Letters from the front lines Published April 29, 2009 By Senior Airman Rene Clauss 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- The deployed Airmen and I had a unique opportunity to meet four Tuskegee Airmen April 23 while they toured overseas. I had an even more memorable experience when I helped escort these fine gentlemen on and off stage. These men were among the first black men to serve in America's military, back then known as the Army Air Corps. They were former Staff Sgt. Phillip Wheeler Broome, retired Lt. Col. James C. Warren, retired Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson and George Mills Boyd. Retired Major Boyd lives in Wichita, Kan. and was a Tuskegee pilot who served 28 years in the military, including World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. They shared their place in American history by telling their stories of the war, racial segregation and what it was like during that time being pilots. These men were highly trained pilots but were treated like trainees, so you can imagine what hardship they endured. They stood before us as true heroes who fought more than just the enemy. Their group represents the link between the 'Greatest Generation' of Airmen and the 'Latest Generation' of Airmen of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. Our motto here in Ali is "The legacy continues..." I feel proud of our legacy, serving under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and very honored to carry it forward.