At 100 years old, former Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot promoted to colonel

DENVER — More than 50,000 strong shook the foundation of Empower Field at Mile High Saturday, as Lt. Colonel James H. Harvey III made his way out of the North Tunnel with his closest family and friends by his side. At a halftime ceremony during the annual Air Force vs. Army football game, Harvey, who at age 100 is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, was honorarily promoted to the rank of colonel.

“I’m just enjoying life,” Harvey said after receiving his new rank and taking in the crowd chanting “USA! USA!” 

During World War II, Harvey became a highly decorated jet fighter pilot as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen squadron, the all-Black flying unit in the then-segregated U.S. Air Force.

Newly appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Quinton Brown Jr.  expressed his gratitude to Lt. Col. Harvey in his halftime speech.

“Because of his work breaking barriers, I can stand here today as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” said Brown, who became the first Black service chief in U.S. military history in 2020 when he was named Air Force Chief.

“Young people should aspire to be what they see in Lt. Col. Harvey,” he said.

Harvey’s daughters change the ranks on his uniform during the ceremony.
Photo: William Peterson, Rocky Mountain PBS  

Moments later before a cheering stadium full of people, some of them shouting their thanks, Harvey was officially promoted. As his daughters pinned on his new ranks, a smile spread over his face. 

The colonel's evident joy at being honored by the Air Force echoed what he'd shared with Rocky Mountain PBS on his 100th birthday celebration.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," he said in July. "That'll carry you through if you think about it. And always be truthful, have a sense of humor and have a good, good belly laugh at least once a day."

Harvey stands during his promotion ceremony at Empower Field at Mile High.
Photo: William Peterson, Rocky Mountain PBS  

William Peterson is a senior photojournalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at williampeterson@rmpbs.org.