Latest news with #TuskegeeAirman
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Michigan House bill would rename a portion of U.S.127 after Tuskegee Airman from Jackson
Tuskegee Airmen statue, Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit | Ken Coleman A bill introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives would rename a section of highway in Jackson County after a missing Tuskegee Airman who grew up in the city of Jackson. State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson) said that her sponsored legislation, House Bill 4145, would name a section of U.S. 127 between mile markers 39 and 40, near the I-94 interchange, after 2nd Lieutenant Roosevelt Stiger, a Tuskegee Airman and Purple Heart recipient. 'It is a real privilege to advocate on behalf of a true American hero,' said Schmaltz in a press release. '2nd Lieutenant Stiger served our country with courage, broke barriers, and gave his life fighting for freedom. This memorial is a small but meaningful way we can ensure his legacy lives on in the community he once called home.' Stiger was born in Mississippi in 1919 and moved to Jackson with his family during his childhood. He trained as a pilot through the Tuskegee Aviation Cadet program. Stiger graduated in 1944 and was deployed overseas with the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. During a bomber escort mission over the Adriatic Sea on Oct. 7, 1944, he reported issues with his oxygen system. Stiger's aircraft was seen descending toward the water and he was never recovered, remaining listed as missing in action. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces, breaking racial barriers during a time of segregation and limited opportunity. Despite facing systemic racism, these men trained rigorously and flew countless successful missions during World War II. About 1,000 pilots were trained as Tuskegee Airmen, along with thousands of support personnel. Notable members include Coleman A. Young, who later became the first Black mayor of Detroit, and Charles McGee, a decorated fighter pilot who served in three wars. The Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, which honors their legacy, is located in Detroit at the historic Coleman A. Young International Airport. The bill was approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and now goes to the full House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bill would rename a portion of US-127 after Jackson Tuskegee Airman
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A in the Michigan House of Representatives would rename a section of highway in Jackson County after a missing Tuskegee Airman who grew up in the city of Jackson. Under the proposed bill, the section of U.S.-127 between mile markers 39 and 40 near the I-94 interchange would be named after 2nd. Lieutenant Roosevelt Stiger, a Tuskegee Airman and Purple Heart recipient who remains unaccounted for. 'It is a real privilege to advocate on behalf of a true American hero,' said State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, who represents Jackson County and introduced the bill. '2nd Lt. Stiger served our country with courage, broke barriers, and gave his life fighting for freedom. This memorial is a small but meaningful way we can ensure his legacy lives on in the community he once called home.' Schmaltz says Stiger was born in Tennessee in 1919 and moved to Jackson with his family during his childhood. He trained as a pilot through the Tuskegee Aviation Cadet program. He graduated in 1944 and was the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. According to the , on Oct. 7, 1944, Stiger was piloting one of 68 fighters on a bomber escort mission over the Adriatic Sea. Around 10 minutes before reaching land, Stiger reported his oxygen was low, and he and his flight leader flew down to a lower altitude, almost colliding due to low visibility. When Stiger appeared to be heading into the water, his flight lead ordered him to pull up. Within seconds of the two planes becoming level with each other, Stiger's plane went into a steep dive and crashed into the water. After the crash, the flight leader attempted to radio Stiger while circling the crash location, but could not contact him. He was not recovered, and remains unaccounted for, memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. Schmaltz says the road dedication proposal has seen strong local support, and specifically credited student researchers from the Heritage Center at Jackson College for bringing attention to Stiger's story. 'These students have shown remarkable initiative and respect for our shared history,' Schmaltz said. 'Their work has helped shine a light on a Jackson native who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's because of their efforts that this legislation has taken shape, and I'm incredibly grateful.' HB-4145 was approved by committee and has advanced to the full House for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Medal of Honor recipient becomes first resident at Tuskegee Airman Texas State Veterans Home
The Brief The first resident was welcomed to the Tuskegee Airman Texas State Veterans Home. Medal of Honor recipient Robert Emmett O'Malley moved in on Wednesday. More residents are expected to move in this week. FORT WORTH, Texas - A Medal of Honor recipient received a special welcome as he moved into his new long-term care facility in Fort Worth. Sergeant Robert Emmett O'Malley is the first resident at the new Tuskegee Airman Texas State Veterans Home. What Happened The 82-year-old Vietnam War veteran was escorted to the facility by deputies from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. O'Malley was awarded the military's highest honor for his valiant service as a corporal during combat in 1965. Prior to now, he was in a facility in Temple, Texas. Today, Sergeant O'Malley was smiling and upbeat as the staff and some state workers recognized his journey and his service. Starting tomorrow, several more veterans are expected to move in. What they're saying "He's able to move up here and be closer to us, so we can see him more often. So proud of this beautiful facility and everybody's been wonderful, same thing with William R. Courtney in Temple where he was at. we've been waiting on this day and we're super excited," said Shannon Dear, O'Malley's stepdaughter. The backstory During the Vietnam War, O'Malley single-handedly took on a group of enemy forces in a trench after his battalion came under small arms fire. Despite being wounded, he managed to gain an upper-hand and provide suppressive fire, refusing to board an evacuation helicopter until each Marine in his unit, some suffering from injuries, was boarded ahead of him. O'Malley received his Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson on December 6, 1966. In addition to the Medal of Honor he also received a Purple Heart, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star and the Vietnam Service Medal. Dig deeper Eligible veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability may live at the home for free. The home is located on Joe B. Rushing Road in Fort Worth. The Source Information in this article comes from FOX 4 crews at the welcoming for Sgt. O'Malley, the U.S. Marines Corps and the Texas General Land Office.
