| Theodore Johnson | |
|---|---|
|
File:File:Theodore Johnson (Tuskegee Airmen).jpg Theodore Johnson 1944 | |
| Born | March 22, 1924 |
| Died | February 16, 2020 (aged 95) |
| Place of death | San Antonio, Texas[1] |
| Buried at | Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery[1] |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943-1949 |
| Awards |
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Theodore Johnson (March 22, 1924 – February 16, 2020) was an American military serviceman who served during World War II and was a Documented Original Tuskegee Airman.
Early life and education[]
He attended Dunbar High School at Temple, Texas, June 6, 1941.[2]
Military service[]
In 1943 Johnson was drafted and sent to Fort Benning, GA. In 1944 he arrived in St. Louis, MO, Jefferson Barracks Military Post, for basic training.[3] In April 1944 he was sent to Scotland, and in July arrived at Omaha Beach on a tank landing ship; from there he journeyed across France, Belgium and Germany.[4][5] On July 5, 1945, he arrived in Boston, Massachusetts by way of LeHavre, France.[6]
He re-enlisted on January 26, 1946, and was eventually posted to Lockbourne Air Base, Ohio, as a result of this he is classified as a Documented Original Tuskegee Airman (DOTA).[6][7]
Later life[]
Later in life, Johnson spent time speaking to groups about his experiences as a Tuskegee Airman.[8][9] He was "known for his detailed memory of his travels, assignments and personal encounters".[6] In 2005, Johnson and other Tuskegee Airmen spoke to their former unit the 332nd Fighter group, in Balad, Iraq.[10] "War is hell," Johnson once said. "Don't nobody tell you that war is not hell. Anybody tell you he wasn't afraid, he's a lie."[11] Toward the final years of his life, he frequently took part in honors and ceremonies, for himself and representing the Tuskegee Airmen.[12][13][14][15][16] In 2018, he went on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. with 50 other veterans from Austin.[11] He was presented with a portrait painting of himself at the "Portraits of Patriots Art Show", in the Patriot's Casa at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.[17]
Personal life[]
He and his wife had 9 children.[18]
Johnson died in his home in San Antonio, Texas. After his death there were only two living members in San Antonio.[6]
Awards[]
See also[]
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
Further reading[]
- The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949[20]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Foster, Jordan (25 February 2020). "SA Tuskegee Airman dies at 95". News Center Maine. https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/national/military-news/sa-tuskegee-airman-dies-at-95/273-5cad8ac5-2cf1-4626-82bd-389556ce8b67. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ↑ "Theodore Johnson". CAF Rise Above. https://cafriseabove.org/theodore-johnson/. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ↑ "JBSA community, 99th FTS celebrate Tuskegee Airmen heritage, legacy" (in en-US). https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/871191/jbsa-community-99th-fts-celebrate-tuskegee-airmen-heritage-legacy/.
- ↑ Robert Goetz (October 30, 2017). "Amazing things at JBSA air show not limited to aerial". Joint Base San Antonio. https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/1357890/amazing-things-at-jbsa-air-show-not-limited-to-aerial-performances/.
- ↑ Flinn, Jeff B. (11 June 2015). "Surviving members of legendary Tuskegee Airmen take to the skies". San Antonio Express News. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Surviving-members-of-legendary-Tuskegee-Airmen-6322547.php. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Theodore Johnson, an Original WWII Tuskegee Airmen dies". News4SA. 19 February 2020. https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/theodore-johnson-an-original-tuskegee-airmen-joins-the-lonely-eagles.
- ↑ "Tuskegee Experience". Tuskegee Edu. https://web.archive.org/web/20130915005215/http://www.tuskegee.edu/sites/www/Uploads/files/About%20US/Airmen/TuskegeeExperience(1).pdf. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ↑ "Community Calendar". Odessa American. 24 May 2014. https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-may-24-2014-2816277/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Spirit of '45". Galveston County Daily News. 31 July 2015. https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jul-31-2015-2816280/.
- ↑ "Aging Tuskegee Airmen Suiting Up, Seek to Inspire Former Unit in Iraq". Athens News Courier. 23 October 2005. https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-oct-23-2005-2816299/.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Rebeca Trejo (November 2, 2018). "Austin area African-American veterans take Honor Flight to D.C.". KVUE. https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-area-african-american-veterans-take-honor-flight-to-dc/269-610802385.
- ↑ Lauren Padden (August 27, 2019). "Joint Base San Antonio honors the "Greatest Generation"". U. S. Army. https://www.army.mil/article/226157/joint_base_san_antonio_honors_the_greatest_generation.
- ↑ Leah Durain (March 25, 2019). "Local Tuskegee Airmen Honored on Unit’s 78th Anniversary". KENS. https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/local-tuskegee-airmen-honored-on-units-78th-anniversary/273-90be5c5a-4b65-4ec6-8a61-16b6c5786c81.
- ↑ Johnny Saldivar (June 12, 2015). "Photo at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Parr Club". U.S. Air Force. https://www.jbsa.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001077661/.
- ↑ Rauel Tirado (January 9, 2016). "Stories and Memories". Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2001334365/.
- ↑ Benjamin Faske (April 23, 2016). "Viva Fiesta". Air Reserve Personnel Center. https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Art/igphoto/2001524987/.
- ↑ Ingrid Wilgen (September 22, 2016). "Tuskegee Airmen honored at Patriots’ Casa". Mesquite News. https://mesquite-news.com/tuskegee-airmen-honored-at-patriots-casa/.
- ↑ Durain, Leah (11 February 2019). "Tuskegee Airman shares moments from history". KENS-TV. https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/tuskegee-airman-shares-moments-from-history/273-8678df76-185f-4f40-b53a-6b3db59c0bb1. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ↑ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen". US Library of Congress. 11 April 2006. https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ213/PLAW-109publ213.pdf.
- ↑ Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1588382443. https://books.google.com/books?id=1qC51h8HrWQC&pg=PA194&lpg=PA194&dq=William+p.+Armstrong+tuskegee&source=bl&ots=fqUOF6utvy&sig=ACfU3U3ye8aDtvKrBfZazk2RioF7OM4LEw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirvdPSiL7nAhUOV80KHbeGAe84FBDoATADegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=William%20p.%20Armstrong%20tuskegee&f=false. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
External links[]
- In the News Johnson
- Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University
- Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
- Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
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