HJ900: Commending Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Ret., Howard L. Baugh.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 900
Offered February 12, 2007
Commending Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Ret., Howard L. Baugh.

Patrons-- Dance, Abbitt, Alexander, BaCote, Barlow, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carrico, Hall, Howell, A.T., Hull, Ingram, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Kilgore, Lewis, Melvin, Miller, P.J., Moran, O'Bannon, Phillips, Poisson, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sickles, Spruill, Toscano, Tyler, Waddell, Ward, Ware, R.L. and Watts

WHEREAS, retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Howard L. Baugh of Petersburg, one of the outstanding heroes of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, is a recipient of Dominion's 2006 Strong Men and Women: Excellence in Leadership award; and

WHEREAS, the Strong Men and Women series is a unique program by Dominion established to provide youth with positive African-American role models whose accomplishments and determination demonstrate true excellence in leadership; and

WHEREAS, growing up, Colonel Baugh always had a fascination with flying and when the United States Army Air Corps began accepting African Americans to train as World War II pilots in 1941, he joined the military soon after graduating from what is now Virginia State University; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Baugh completed training at Tuskegee Institute in November 1942, was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and became a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen's all-black 99th Fighter Squadron; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Baugh and his fellow pilots first were assigned to furnish ground support for Allied forces on the front lines, but as new and faster planes were put into service, the Tuskegee Airmen performed bomber escorts for pilots flying over France and Germany; and

WHEREAS, the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a single bomber to enemy planes, a record no other unit achieved, and their skill as pilots saved numerous lives and their great achievements were a boon to the war effort and to victory; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Baugh logged over 6,000 pilot hours, including 250 combat hours, and 1,200 hours in jet aircraft in service to his country; and

WHEREAS, after the war, Colonel Baugh and other African-American veterans returned home to experience discrimination and a segregated society, despite their acclaim as wartime heroes; and

WHEREAS, a man of great character and fortitude, Colonel Baugh continued to serve his country in the military as a flight instructor, training fine pilots and mentoring future leaders; and he flew over 15 different kinds of planes, including four types of jets, in the course of his distinguished Air Force career; and

WHEREAS, after retiring from the military as a lieutenant colonel, Colonel Baugh worked for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Baugh was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; and

WHEREAS, in June 2004, during a celebration in Paris of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Colonel Baugh was awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest military honor bestowed by the French government; and

WHEREAS, today, retired from the private sector, Colonel Baugh continues to speak at events across the country and abroad, inspiring young people, veterans, and active men and women in the military to do great things with their lives; and

WHEREAS, an exceptional pilot and an American hero, Colonel Baugh is an outstanding role model for the youth of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Ret., Howard L. Baugh as a Dominion 2006 Strong Men and Women: Excellence in Leadership honoree; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Ret., Howard L. Baugh as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his many achievements.