their recognition of veterans from the
community. All veterans got the royal
treatment: breakfast, hot coffee, and special
seating at the outdoor ceremony.
The Ceremony included a flag raising,
demonstrations from students, and introductions
by all the veterans. SACTAI President Rick
Sinkfield was guest speaker. He emphasized
the role of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War
II and recognized the sacrifices of veterans from
then until now. “The stories told about the
Tuskegee Airmen and those veterans in the
audience that day are American Stories” he
said. Even though the weather turned brisk, the
ceremony continued. The students presented
each vet with a flower and a personal letter
thanking each vet for their service.
Pictured above, SACTAI President Rick Sinkfield recognized the
many parent veterans just as a cold front moved thru.
Pictured below are SACTAI members Grady Robinson, Youth
Chair, Rick Sinkfield along with school students, faculty and
administrators.
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Johnson, Commander of
the 99th Flying Training Squadron invited DOTA Dr.
Coggs and SACTAI President [and 99th FTS
Honorary Commander] Rick Sinkfield to present
certificates of recognition to AF members that
supported the 2014 Central Region Youth Seminar
June 27, 2014. The venue was a Commander’s Call
October 8, 2014 in the 99th Heritage Auditorium on
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Certificates were
awarded to tower controllers, simulator instructors,
tour guides, and 99th FTS squadron administrators
and commanders.
DOTA Dr. Coggs recounted his WWII experience,
took a walking tour of the 99th Heritage Hallway,
posed next to the red-tail T-1 aircraft, and all along
told personal Tuskegee Airmen stories. The tour
concluded with a cool beverage.
DOTA Dr. Coggs Visits the 99th, Congratulates Volunteers
Page 4
Renowned
Photo above shows DOTA Dr. Coggs with his publicist
taking note of his reserved parking space at the 99th.FTS
and Lt Col Oliver Johnson, 99th FTS on the ramp beside the
T-1 Red-Tail Jayhawk.
Captain Christine Wagner volunteers as Youth Seminar Tour
Coordinator. She also conducted a tour of the 99th Flying
Training Squadron Heritage Hallway. She was one of
several volunteers that helped with tours at Randolph Air
Force Base.
Page 5
Volume 3, Issue 1
Commanders Call at the 99th
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Johnson,
Commander of the 99th Flying Training
Squadron invited DOTA Dr. Derricotte and
other SACTAI members to present certificates
of recognition to AF members. The
Commanders Call occurred January 20, 2015
at the 99th FTS Commander’s Call in the 99th
Heritage Auditorium on Joint Base San
Antonio-Randolph. Awards and decorations
were presented to 99th FTS squadron
members with Dr. Derricotte as part of the
ceremony. Dr. Derricotte was invited to tell
his personal story with the Tuskegee Airmen
and tour the Heritage Hall and sign the Panther
Emblem.
DOTA Bynum gets a
BIG Surprise
DOTA Coggs Visits
Local Elementary
School
Administrators at Howsman
Elementary School, Northside
Independent School District in
North San Antonio, TX invited
SACTAI to give a history
lesson on the Tuskegee
Airmen. The team screened the
Double-V film, delivered the
new youth-oriented TAI slide
presentation, tested their
understanding and handed out
reminders of TA Values.
Afterwards, the children were
very engaged and excited to see
DOTA Coggs as he greeted
each one of the 60 students.
The ‘”Traveling” SACTAI Speakers Team; this time featuring [front]
DOTA Dr. Coggs, Dr. Carolin Sinkfield (SACTAI Interim Secretary),
[standing] Mr. Grady Robinson (SACTAI Youth Chair), Mr. Roddray
Walker (SACTAI Public Relations), and Rick Sinkfield, (SACTAI
President)
DOTA Dr. Coggs made
it a point to shake
each child’s hand after
they viewed the
SACTAI presentation.
He also handed out
TAI flyers to remind
them of the day.
DOTA James Bynum gets a
shock as he entered his favorite
restaurant. Thinking he was to
meet his wife for a quiet dinner,
he was surprised by fifty of his
closest family and friends on the
occasion of his 94th birthday
January 10th, 2015!
Page 6
Renowned
Page 7
Volume 3, Issue 1
Dr. Derricotte was interviewed by
ESPN's Hannah Storm on Veteran’s
Day 2014 at the Center for the
Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical
Center at Fort Sam in Houston,
Texas. Army Colonel Don
Gajewski is the medical director of
the Center and was on hand to
welcome the guests.
The threefold mission of the Center
is to provide rehabilitation for
casualties who have sustained
amputation, burns, or functional
limb loss, to provide education to
DoD and Department of Veteran's
Affairs professionals on cutting
edge rehabilitation modalities, and
to promote research in the fields of
Orthopaedics, prosthetics and
physical/occupational rehabilitation.
The staff and equipment for the
building was selected to provide the
full spectrum of amputee
rehabilitation as well as the
advanced outpatient rehabilitation
for burn victims and limb salvage
patients with residual functional
loss.
DOTA Dr. Derricotte relates his personal Tuskegee Experiences
DOTA Dr. Derricotte visits with Ms Storm before
the interview. Dr. Derricotte also greeted a
number of wounded warriors some of whom
received awards for their service.
“Renowned” is a publication of the San Antonio
Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
...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
San Antonio Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Dr. Dorinda Rolle, professor of African-American
History at the College of Education and Human
Development, University of Texas at San Antonio,
invited Chapter members and DOTAs to speak
December 8, 2014 to her students about the
Tuskegee Airmen. She said “these students need a
dose of reality...they need to know the real story of
discrimination and its effect on society.”
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Central Region President,
Marv Abrams screened the Lucus Film
documentary Double Victory followed by an
historical slide presentation covering events from
the dawn of aviation, to the Tuskegee Experience,
to the present day. Dr. Rolle’s students asked
many questions about the DOTAs feelings toward
discrimination and the training they received.
SACTAI DOTAs Participate in a
Panel for UTSA Students
“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
Dr. Rolle is surrounded by Chapter Members, Students, and
DOTAs Eugene Derricotte and James Bynum in front. (Row 2:)
Carol Alexander, SACTAI Vice President; Jean Derricotte, DOTA
Spouse, Dorothy Bynum, DOTA Spouse; Students 1-3. (Back row)
Student 4, Marv Abrams, Central Region President; Dr. Rolle;
Rick Sinkfield, SACTAI President.
DOTAs Bynum and Derricotte gave their personal
stories about the Tuskegee Experience to multiple
classes and other interested students.
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