USA Today
06-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
Decorated Tuskegee Airman combat pilot Harry Stewart Jr. dies at 100
Decorated Tuskegee Airman combat pilot Harry Stewart Jr. dies at 100 Show Caption Hide Caption Tuskegee Airmen: Learn about America's first Black Military pilots Lucasfilm's new #FlyLikeThem initiative is aimed at educating a younger generation about the World War II contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen. USA TODAY Handout DETROIT — Retired Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., a decorated combat pilot of World War II's mostly Black 332nd Fighter Group, commonly known as the Tuskegee Airmen, has died. He was 100. Stewart died Sunday at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum confirmed. He is survived by a daughter, Lori Collette Stewart, of Bloomfield Hills, and extended family. "We are deeply saddened by his passing and extend our condolences to his family and friends around the world," said Brian Smith, the president and CEO of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum in Detroit. "Harry Stewart was a kind man of profound character and accomplishment with a distinguished career of service he continued long after fighting for our country in World War II." Stewart was among the first 1,000 Black pilots in the 1940s trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama before Black and white airmen were allowed to serve together. Only one of them is still alive. Among other honors, Stewart earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery while escorting U.S. bombers during World War II and heroic actions in combat, the museum said. He also was one of four Tuskegee Airmen who shot down three enemy aircraft in a single day. In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2019, Stewart's memoir, "Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II," which detailed his wartime experiences, was published. For his centennial birthday — on July 4 — the museum threw Stewart a party at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport. He celebrated, surrounded by dignitaries and loved ones, and offered a message about racial progress: Guard it. Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr. was captivated by planes since his youth Stewart said he was fascinated by airplanes as a youngster. When the war came, he was drafted and got his chance to become a pilot — learning to fly even before he could drive and helping to save the world from the evils of fascism. Born in Newport News, Virginia, Stewart was captivated by flight as a baby. He said his parents told him he'd lay in his crib outdoors and watch the aircraft overhead, trying to wave at the pilots. Then, as a teen, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and he said in an interview with radio station WAMC-FM in Albany, New York, that he watched P-39 aircraft flying in a tight formation and knew "it wouldn't be long before the draft would call me up." He said he learned to fly first because in New York City people took public transportation. After the war, Stewart earned a mechanical engineering degree from New York University; in 1976, he moved to metro Detroit, retiring as a vice president from ANR Pipeline Co., a Detroit-based oil and gas consortium. An advocate for the Tuskegee Airmen legacy The National WWII Museum in New Orleans said Stewart became an advocate for the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, in which he "played a vital role in their recognition." The group consisted of more than 15,000 Black pilots, mechanics, and cooks in the segregated Army of World War II. "In 2024, The National WWII Museum was proud to recognize the trailblazing Tuskegee Airmen with the American Spirit Award, the institution's highest honor, for their accomplishments and patriotism in the face of discrimination," according to the museum's obituary for Stewart. Last month, the U.S. Air Force briefly removed course instruction about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots from the basic training curriculum. The decision followed President Donald Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government. The removal immediately received backlash from legislators, retired military personnel, and other advocates, prompting the Air Force to resume its instruction. 'Finally': Tuskegee Airmen honored 73 years after competition win was 'swept under the rug' Contributing: Thao Nguyen and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tuskegee Airman, WWII pilot Harry Stewart Jr. has died at age 100
– The Tuskegee Airman National Museum in Detroit has confirmed the death of Lt. Col. Harry S. Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving fighter pilots of that era. Stewart, who lived in Bloomfield Hills, turned 100 years old on July 4, 2024. A birthday party in his honor was held at the museum that day. A Michigan World War II Tuskegee Airman's journey to soar The Tuskegee Airmen was the name for the first all-African American fighter pilot squadron, a situation that happened during the 1940s when the U.S. military segregated units by race. There were nearly 1,000 serving as pilots, and others in support roles. The museum shares the history and artifacts of that era, while encouraging interest in aviation and aerospace engineering. Stewart enlisted at age 18 in what was then known as the Army Air Corps to qualify as a pilot. He completed 43 combat missions, and earned three aerial victories in a single day. The Tuskegee Airmen who still survived in 2007 were presented with a Congressional Gold Medal 'in recognition of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.' The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs featured Stewart in . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
