'Dr. Kennedy was a visionary who believed we had a responsibility in our community to uplift people. He was a diplomat, a teacher and a scientist with compassion who brought calm to every situation.'
The fascinating U.S.A.F. Air Commendation Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. M. Kennedy Jr., a life-long member of the famous 'Tuskegee Airmen' who was present during the historic Freeman Field Mutiny, and was one of ten officers appointed to sit on the subsequent Court-Martial which helped pave the way towards full racial integration with the U.S. Armed Services
United States of America, Air Force Commendation Medal (E. M. Kennedy, Jr.), engraved naming, good very fine
Elmore M. Kennedy of Columbia, South Carolina, was born in November 1915 and studied Chemistry at Wilberforce University, Ohio, where he was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Graduating in 1940, the following year he was called up for active service as a Second Lieutenant in an infantry unit and stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Yearning for a more active and exciting career than was open to him as a junior officer in the infantry, Kennedy volunteered for - and was accepted into - pilot training at the Tuskegee Institute, his first step in becoming one of the world-famous 'Tuskegee Airmen'.
Graduating as a member of Class 43-K on 12 May 1943, the now First Lieutenant Kennedy was qualified to fly the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber and the Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport - though he was never given the opportunity to participate in operational flights over Europe, instead remaining stateside as a member of the 618th Bombardment Squadron, 477th Bombardment Group, who supported their colleagues on active duty overseas. This home service would, however, ensure his participation in one of the most important military elements of the Civil Rights Movement and the exposure of racist attitudes of senior members of the United States Armed Forces.
The Freeman Field Mutiny
Much has subsequently been written about the famous Freeman Field Mutiny: essentially, whilst based at Freeman Army Airfield in April 1945, the African-American officers of the 477th Bombardment Group were barred from entering the 'whites-only' officers' club; though the situation did not become violent other than some minor pushing and shoving, the belligerent attitude of white senior officers led to the immediate arrest of 61 African-American officers for attempting to gain access to the club against base Standing Orders.
Although a recommendation for all charges to be dropped was swiftly forthcoming from the Air Inspector First Air Force, Major-General Frank Hunter (commanding First Air Force) and Colonel Robert Selway Jr. (commanding 477th Bombardment Group) decided to draw up 'Base Regulation 85-2', which would ensure both technically and legally that segregation laws were kept in place. Upon being required to sign a copy of the regulation, all the African-American officers refused and it was only with effort that a few officers did indeed sign: 101 officers continued their refusal and were therefore placed under arrest for disobeying orders.
Within days the news of this 'mutiny' had reached the public press; support for the wrongly-arrested officers was overwhelming, with pressure from African-American organisations, labour unions and members of Congress coming down on the War Department to drop all the charges; on 23 April (only a few weeks after the incident) the Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, ordered the 101 officers to be released without trial - although, acting without authorisation, General Hunter had an official reprimand added to the file of each of those officers. However, three of those officers (accused of 'shoving' and 'jostling' on the occasion of attempting to enter the officers' club) were subsequently court-martialled; ten officers were appointed to preside - one of which was Captain Elmore Kennedy. Though clearly not one of those involved in the 'mutiny', he must surely have witnessed first-hand all the key events leading up to that point. The court acquitted two of the three defendants, with the remaining one (Lieutenant Terry) found guilty of 'jostling', fined $150, reduced in rank and dishonourably discharged. As a result of the situation, the 477th were relocated, Colonel Selway was removed from command, and African-American officers replaced white officers in command and supervisory positions: in 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, officially racially integrating the United States Armed Services - it can confidently be stated that the Kennedy and the men of the 477th helped make this happen.
Later Life
Kennedy remained in the U.S.A.F. post-war as a Reservist, also returning to his passion for science and technology: retiring as Lieutenant-Colonel in 1963, three years previously he had gained a Master's degree and by 1968 a Doctorate in metallurgical engineering - a year later, he was one of the team responsible for the development of the Snap-27 nuclear generator which was carried to the moon aboard Apollo 12, in November 1969. Relocating to Detroit, Dr. Kennedy became deputy director of the city's Engineering Department and, at the same time, reconnected with his old comrades by becoming president of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. and head of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum. Such was his influence on ensuring the history and importance of the Tuskegee Airmen remains to this day, that amongst his many honours the Arnold Air Society named a Squadron after him which is active to this day within North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Elmore M. Kennedy Jr. died on 22 July 2006, aged 90, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sold together with a small file of copied research including biographical details and photographs.
