Brig. Gen J. Timothy Boddie, USAF-Ret., served 28 years on active duty as a pilot. He flew 201 F-4 combat missions, including 57 missions over Vietnam. He currently works as a consultant in aeronautical systems engineering and information systems development. Col. William Dwiggins, USMCR, served 15 years on active duty before joining the Reserves. Currently he is the senior liaison officer for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, 4th Civil Affairs Group, at the U.S. Embassy Regional Office in Al Hillah, Iraq. Maj. Randolph C. White Sr., USA-Ret., served 21 years on active duty as an infantry officer and aviator, two of which were spent in Vietnam. He currently works as a staff development and training coordinator in Fayetteville, N.C. Lt. Col. Randolph C. White Jr., USA, has served 17 years on active duty as an infantry officer with a variety of airborne infantry units. Currently he is the commanding officer for the 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga.

What incident do you recall that exemplifies your life as a black American in the military?

Maj. Randy White, USA-Ret.: The incident that defined the first half of my life as an African-American in the military happened shortly after I was commissioned. My first assignment was Fort Lewis, Wash., and I wanted to find a friendly face, someone to help me learn, understand, and adjust to the military. I was walking across the main post parade field, and I saw a black officer, a major, approaching. I was a second lieutenant and was excited about meeting someone who might be willing to mentor me. I stopped, saluted, and he returned my salute. I asked him if could I speak with him. He never stopped, never answered. It was as if I was invisible—he walked away.

Now, fast forward: After two years in Vietnam, I was in flight school, in the late ’70s. Another guy and I were flying a twin-engine airplane, and we landed at a small strip in Louisiana. When we taxied up to park the airplane, I was sitting in the pilot’s seat, and the young man who was refueling saw me. The look on his face [said], “I can’t believe you’re flying that airplane.” We went inside to get a cup of coffee, and the kitchen staff in this little restaurant was all black. The look on their faces made up for the slight [at Fort Lewis] — they were so happy to see a black [person] flying an airplane in the U.S. Army.

Lt. Col. Randy White, USA: One thing that stands out is related to being a role model. I was in The Old Guard, doing a ceremony in downtown Washington, D.C., a few years back. There was a class of D.C. public school kids, most of whom were minorities, standing nearby, watching every move I made. We were just waiting, and I finally walked over to them, and their teacher said to them, “Look, see, you can be just like him.” I ended up talking to them and gave them the rundown — “Hey, look, I was just like you. I went through elementary school, went through high school, made it through college, and here I am. You can do anything you want as long as you have a dream.”

Col. William Dwiggins, USMCR: I remember one incident that happened [while I was] at Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va. We had just returned from a training exercise, and there were only six showers for all of us. Most of the candidates had taken their showers; I had been busy cleaning my weapons and let most of the other guys go before me. Just as I was about to get into the shower, a [white] candidate said to me, “Hurry up n- - - - r, and get out of the shower so I can take mine.” At that moment, all of the other candidates looked at me to see how I was going to react. It was all I could do not to have a physical confrontation with this person. I did nothing except to tell him, “Officers do not converse like you just did.”

I reported this verbal assault to our commander, who thought I had handled this incident in a manner befitting a Marine Corps officer. My mom and dad gave me the wherewithal to deal with people like this. I had to be larger than this event and not let it deter me from my goal of being a Marine Corps officer.

Brigadier General Boddie, what advice did you give your son when he entered the service?

Brig. Gen. J. Timothy Boddie, USAF-Ret.: My wife and I are the parents of five sons, four of whom have served in the military. When our son Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps, I was really upset. In fact, I tried my best to discourage him—he was a college graduate, and I could not envision him entering any service as an enlisted serviceman. But he was determined to be a Marine.

My advice to him was to attain the highest results in every endeavor he was assigned. My advice has obviously paid off because he is now a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves and is presently serving on active duty in Iraq.

Colonel Dwiggins, did you find that advice helpful?

Colonel Dwiggins: Absolutely. Initially I wanted to be an Air Force officer like my dad. I remember when I was in Kansas City after completing college, going down to see the Air Force recruiter, who asked me if I had any management experience. He really turned me off by not being responsive to my desires. I also talked to the Navy recruiter but did not sign up for that service either. I felt I needed some time after college to put my personal house in order and find myself.

However, the Marine Corps always had a good reputation and helped me prove to myself that I had what it took to become a Marine recruit and later an officer. I knew I needed to develop some of my dad’s skills of self-confidence, leadership, and motivation. People under his command really admired him.

Major White, what advice did you give your son when he entered the service?

