Earlier this month, we lost Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. As the nation’s first Black military pilots, this historic group overcame immense challenges in their service to the country during World War II, defying all odds and inspiring future generations.
A decorated World War II veteran, Stewart began his flight training at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama in 1943. Despite Jim Crow-era discrimination, Stewart graduated and was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, joining the ranks of the nation’s first Black military pilots.
Two years later, in 1945, Stewart downed three German aircraft in an intense battle, earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. His fellow pilots displayed similar merit and quickly gained a reputation for excellence. By the end of the war, the Tuskegee Airmen had flown over 15,000 missions and received a total of 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses.
But the Tuskegee Airmen did not just fly daring missions, they soared above social barriers and paved the way for generations to come. Their excellence in the war helped push for the desegregation of the U.S. military in 1948, a milestone in American history. Several went on to become senior military leaders, including the first three Black Air Force generals. Many actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement, including Coleman Young, the first Black mayor of Detroit.
Black history is American history and the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy is not just a footnote; it is a chapter. In today’s polarized world, their story offers a rare unifying narrative of courage and determination. It reminds us that the values they stood for – integrity, resilience, and honor – transcend the elements that divide us.