JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
“I learned about respect. Regardless of what color you
are, whether you’re male or female, what got me through was my respect and
understanding of people,” said U.S. Air Force retired Chief Master Sgt. James
Cotten.
Cotten was drafted at the age of 18 in 1945, not
knowing he and his compatriots would be a symbol of desegregation as members of
an elite U.S. Army Air Corps unit – Tuskegee Airmen. Nor, was Cotten aware that
he would be the first African American assigned to Langley Air Force Base, Va.,
in 1949.
Being a part of the Tuskegee Airmen was a great
opportunity for Cotten, however representing his heritage as an African-American
in a previously all-white profession was not easy.
“I accepted that pressure and I wanted that,” he said.
“I tried to carry myself in a manner where I would be respected. I always kept
my shoes shined, my uniform well pressed and presented an appearance that I
felt the American people would like to see.”
Formed in 1941, Tuskegee Airmen was the name given to a
group of U.S. Army Air Corps service members during and after World War II that
were primarily assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment
Group. The Tuskegee Airmen were comprised of African-American Airmen who
operated as pilots, maintainers, air field management specialists, along with
many other duties.
“We were really doing something in the interest of the
nation,” said Cotten. “We were considered to be elite personnel. We were taught
every day that this was another day to excel.”
While Cotten, an air operations specialist, was
stationed at Lockbourne Army Air Field, the U.S. military went through a lot of
changes. In 1947 the U.S. Air Force became an independent department and in
1948 the U.S. Military became desegregated; which is when Cotten became the
first African-American to be assigned to Langley Air Force Base.
Cotten was assigned to the 334th Fighter Interceptor
Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, as the air operations non-commissioned officer in
charge.
According to Cotten, although his time at Langley Air
Force Base was short, he was welcomed with open arms into the base. There was
never an instance that Cotten or his family felt in danger of their new
position in the base community. Being a firm believer in the golden rule Cotten
always strived to do the best work possible, with the best attitude possible.
“I felt very
proud,” said Cotten. “I was treated with dignity and respect, and I treated my
counterparts the same.”
From 1950 to 1966, Cotten was assigned too many other,
military installations. Finishing off his career in the top senior
non-commissioned officer rank, Cotten was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant on
March 1, 1962, and later retired at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.
Even after serving 21 years in uniform, Cotten decided
he would continue to work as a civilian with the Department of Defense for another
45 years.
“If I was in another
organization, I might not have been able to climb the ladder like I was able
to,” said Cotten of the U.S. Air Force. “It’s because I listened, I became
educated and I feel as though as a result of that I had some really good
moments in the military.”