Yes I was writing while I was in Puerto Rico. I had been working on a manuscript but I completely scrapped it when I came across the stuff I wrote while I was off the mainland. Between my diary and loose pages of thoughts, I plan to put together a memoir.

Coming Soon! Square PeglRound Hole Publishing presents Yo Soy Boricua - a book by Michael Terrell

September 7, 2005

Almost a year ago to this date I listened in awe as a new aquintance shared her story of traveling to her family’s place of origin to explore her culture (Greek). Now here I lay in bed just west of San Juan in a town called Toa Baja, Puerto Rico….

About The Book

A story of self-reflection and choices, Yo Soy Boricua follows the journey of a 2nd generation American Puerto Rican seeking solace in his family’s homeland. Joy, fear and loneliness are just some of the emotions detailed in this memoir. Overcoming culture shock and learning how to adapt in a strange, yet some how very familiar land highlights the growth of this “gringo”.

Passage:

Although I did see the Nutcracker when I was a young boy, I barely remember the performance. But now as the shrill of what would be the snare drums in a live rendition is now just an analog sound bite blasting through my LG model cell phone at 5:30am. Most days I ponder the tireless question, ‘which came first, the cell phone or the rooster’? The considerate bugle boy of our neighborhood troop sounds off as if he had been waiting up all night for this opportunity. Time seems to be of no consequence most mornings as it is the pattern that I must be faithful to mostly. It starts the previous night when I fall asleep having just tried to put a major dent in an Esmeralda Santiago book or self-administering a shot of functional Spanish lessons in my tiny room. Typically I’m comforted by the smell of burning incense, the occasional late night heat storm or that tropical rain that tends to beat on the aluminum roof like a fraternity of skeletons trying to re-live their glory days…

Today America’s Commander-In-Chief honored the Tuskegee Airmen, 60 years after they completed their mission in World War II. A long overdue recognition, the group received the Congressional Gold Medal. President Bush was quoted as saying, “Even the Nazis asked why African-American men would fight for a country that treated them so unfairly.”

This is a fair and legitimate question. The answer would be that these men felt honored to fight for their country and their freedoms as Americans. They symbolized the best our country had to offer and paved the way for generational social changes. According to retired Col. Elmer D. Jones, 89, of Arlington, Virginia “It’s never too late for your country to say that you’ve done a great job for us”.

In a time when they were forced to use separate bathrooms and were relegated to second class citizenships in their own country, the men of the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) and the 332nd Fighter Group personified courage. The men that graduated flight school at Tuskegee Air Force Base (Alabama) between 1942 and 1946 became the first Black military airmen in this country’s history.

Resoluteness became the call sign of the Tuskegee Airmen as they escorted bombers in World War II. According to Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., “The outstanding record of black airmen in World War II was accomplished by men whose names will forever live in hallowed memory. Each one accepted the challenge, proudly displayed his skill and determination while suppressing internal rage from humiliation and indignation caused by frequent experiences of racism and bigotry, at home and overseas.” It has been said that “These airmen fought two wars - one against a military force overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad.”

It wasn’t until 1948 that President Harry Truman enacted Executive Order Number 9981 “which directed equality of treatment and opportunity in all of the United States Armed Forces. This order, in time, led to the end of racial segregation in the military forces. This was also the first step toward racial integration in the United States of America [source: tuskegeeairmen.org].”

Sadly, American government (on both sides of the aisle) in general has failed to acknowledge the true stories of a buried past…Stories that in a lot of ways have actually defined this country’s valor. Today was a step in the right direction. Giving credit where it is due is the least we can give in return for the sacrifices these men made for our country and our way of life as Americans.

Combat History
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Flying escort for heavy bombers, it racked up an impressive combat record, often entering combat against greater numbers of superior German aircraft, and coming out victorious. Reportedly, the Luftwaffe awarded the Airmen the nickname, “Schwarze Vogelmenschen,” or Black Birdmen. The Allies called the Airmen “Redtails” or “Redtail Angels,” because of the distinctive crimson paint on the vertical stabilizers of the unit’s aircraft. Although bomber groups would request Redtail escort when possible, few bomber crew members knew at the time that the Redtails were black. It has been said that the Redtails were the only fighter group who never lost a bomber to enemy fighters. This belief is now being reassessed, as Air Force records and eyewitness accounts, indicate that at least a few bombers were lost to enemy fire, but nonetheless the record remains exceptionally distinguished.

Sources:
CNN - Politics
Wilipedia
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.