MSGT U.S. Air Force (Ret). Persian Gulf War Veteran, spent his childhood in a segregated neighborhood called Settegast in Houston Texas. Cornelius interest in military service came early, his parents (deceased) were both stellar examples of service. His father was a Southwestern Christian College founding board member, Houston area KCOH Simple Truth Gospel Radio founder & pioneer African American Church of Christ evangelist named Paul Silas Settles. His mother Martha Ann (maiden name Tate), a proud rock solid HBCU ASU & PV A&M Alum Grad and elementary school teacher in Northeast ISD for thirty years...

https://www.africanamericanchurchofchristministerslegacy.org/remembering-pioneer-preachers-in-the-african-american-church-of-christ.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145482567/paul-silas-settles

Doc Settles is a great-grandson of an emancipated slave, farmer and land owner Anda Gundy McCollum born 1858 on the McCollum plantation.. His great grandmother was Choctaw Native named Nellie Stewart McCollum born 1859 near Glen Allen, Alabama... His great great grandmother named Polly Mary McCollum born approx 1821 was enslaved on a farming, wood and griss mill plantation owned by Irishman Newman McCollum of New River (now Hubbertsville) in Fayette County, Alabama.

Polly Mary was first auctioned, sold and purchased as a young girl by the McCollums in Georgia during the early 1830's. While enslaved, Polly gave birth to her oldest son Perry Sie McCollum. Great grandfather Gundy, his older brother Perry Sie and their mother Polly Mary were all Mulatto skin complexion or known as White Negroes. Polly was in her late thirties when auctioned and sold a second time for Seven hundred dollars accompanied with her baby Gundy, her older son Sie for one thousand fifty dollars and 17 other enslaved Negroes on the Newman plantation in 1859.. Proceeds from their sale on 11 May 1859 according to Newman's Last Will instructions were divided equally in Four lots as Inherent Profits for Newman McCollum's heirs....

As an infant Gundy was of no monetary value in 1859, but became sole property of his mother's new owner.... That new owner after considerable trade was Alabama Fayette county State Representative James K. McCollum 1800-1872. James was Newman's eldest son..

After emancipation in 1863, Polly, Sie and Gundy remained nearby and were located in the 1870 Alabama census in Glen Allen, Fayette County Alabama. A place and time from whence we came and yet never forgot..

US Air Force /Dept of Defense Careers

-Spanning thirty one years of 22 years military & eleven years federal service, his military journey of service and commitment began after attending BC Elmore & Forest Brook High. His enlistment in June 1974 was among the first year recruits of the All Volunteer Enlisted Forces in America effective 1 July 1973. His Non-Commissioned Officer/NCO duty status included nine years in US Air Force Security Police, Base Graphics & illustrations then retrained into Civil Engineering HVAC, Ground Safety, Cadre & Public Relations for an additional eleven years.

-Honorably retired in '96 followed by a third decade managing/coordinating in DOD Protocol career profession. A modern era hands on Centurion. Always service before self. Honored having assisting placing a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown, Arlington National Cemetery, donated artwork to military dependant scholarship organizations, Veteran Affairs Clinic, Alabama Heritage magazine, Airmen magazine, national newspaper articles, Library of Congress article, authored Historians and MLB sports research collaboration.

MIL/CIV DUTY ASSIGNMENTS

-1974 Lackland AFB, San Antonio Texas

-1975, 90th Bomb Wing, March AFB, Riverside, California

-1976 Galena AFS, APO Anchorage, Alaska

-1978 Clear AFS, APO Fairbanks, Alaska

-1980 RAF Chicksands, Bedfordshire, England

-1983, 90th Security Police Group, FE Warren WY -90th Civil Engineer Sqdn, FE Warren WY

-1991, 4409th Expeditionary Wing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

-1997, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AFB Italy

-West Point, United States Military Academy, New York

-2000, 22D Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Wichita, Kansas

MILITARY AWARDS & DECORATION HONORS

-Nov 1996 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal

-Air Force Commendation Medal w/one OLC

-Apr 1992 Air Force Achievement Medal

-Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/five OLC

-National Defense Service Medal w/Bronze service star

-Kuwait Liberation Medal

-Southwest Asia Service Medal w/Bronze service star

-Humanitarian Service Medal

- Air Force Longevity Service Award w/four OLC

-NCO PME Ribbon

- Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

-Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/five OLC

-Air Force Training Ribbon

-Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon w/star

-Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon w/one OLC

-Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon

-1998 NATO Medal for Kosovo (DOD civilian)

Additional Presentation Honors in

2000 by General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff, US Army

2000 by Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha Bint Al Hussein of Jordan

