U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen Congratulates Charles McGee

Van Hollen Statement on Promotion of Charles McGee to Brigadier General

photo credit: Baltimore Sun

The following statement was released from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, yesterday:

“I salute Brigadier General Charles McGee for his extraordinary service to our country. I am proud to have teamed up with Representative Anthony Brown to pass this legislation and to provide Colonel McGee with this honorary promotion to Brigadier General. Thank you, General, for your sacrifice to our nation, and again, happy 100^th birthday!”

Brigadier General McGee, a resident of Bethesda, Md., served with the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, completing 136 combat missions. Just over two months ago – on December 7, 2019 – he celebrated his 100^th birthday.

Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced legislation in July of 2019 to authorize the honorary promotion of Colonel (Ret.) Charles E. McGee. The legislation then passed unanimously by the full Senate. (Read bill here.)

Some of Brigadier General McGee’s military accomplishments:

Served with the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, completing 136 combat missions
Completed an additional 100 combat missions in the Korean Conflict
Completed 173 combat missions in the Vietnam War
Amassing a record three-war total of combat missions – 409 – of any Air Force fighter pilot, with 100 missions or more in each
Col. McGee completed a distinguished 30-year career in the United States Air Force, serving in numerous leadership and command capacities and becoming the first African American to command a stateside Air Force Wing and Base.