Prejudice and Discrimination in the United States Air Force (Usaf) and the United States Air Force Security Service (Usafss) 1955-1975

By Norman Taylor Lee

For many years, I considered writing my autobiography about the racial conditions my family experienced during my early years of service in the United States Air Force. In July 2013, I lost my lovely wife of fifty-one years and my youngest daughter to severe illnesses within three months of each other, and my determination to write this book became paramount.

In my opinion, an autobiography is a special recounting of a persons life and the momentous circumstances that affected them both positively and negatively. By 1980, the year I retired, prejudice and discrimination had ceased to exist for me as a civilian, or at least it was de jure in Dallas, Texas, which was definitely a surprise for us. In the Air Force Security Service, however, my experiences, for the most part, were just the opposite.

The nondisclosure agreement that I signed in relation to my security clearance while in the Air Force extends throughout the duration of my life and prevents me from recounting certain specifics related to classified information. Due to the sensitivity of some of my locations while serving, it is likely that most of it is still classified.

With that in mind, I intend to write as truthfully as my memory allows me. Certain facets can be proved by individuals who were involved as well as by documentation in my possession. I do not intend to sugarcoat any aspect, be it good or bad.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499056389

Book preview

PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (USAF)

AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SECURITY SERVICE (USAFSS) 1955-1975

NORMAN TAYLOR LEE

Copyright © 2014 by Norman Taylor Lee.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2014913641

ISBN:     Hardcover     978-1-4990-5640-2

    Softcover     978-1-4990-5639-6

    eBook     978-1-4990-5638-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 08/29/2014

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Dedication.

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two: October 1955

Chapter Three: 1956-1958 The 6981St Radio Group Mobile, Elmendorf Afb, Alaska (Outside Of Anchorage)

Chapter Four: June 1958-June 1959 Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece

Chapter Five: 1959-1963 Raf Kirknewton, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Chapter Six: 1963-1964 544Th Recce Tech Squadron, Offutt Afb, Omaha, Nebraska

Chapter Seven: 1964-1966 Peshawar Air Station, Peshawar, West Pakistan

Chapter Eight: 1966-1969 Darmstadt As, West Germany

Chapter Nine:1969-1971 Kadena Afb, Okinawa

Chapter Ten: 1972-1973 Da Nang Ab, Republic Of Vietnam

Chapter Eleven: Iraklion As, Crete, Greece 1973-1975

Chapter Twelve:1975-1977 Webb Air Force Base, Big Spring, Texas

Chapter Thirteen: 1977-1980 Kirtland Afb, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Epilogue

DEDICATED TO NORMA LEE, MY WIFE AND COLLETTE DONNA LEE-MELTON, MY DAUGHTER.

GOD BLESS YOUR SOULS

INTRODUCTION

For many years I considered writing my autobiography about the racial conditions my family experienced during my early years of service in the United States Air Force. In July 2013 I lost my lovely wife of 51 years and my youngest daughter to severe illnesses within three months of each other, and my determination to write this book became paramount.

In my opinion, an autobiography is a special recounting of a person’s life and the momentous circumstances that affected them both positively and negatively. By 1980, the year I retired, prejudice and discrimination had ceased to exist for me as a civilian, or at least it was de jure in Dallas, Texas, which was definitely a surprise for us. In the Air Force Security Service, however, my experiences, for the most part, were just the opposite.

The non-disclosure agreement that I signed in relation to my security clearance while in the Air Force extends throughout the duration of my life and prevents me from recounting certain specifics related to classified information. Due to the sensitivity of some of my locations while serving, it is likely that most of it is still classified.

With that in mind, I intend to write as truthfully as my memory allows me. Certain facets can be proved by individuals who were involved as well as by documentation in my possession. I do not intend to sugarcoat any aspect, be it good or bad.

CHAPTER ONE

I am a Black American born in October 1937 who grew up and attended school in Pittsburgh,