1997 Secretary of Defense, Hon William Cohen

Honorable Anthony Principia, Secretary VA

General John Handy, TRANSCOM CC

General Ralph Eberhardt, CINC US SPC CC

Admiral William Fallon, Vice Commander Naval Ops

General Richard Myers, VC Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff

1997 by General Hugh Shelton, Chairman JCS

USAF Chief of Staff Gen Mike Moseley

Air Commodore Geoffrey Simpson, Air Attache Defense British Embassy

General William Begeet, Com PACAF

SGT Major US Marine Corps John Estrada

CMSAF Thomas Barnes, CMSAF

CMSGT Fredrick Finch, CMSAF

Honorable Shelia Whitnall, Sec USAF

Honorable Mark Rosenker, Dep Asst to the President United States

Vice AdmTim LaFleur, Co Naval SF

Vice Adm Henry Griffin III, Co Naval Alt Flt

Badges/Career Professional Assist

-Security Forces 3P071 Craftsman Badge

-Civil Engineers 3E171 HVAC Craftsman Badge

-Space Command Missile Badge

-NCO Leadership School

-USAF NCO Academy, March AFB, CA

-Alaska Air Command Tops N Blue contest 1st Place Award Male Vocalist

- Alaska Air Command Tops N Blue contest 1st Place Male Vocalist Group -

- Alaska Air Command Tops N Blue contest Best of Show Award Performance

-RAF Chicksands NCO of the Year, USAFE

-Air Combat Command Ground Safety Individual Award of Distinction, ACC

-90 MW Unit Safety Manager of the year

-Air Force Space Command Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Safety Award of Distinction

-90 CES Senior NCO of the Quarter, WAFB

-22ARW Civ of the Quarter Cat II, MAFB -4409 Expeditionary Wing Achievement Certificate, Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia

-US Air Force Worldwide Artist Contest, 2nd Place Artist painting competition

-AF Space Command, 1st Place Artist painting competition

-Marion Ohio Arts Festival at the Brickyard

-1st place Artist drawing Category

-3rd place Artist painting category

- Merit Artist category watercolor

-Historic, News articles, Technical Assist

KGWN-TV 5, K-2 News, KCNC of Denver, Wyoming Eagle Tribune, Casper Tribune, Alliance for Historic WY, Northwestern Telecommunications Documentary films, US Congressional Archives, USAFR Courier Cargo GA, TCI Cablevision, USA Today, AIRMEN'S Magazine, ACC Combat Arms Magazine, Armed Forces Radio and Television AFRTS, Army Times, Dallas Morning News, Columbus Ohio Dispatch, Sun-Sentinal, Baltimore Sun News, History America Tour, Wyoming Travel Guide, Wyoming Laramie County Democratic Club, Retired Officers Association, University of Wyoming American West Heritage Center Symposium, Black West Museum Denver Colorado, Congressional Office US Senator Craig Thomas, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Sheila Widnall, USAF Office of Public Affairs, US Air Force News BG B.O Davis Dedication FE Warren WY, MLB Brooklyn Dodgers Bio Dan Bankhead by Rory Costello, History of the Tenth Cavalry 1866- 1921 by Major E. L. N. Glass,

April 2025 Edition of Alabama Heritage Magazine no. 156 Dan Bankhead painting

RECIPIENTS/Art of Doc's paintings/drawings..

NBA Spurs David Robinson & Shan Elliott, Chicago Bulls Dennis Rodman, Milwaukee Bucks Terry Cummings, NFL Denver Bronco Mike Williams & Mark Jackson, Motion Picture Movie Posse advisor John Langellier, Motion Picture Glory advisor & actor Bill Gwaltney, Joint Chiefs of Staff Historian & Author Dr. Frank Schubert, Asst Secretary of Defense Dr. Ed Dorn, Dr. James Horton Smithsonian, US Army Secretary Toga West, AFMC Gen Lester Lyles, Otis Williams Motown's the Temptations, Dr. Daniel Hastings Chief Scientist US Air Force, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, Dep EEO US Air Force SES D. Michael Collins, US Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, Rep Jessie Jackson Jr. Academy Award Winner Musical Composer of Evergreen & the LoveBoat Paul Williams, Grammy Awards R&B singer Lou Rawls, Congressional Medal of Honor Lt Vernon Baker, 90th Missile Wing, FE Warren AFB, 90th ICBM History & Heritage Museum, Wyoming State Museum Archives, University Alabama Professor & Lawyer Jim Noles

Art Galleries & Exhibit..

Deselms Fine Art, Cheyenne WY

Mosadis Collections Denver, CO

Samitch Gallery Denver, CO

Cutting Edge Cheyenne, WY

Stefano Fine Art Gallery, Aviano Italy

US Pentagon, Asst Sec Defense R&D, Dr. Ed Dorn, Washington DC

Marion County Veterans Affairs, Community Clinic

US ARMY/USAF CIV POSITIONS & PROJECTS

- First African American Deputy Chief of Protocol, West Point US Military Academy, New York

-First African American, US Congressional & Foreign Officers Liaison, 31FW Aviano Air Force Base, Italy

-First African American, Chief of Protocol, 22D Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kansas

- 1993 Founder, Wyoming Buffalo Soldiers Monument & honoring frontier era Buffalo Soldiers.

