97-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Gets Wish to Help Dyslexic Students

"I got in some ‘deep yogurt’ when I was a kid because I tore stuff apart and built new stuff with the pieces. Today I will tell you, every spanking was worth it. That's how I learned about gears, struts, engines — anything mechanical,” he said.

An example: He and a friend tried to build a rocket out of a hot water tank. For the propellant, they used calcium carbide, which emits a highly flammable gas when exposed to water. The “propulsion” part of the plan didn't work so well, though the rocket did a fine job of shooting flames out of its exhaust.

"Yes, we almost blew up the neighborhood, but we learned a lot about thrust, mechanics, force,” Macon said. “We didn't even know what those things were as kids, but when we were trained as adults it all made sense."

Frank Macon's portrait as a Tuskegee pilot.

Courtesy Frank Macon

Military service takes flight after high school

By the time he was in high school, he was designing simple airplanes — and getting occasional flying lessons at a Colorado Springs-area airfield. The U.S. entered World War II when Macon was a senior. He joined the Civil Air Patrol, and it was there that he was taught to fly a plane. That was also where he first heard about Tuskegee.

Macon applied and was accepted into Tuskegee's prestigious Civil Air Patrol program – then was tossed out a few weeks later when officials learned he was 18, not the minimum age of 20, as he had claimed. He briefly returned to Colorado, entered the Army Air Corps and then went back to Tuskegee, this time in a military role where his age was acceptable. He progressed from primary to advanced flight training before the accident that damaged his eardrums.

"We learned fast not to compare or put each other down. We learned to use what we knew and our best skills to help each other succeed,” he said.

After his recovery, Macon pursued and received his commission in the reserves. He then returned to Colorado Springs. There he worked at nearby Fort Carson, retiring after 23 years as the head of aircraft maintenance. He also raised a family. In 2007 Macon and the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest civilian recognition given by Congress.

When asked what he would tell someone considering a military career, Macon responded: “First I would say, go find someone who is currently in the military. Pick their brain for information. It is a tremendous option, but you really need to know it's a good choice for you.

"The military is full of opportunity, but the opportunity comes with sacrifice,” he said.