1966 in US Air Force Academy
The tale of the Soaring Six is a true testament to the indomitable spirit and determination that resides within all of us, particularly when we are pushed to the brink and must overcome immense obstacles. As the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) ushered in the pivotal year of 1966, it prepared to take its first hesitant, yet momentous step towards racial integration by welcoming its first African-American cadets.
It may be hard for some of us today to imagine just how daunting that journey must have been for those early trailblazers, stepping onto an entirely unfamiliar and possibly even hostile landscape, with the weight of a community on their shoulders and the dreams of generations whispering in their ears. These were no ordinary young men: these were warriors forging ahead for justice.
Now known to history as the Soaring Six, Charles V. Bush, Isaac O. Fears, Jr., Roger C. Sims, Albert W. G. Matthews, Jr., Dennis K. James, and Delbert G. Lewis strode boldly forward in 1966. Though the racial divide still cast an insidious shadow over their paths, these men endured challenges both great and small with astonishing grit and poise.
Some faced blatant acts of discrimination by fellow cadets, intent on driving out this new, unfamiliar presence. Others dealt with the shock of trying to find a footing in an overwhelmingly white, male environment—the enormity and unfamiliarity of which seemed designed to discourage those from different backgrounds and experiences.
That these six men persevered, ultimately proving to the world that the content of one’s character means infinitely more than the color of one's skin is the clearest indication that the seeds sown during the pivotal year of 1966 grew to provide shade, shelter, and hope to untold generations of future warrior-dreamers, black and otherwise.
Of these original six pioneers, Charles V. Bush shone particularly brightly, soaring to unimagined heights. He made a name for himself by rising through the ranks to become the first African-American cadet wing commander. In this role as the highest-ranking cadet, he paved the way for thousands to come in demonstrating that the most powerful weapons any man can wield are character, courage, and tenacity.
Later on, Major Bush's career would see him ascend through the ranks of the United States Air Force, his wings always guided by the roots planted during his time at USAFA.
This extraordinary and historic event that took place at USAFA more than five decades ago has proven to be the impetus for incalculable change within the institution and throughout the U.S. military more broadly. What started with just six determined men would give birth not only to a more integrated military, but one rich with representation across the spectrums of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.
So here's to those indomitable warrior-dreamers, those bold enough to blaze a trail untouched by others before them; the ones brave enough not merely to touch the stars but also to grasp them firmly and tug them a little closer to those who come behind, forging paths for others and paving the road for the shining legacy we celebrate today. And we raise our voices to honor not only these first six, but countless others who've chosen to climb, reach, leap, soar...and ultimately triumph, leaving the world that much better than they found it.Retro clips filmed in USAFA?
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