Henry Wise Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Wise Jr.
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Henry Wise Jr.
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| Birth name | Henry Anthony Wise Jr. |
| Born | August 3, 1920 Cheriton, Virginia, United States |
| Died | May 2, 2003 (aged 82) Cheverly, Maryland, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 99th Pursuit Squadron, 332nd Division, Tuskegee Airmen |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
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Henry A. Wise Jr. (born August 3, 1920 – died May 2, 2003) was an amazing American doctor and a brave pilot during World War II. He was part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American military pilots. He flew fighter planes with the 99th Pursuit Squadron. During the war, his plane was shot down, and he became a prisoner of war. After the war, he continued his important work as a doctor and later became the medical director at Bowie State University.
Contents
Growing Up: Henry Wise's Early Life
Henry Wise Jr. was born in a town called Cheriton, Virginia. He went to an all-black private school. Later, he graduated from Virginia Union University.
Henry Wise's Military Career
From 1942 to 1946, Henry Wise Jr. served as a pilot. He was a proud member of the Tuskegee Airmen. This was a special group of African American pilots. They flew fighter planes during World War II.
Shot Down and Prisoner of War
During the war, Wise's plane was shot down. This happened over Romania, near the Ploiești oilfields. He survived the crash but was captured. He spent three months as a prisoner of war. This means he was held by enemy forces.
Life After the War
After the war, Henry Wise Jr. continued his career as a doctor. In 1955, he started working at Prince George's Hospital Center. At that time, he was the only African American doctor there. He later became the medical director at Bowie State University. This was a very important leadership role.
Honoring Dr. Wise
To honor his life and achievements, a high school was named after him. Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School was approved in 2005. It is located in Prince George's County Schools.
Awards and Honors
Henry Wise Jr. received several important awards for his bravery and service:
- Air Medal: This award is given for heroic actions while flying.
- Certificate of Valor for Courage in Combat: This recognized his bravery during battles.
- Congressional Gold Medal: This special award was given to all the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006. It is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
- Pioneer Award for Distinguished Service and Historic Achievement: This award recognized his important contributions.
- Purple Heart: This medal is given to soldiers who are wounded or killed in action.
See Also
- Dogfights (TV series)
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
Death
Henry Wise Jr. passed away on May 2, 2003. He died at Prince George's Hospital Center after suffering a heart attack.
Images for kids
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The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."
