Portrait of a Warrior (standard:non fiction, 2109 words)
Author: J P St. Jullian	Added: Nov 08 2002	Views/Reads: 3525/2427	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
It was his country too, and though he was not allowed to defend it on his own ground, he still found a way.

Portrait of a Fighter 

by JP St. Jullian 

The year was 1993.  It was February, Black History month in the United
States.  All the support organizations on our Air Force Base were 
readying their festivities in celebration of the event in the 
traditional manner.  As usual, someone wrote an article for the base 
newspaper which featured at least one African American and the 
achievement he or she made to humanity.  I picked up a copy of the base 
newspaper and read the following headline: 

AMERICA'S  FIRST  BLACK  FIGHTER PILOT NEVER FLEW  FOR  U.S. 

After reading the article and analyzing its content, I felt the headline
and the article was in grave error and should read more like  this: 

WORLD'S FIRST BLACK FIGHTER PILOT WAS AMERICAN 

This second headline was much more accurate. Hopefully, the following
paragraphs will explain why as they detail an important portion of Mr. 
Bullard's life.... 

Eugene Jacques Bullard was indeed the first recorded black airplane
pilot of American descent that we know of. Of more than 200 Americans 
who flew for France during WWI, one of particular uniqueness was Eugene 
Jacques Bullard, the only Black pilot to serve on any side in WWI .  
However, to say he was "America's" first black fighter pilot seems to 
be an effort   to give credit where credit is not due. America had 
nothing what-so-ever to do with this man's accomplishments.  Bullard 
was the world's first recorded black fighter pilot, but he never flew 
combat missions in defense of the United States. He was never treated 
to the traditional New York ticker tape parade America was so famous 
for giving it's returning war heros.  He never received praise or 
homage from his home town or the White House for his accomplishments 
and contributions. Yet, someone wrote an article claiming him as 
America's  first black aviator.  How could this be? 

Bullard earned 15 military medals and decorations during his time in
military service, including the French Legion of Honor. None of these 
distinctions were awarded him by any American military service, but I 
am getting ahead of myself.  Let me start at the beginning.  After I 
read the article written by the person who seemingly sought to make Mr. 
Bullard an American Treasure, I couldn't help but write my own article 
detailing the truth and present it to our base newspaper. Of course, 
they didn't print it. 

Eugene Jacques Bullard, was born October 9, 1894, in a Columbus, Georgia
shanty, the grandson of a slave.  When he was a young teenager he'd 
gotten sight of an airplane as it sailed overhead, and after that he 
wanted more than anything to fly.  The Wright Brothers had plummeted 
America into a new age of wonder with their historic flight at Kitty 
Hawk in 1903, the same year Bullard made his ninth birthday.  The 
nation had developed military flight programs, but black Americans were 
not permitted to participate because of racial discrimination.  The 
aviation community was then composed of all whites, and they were of 
the opinion that blacks lacked the intelligence and aptitude to learn 
how to fly the new airplanes. 

Because of this widespread discrimination Bullard's dream of flying
could not come true in the United States.  It wasn't until 1943 that 
black fighter pilots were grudgingly commissioned in the United States. 


Bullard himself picked cotton as a boy.  His mother was a Creek Indian,
and died when he was 8 years old.  Bullard fled his native Georgia 
after night riders attempted to lynch his father.  Bullard's father had 
stood up for his rights against a white boss, which brought down the 
white man's wrath upon him. 

During his travels, Bullard met Jack Johnson, America's first legendary
black prizefighter and World Heavyweight Champion.  Johnson and Bullard 
became friends, and acting on advice he received from Johnson, Bullard 
went to Paris, France.  Johnson had said that the French didn't pay 
much attention to the color of a mans skin, so Bullard reasoned that 


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