World War II Pilots Honored at Luncheon

World War II Pilots Honored at Luncheon

(EXCERPT) By JOSEPH M. TARTAKOFF Contributing Writer

Roughly six years ago, a World War II aviator attended a ceremony in
honor of the black fighter pilots who had protected bombers like
himself, looking for someone to thank.

He found a forgotten third grade classmate.

Yesterday the aviator, Herbert H. Heilbrun, and his classmate, John M.
Leahr, were honored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and
Race Relations at a lunch in Winthrop Dining Hall.

They were recognized for their service to the nation and recent
efforts to improve race relations.

During the war, Heilbrun flew 32 combat missions. Leahr flew 132
missions as a Tuskegee airman, a member of the all-black fighter group
trained at the Tuskegee Institute and Tuskegee Air Field in Alabama.

The Tuskegee airmen never lost a bomber they escorted, Heilbrun told
the crowd of 50. Theres a good chance I wouldnt be sittin...

U.S. and friendly nation laws prohibit fully reproducing
copyrighted material. In abidance with our laws this report
cannot be provided in its entirety. However, you can read it
in full today, 17 Oct 2003, at the following URL. (COMBINE
the following lines into your web browser.) The
subject/content of this report is not necessarily the
viewpoint of the distributing Library. This report is provided
for your information and discussion.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=349417

---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com