Major White: I told him No. 1, to manage his own career, because I had learned that far too often young officers—especially young minority officers—are not fully aware of the implications of managing their assignments and managing their careers until it’s too late. And the second thing I remember telling him is that if I had it all to do over again, I would—I loved it—and to have fun.

Lieutenant Colonel White, did you find that advice helpful?

Lieutenant Colonel White: Absolutely. In fact, that was dead-on advice that I passed on to the officers that have served for me over the years. I’ve seen so many people who just sort of go with the flow. I mean, the Army tells you that they’re going to do the best thing for the Army, and we all understand that. But I think you’re a little naive if you don’t understand that you can influence that—by your performance, by your mentors, and [by] who they know. You influence it ultimately over time and by your own professional reputation. One of the things Dad had mentioned to me was: Don’t play your career like a chess game, because you can outthink yourself. And I’ve tried not to do that. I’ve tried to pursue assignments that would be professional and rewarding but a lot of fun as well.

What advice would you give a young black American who is entering the military?

Colonel Dwiggins: Have confidence. You are somebody. You still have to compete [and] execute, and there are many challenges that will be difficult to overcome, but you can do it. You have to get involved, you have a lot to offer, and you have the intelligence to compete with anyone and everyone. Do as much for everyone regardless of ethnicity. The more aggressive you are, the more your roles and missions will be clearly defined for you, and your compensation will rise as your rank and responsibilities increase.

Mom taught us cogito ergo sum, a Latin phrase that means, “I think, therefore I am,” and I have never forgotten it. It does not matter whether you are black or white or whatever color. You are you, and you must accept that fact and do the best you can with whatever assets you possess. Our society is not fully colorblind, but you must be, if you are going to compete with your contemporaries. There is no need, in this modern-day world, for any qualified minority to even think that he or she cannot make the grade in the military.

Do not go anywhere or grasp any profession with a chip on your shoulder. If you want to be successful and make a statement, it’s all in how you carry yourself and interact with your fellow servicemembers. And do not forget that knowledge is power and it will sustain you in all of your endeavors.

Lieutenant Colonel White: The Army is like any other vocation — there are going to be moments when you absolutely adore it, and there are going to be moments when you kind of scratch your head and wonder if you’ve made the right career choice. I think it’s important that you network, and it’s critical for minority officers especially to seek out mentoring and then maintain good communications with those who take the time to help you throughout your career.

Finally, I would encourage both male and female African-American officers to read Brig. Gen. Remo Butler’s Army War College paper, “Why Black Officers Fail.” It’s straightforward, direct, and pulls no punches. [It is an] excellent read for any young minority officer.

What is the biggest misconception you’ve had to battle?

Brigadier General Boddie: I only had to battle this once and it was in primary pilot training: A civilian instructor who was obviously racially prejudiced went out of his way to cast doubts about my flying abilities, even though we had never had contact or flown with each other. A no-notice check ride with our civilian flight commander disproved any doubts about my flying abilities.

Colonel Dwiggins: Afford me the opportunity to fail. If I fail there are no regrets—better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. The Dwiggins’ and Boddies’ family creed is to never quit. There is no “Q” in our names. We never tear ourselves down. We always do what is required and then a little extra. We take on the tough challenges and make them seem easy because that is just how it is.

Major White: In my early years, the perception or the belief was that minority officers were just not really serious about the professionalism required in the service of arms. I think there were people who just didn’t think that we were sincere and committed. Now, interestingly I can say that was definitely true from my experiences prior to Vietnam. After the Vietnam War, there was a real, marked difference. I had mentors from all over available to me, but it was only after that experience, probably in the early ’70s, when I really began to see it happen ... we were viewed as real serious about serving, especially in a combat role.

What do you think historians should emphasize about the role of black Americans during your time of service?

Major White: My generation was the first group to truly serve in the military during a wartime situation in a fully integrated Army. We had great successes. It was not without some hardships, and it was not without some personal difficulties, but we persevered. I would like to think that now, for my son and his generation, it’s a lot better for them with respect to opportunities, assignments, and just the overall atmosphere.

Lieutenant Colonel White: We have an Army of choice now, and people choose to serve in the military. It’s not a draft Army and if there’s one thing that I’m a bit resentful of, it’s that you’ll see in news reports that there’s almost a paternalistic, back-handed [implication that] the people on the front line are minorities, in greater preponderance—which is not true, by the way. And as Dad said, we’re making choices. I chose to be an infantryman. The young soldiers under my command right now, here at the Infantry Training Brigade—be they black, white, Asian, whatever—they’ve made a choice.

Brigadier General Boddie: That we have served well and with distinction. That we could reach the highest pinnacles of success if [we were] given the opportunity and allowed to compete on an even playing field.