When Robert Meekie, a contract specialist at the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center's Contracting Directorate thinks of the great contributions African-Americans have made in America’s history, he doesn’t have to look any further than his own relative.
Meekie's uncle is retired Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III, one of the original members of the 332nd Fighter Group, the world famous Tuskegee Airmen.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1923 to James and Cornelia Harvey, his family moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1930 and then to Nuangola Station, Pennsylvania, in 1936. Meekie said Harvey excelled in high school by becoming senior class president and valedictorian. He also had a dream that was unheard of for African-Americans during that time – he wanted to become a military pilot.
Harvey said he was drafted into the Army in 1943, where he was first introduced to prejudice and discrimination. He boarded a train in Pennsylvania bound for Fort Meade, Maryland, and ultimately Washington, District of Columbia, where he was removed from the passenger car and transferred to the last car where African-Americans had to ride. This experience helped prepare him for the struggles he would face on the military installation.
Harvey was initially assigned to the Army Air Corps Engineers but always dreamed of flying. After taking cadet training exam at Bolling Field outside of Washington, D.C., he was accepted for flight training at Moton Field, Alabama. He graduated from Flying School at Tuskegee Army Air Field as a second lieutenant in 1944. Following graduation, he was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, Godman Field, Kentucky, where he flew the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, one of the largest and heaviest fighter aircraft.
"I like talking about the things we went through and how we overcame the obstacles. We (Tuskegee Airmen) had a hard time as pilots. We had to do everything better than our white counterparts and often were not recognized for our efforts," Harvey said.
In 1949, Harvey moved closer to his goal when sufficient traction had been made politically to officially end segregation in the United States military with the signing of Executive Order 9981. This ground-breaking ruling came after a constant barrage of complaints, lawsuits and political pressure from African-Americans who were banned from serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps because of their race. This ruling meant that the 99th Fighter Squadron would be disbanded, and its members integrated fully into operational squadrons.
Meekie said Harvey instilled in him that regardless of your economic status in life if you can believe it, you can achieve it. The only means of survival would depend upon determination. Harvey always wanted to be the best regardless of what others told him.
"Dealing with segregation wasn't easy. They gave us inferior living conditions and everything we did had to be better," Harvey said. "It only made me stronger. I refused to believe I couldn't do something because of the color of my skin. There was nothing for me to address because they had the problem, I didn't."
Meekie said when he thinks of Harvey and the thousands of African-American men who entered the Army Air Corps at that time he is extremely humbled because it must have been tough for them to support their country during a time of racial unrest.
"We not only battled enemies during wartime, but also fought against racism and bigotry," Harvey said. "One of my career highlights was finally receiving a medal for a 'top gun' competition I'd earned 46 years earlier. I was one of the pilots who won the military’s first top gun fighter competition in May 1949. I and two other Tuskegee Airmen won the Army Air Corps inaugural weapons meet in 1949 at Las Vegas Army Airfield, Nevada. Our team from the 332nd placed first, winning the meet flying F-47Ns against other more advanced aircraft. However, we were not fully recognized for our accomplishment until 1995, when the U.S. Air Force archives were updated officially documenting our victory," he said. "Our trophy was also lost and it took them five days to locate the trophy and finally put it on display."
Meekie served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, retiring as a staff sergeant in 2007. He began work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2012 at Jacksonville District and has worked at Huntsville Center since 2014.
Meekie said he remembered and built on Harvey's determination for inspiration during his deployment to Iraq in 2004. Harvey gained his combat experience during the Korean War.
"He was the military’s first black jet fighter pilot to fly in Korean airspace. In 1950, he led an element of four F-80s in close support to a bomber mission under adverse weather to attack enemy troops 3 miles north of Yongsan, Korea. The things that happened to me in Iraq are nothing compared to his experiences," Meekie said.
For his Korean engagement, Harvey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Medal of Honor.
Harvey retired in 1965, after 22 years of military service. He resides in Denver, Colorado, and is active in Tuskegee Airman Inc. traveling with his maintenance crew chief retired Master Sgt. Buford Johnson.
Harvey said he's determined and will never give up. His calendar is always full and he won't slow down.
"We were forerunners in the Civil Rights Movement. I want others to use our struggles and triumphs as motivation to strive for their goals and aspirations. Regardless of your economic status in life if you can believe it, you can achieve it. Always strive to be the best," Harvey said." "Don't let anyone tell you can't do something. If you set your mind to a thing you can do it. All dreams can become reality."
Meekie said Harvey is his hero.
"Uncle James is truly an ambitious man with purpose," Meekie said. "At age 90, despite losing his wife Pearlie Harvey this past October, he continues to try to help others. In addition to being active in Tuskegee Airmen Inc., he travels around the globe sharing his experiences as a Tuskegee Airman. He turned racism and bigotry into opportunity and never gave up on his dream. I'm proud to have followed in his footsteps.”