Cruising

Princess Cruise Line Honors Tuskegee Airman Onboard the Discovery Princess in Seattle

While my blog often takes on a humorous tone, today’s cruise news from my home port of Seattle promises to tug at your heart strings instead of tickling your funny bone…

Tuskegee Airman Honored Onboard Discovery Princess

Yesterday in Seattle, Princess Cruise Line honored one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen. With a USAF traditional display of presenting colors, the McChord Field Honor Guard welcomed Lieutenant Colonel James H. Harvey III and his family aboard the Discovery Princess, where they will be enjoying a week-long cruise to Alaska to celebrate his upcoming 100th birthday.

Joining in the celebration was the Captain of the Discovery Princess, the entire crew, and Princess Cruises President John Padgett who presented Lieutenant Colonel Harvey with a special cake. Padgett said, “It’s our sincere honor to celebrate the 100th birthday of Lieutenant Colonel Harvey III, a trailblazer, hero, and real ‘Top Gun.’ His life and legacy should remind everyone of the power of courage, determination, resilience and the American spirit. From all of us at Princess Cruises, we salute Lt. Col. Harvey and wish him a very happy 100th birthday!”

Who were the Tuskegee Airman?

The Tuskegee Airman were a group of Black military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II. They served with honor and courage during a time when the U. S. military was still racially segregated and as African Americans were still subject to Jim Crow laws in many states.

About Lieutenant Colonel James H. Harvey III

Lt. Col. Harvey was born New Jersey in 1923. He is a former fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Groups 99th Squadron, known as the Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails,” one of 1,007 documented pilots trained for aerial combat during World War II. He was also the first African American USAF jet fighter combat pilot to fight in the Korean War and flew 140 missions from 1949 to 1950. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006.

Harvey also won the USAF’s very first “Top Gun” competition in 1949, when his team lead a 10-day event comprised of aerial gunnery, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocketing firing, and panel strafing. 

After serving 22 years in the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force, Harvey retired and went on to work as a corporate salesman for Oscar Mayer. He and his wife raised four daughters and he currently lives in Denver.

Video Footage of Princess Cruise Line Honoring Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Harvey, Onboard the Discovery Princess in Seattle

Those Onboard with Lt. Col. Harvey are in for a Treat!

Those lucky enough to be on the same Alaskan sailing with Lt. Col. Harvey this week will hear directly from him as part of a scheduled onboard discussion.

Kudos to Princess for honoring a true American hero. We all owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude and I hope he enjoys a spectacular celebratory cruise to Alaska with his family and the many new friends he’s sure to make! And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Homework (10 points): Share your thoughts on this article to the comments. Then read my review of the Discovery Princess HERE.

Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the blog (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:

Pinterest

Twitter (@cruiseprof)

Instagram (@profcruise)

Facebook

TikTok (profcruise)

YouTube

Prof. Cruise

Recent Posts

Holland America Bar Menus and Drink Prices 2025

Holland America drink prices and bar menus for 2025.

5 days ago

What Do Carnival Crew Members Eat For Christmas Dinner?

Wondering what the crew members on a cruise ship eat for Christmas dinner? See the…

6 days ago

Carnival Movies January 2025

Here are the Dive-in movies to be shown on Carnival cruises in January 2025.

1 week ago

Carnival New Year’s Menu 2025

Here's Carnival's New Year's Eve menu for 2025. This menu will be served in all…

2 weeks ago

Further Changes Coming to Carnival and Cruisers WON’T be Happy! (satire)

Carnival is switching to half caff coffee and charging for public restrooms and cruisers are…

2 weeks ago

MSC Menus 2025

Looking for current MSC menus? See all the dining menus for 2025 here! MDR, Yacht…

3 weeks ago