-2005 Design Artist, KC-135 Aircraft-Piatt St. memorial, McConnell AFB, KS

- 2005 Design Artist, US Senator Robert J. Dole Community Center Memorial, MAFB, KS

-1983 Design Artist, 90th MW Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Marker, FE Warren AFB, WY

-Artist contributor since 1994 Warren AFB Spouses Club Military Dependants College Scholarships funding

-

AIR FORCE Archive PHOTO & Event

https://picryl.com/media/sgt-cornelius-a-settles-13th-missile-warning-squadron-checks-his-make-up-prior-04b933

- Tops In Blue competition Male vocals, Elmendorf AFB, AAC & Travis AFB, CA

- Male vocal group, AAC

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1241634709197845&id=199904880037505

MAGAZINE, BOOK & ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS

1994 US Congressional Record archive

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c24527/clip-house-session

2022 Article https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3128558/mighty-ninety-dedicates-quarters-64-to-general-benjamin-davis/

https://www.google.com/search?q=mcconnell+dole+center+dedication&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=nimv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiUg8653dTfAhXr1IMKHYkbBVgQ_AUoAnoECBAQAg&biw=360&bih=519&dpr=2#imgrc=VAdxxxwxBIg8eM

https://www.google.com/search?q=wyoming+buffalo+soldiers+cornelius+doc+settles&oq=wy&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j35i39j69i60j35i39j0j69i60.3500j0j4&client=tablet-android-verizon&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#ip=1

https://www.historicwyoming.org/profiles/buffalosoldiersatfortdarussellptii

https://books.google.com/books?id=w9mQh8n-KUAC&q=the+combat+edge-+volume+one+issue+10+cornelius+doc+settles&dq=the+combat+edge-+volume+one+issue+10+cornelius+doc+settles&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwji9s--gYffAhUuvlkKHRj3ARUQ6AEIJjAA

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/nov/29/medal-for-a-gallant-man-the-vernon-baker-story/&ved=0ahUKEwiim8L_hoffAhUMmeAKHWxWDHsQFgg2MAc&usg=AOvVaw0xVLovfyN4u1t7s8X1QG8M

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://kynghistory.ky.gov/Media/Publications/Cargo%2520Courier/cargofeb96.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjOpvHhhYffAhWwneAKHSnFDtsQFjAFegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw09hj8RXJbnezHYb9T1H5-B

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.geometry.net/basic_b/buffalo_soldiers_american_history_page_no_2.php&ved=2ahUKEwjOpvHhhYffAhWwneAKHSnFDtsQFjAGegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw3pHNyhWBOKT5a-QtXxotOj

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.warren.af.mil/News/Features/Article/333568/buffalo-soldiers-vigilant-honorable-warriors-of-the-plains/&ved=2ahUKEwjOpvHhhYffAhWwneAKHSnFDtsQFjABegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw32FbQJ8N1lGYlnRo-aDFOl

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-05-26-9605230477-story.html&ved=2ahUKEwj-ha-mhoffAhXrct8KHaHiCKA4ChAWMAF6BAgBEAE&usg=AOvVaw0ocdVylDHm_hf6oLOXp9wD

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-04-21/features/1996112062_1_buffalo-soldiers-soldiers-history-soldier-tour/2&ved=2ahUKEwjOpvHhhYffAhWwneAKHSnFDtsQFjARegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw1k2f-mbS4TKRMbAhzolu9e

https://www.warren.af.mil/News/Features/Article/333568/buffalo-soldiers-vigilant-honorable-warriors-of-the-plains/

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/62db6502

https://www.facebook.com/100000170943882/posts/26154824570773218/?app=fbl

Thank you to my dearest friend & wife Jeanette, daughter Nikki, granddaughters Jasmine, Brooklyn, Bella, my siblings Paul Jr.RIP, Carolyn RIP, Elaine, Carl RIP, Spencer Gene, William Andrew, Paula Sharon & extended family, WY Buffalo Soldier associates & friends. Medal of Honor Lt Vernon Baker, MLB pitcher Dan Bankhead, US Senator Craig & Susan Thomas, WY Sen. Liz & Jim Byrd, Dr. Frank N. Mickey Schubert, Artist Chris Navarro, Historian & Actor Bill Whaltney, Harvey Deselms, Paula Taylor, USAF Gen. Lance Lord & NFL Cleveland Brown's Greg Pruitt allowed me to rest on their shoulders. Their generosity, love & encouragement never forgotten.....