Ken Jones' letter of January 19 and the article 'Jamaican an original Tuskegee Airman' of October 13 and 14, 2008, are facts that not only Jamaicans, but the American people should know as well.

Often in the United States, the foreign born non-white resident is looked upon with disrespect and even in institutions of higher learning are discriminated against even by those who look just like them.

As Russwurm and Garvey demonstrate, the battle has not always been only on the battlefields or the trenches, but also in the minds of the people. Others have fought in obscure battles away from the 'glamour' and the limelight of the skies, but close to danger.

Dangerous work

My father, one of my heroes, related how he travelled to the US in 1944 in a ship that ran the gauntlet of the German U-boats. He was fascinated by the speed of the American protective sub-marines. But he was taken aback because in the section of the ship where he was located, he stood knee-deep in water.

As part of the man-power programme, he worked in the Picatini war plant in New Jersey. It was so dangerous there workers had to wear rubber boots to avoid sparks that could cause explosions.

I look forward to seeing those Tuskegee Airmen, but a word must be said for those Jamaicans who fought not on battlefields or in the skies, but in dangerous munition plants.

I am,etc.,

LOUIS A. HEMANS

lahemans@aol.com

Hyattsville, Maryland