Today, I salute Wichita Army Veteran Tyrone Bell. In 1970, after he completed an ROTC program, Tyrone joined the Army. He was trained in tanks and became a headquarters company motor officer, one of just a handful of Black officers sent to the U.S. Army base in Bamberg, Germany. Bell said, “Black officers in the military in the ’70s were still a rarity. I met many a soldier who told me that I’m their first Black lieutenant they’ve ever seen.” Those under him weren’t the problem, but Tyrone endured a lot of racism from the other officers. After 3 years, he had enough and returned to civilian life. He went on to have a career in radio, both on air and as an engineer, and chose to retire in the Air Capital because of how much his dad loved Wichita. “He says, ‘I know you and I know Wichita. I think it’d be a good town for you,” Bell said. “Dad was right. I got here. I fell in love with the city. I bought a house in Riverside. I’m done moving.” Thank you for sharing your story, Tyrone, and THANK YOU for your service.
