Tuskegee Airman visits VMI

LEXINGTON, Va. (WDBJ) - A World War II hero visited the Virginia Military Institute Thursday night.

Lt. Col. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse spoke to VMI cadets.

Woodhouse is one of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American fighter pilots and support staff who fought in World War II and paved the way for the integration of the military.

He spoke on “the tyranny of words,” saying there are moments in life when the word “Black” or the word “white” can cause a reaction.

He had this answer when a cadet asked for the most important lesson he should bring back to barracks: ”Like I said, this may sound simple, but just do the right thing. We have the Ten Commandments. That’s all you have to do. Love thy neighbor as yourself. That’s in the Ten Commandments.”

Woodhouse also toured the institute and met with cadets in their barracks.

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