Leslie Edwards Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leslie Edwards Jr.
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Leslie Edwards Jr.
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| Birth name | Leslie Edwards Jr. |
| Born | August 9, 1925 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Died | September 23, 2019 (aged 95) Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Buried |
Vine Street Hill Cemetery
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| Service/ |
United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943-1945 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 477th Bomb Group |
| Awards | |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Mae (1943-2016) |
| Relations | 4 children |
| Other work | Supervisor of Meat Inspectors for the Southwest Ohio |
Leslie Edwards Jr. (born August 9, 1925 – died September 23, 2019) was a brave American who served in World War II. He was a staff sergeant and an aircraft technician. He was also a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American military pilots and support staff. In 2007, he received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush for his service.
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Early Life and Challenges
Leslie Edwards Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 9, 1924. He was the youngest of three children. When he was very young, his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. They moved from the South to the North to avoid unfair treatment against Black people.
When Leslie was only five years old, his father, who worked as a bellhop, passed away. This meant Leslie had to help support his family. He left Harriet Beecher Stowe School in Cincinnati in the tenth grade to help his two sisters and mother.
Serving in World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen
In 1943, Leslie Edwards was called to join the military. He went to Sheppard Field in Texas. There, he learned how to work on the engines of large bomber planes.
Edwards was assigned to the 477th Bomb Group. This group was supposed to fight in the War in the Pacific. However, World War II ended before they could be sent overseas. In 1945, the 477th group was sent to Godman Army Airfield.
The 447th bomb group was involved in an important event called the Freeman Field mutiny. This was when African-American officers stood up against unfair rules that separated them from white officers. Leslie Edwards was honorably discharged from the military in 1946. He held the rank of staff sergeant.
Life After the War
After his military service, Leslie Edwards Jr. started a new chapter. He worked at a meatpacking plant in Camp Washington, Cincinnati, for 20 years. After that, he worked for 25 years as a meat inspector.
Even though he had left high school early, Leslie and his wife decided to go back to school. They both finished high school in 1961. Leslie then went on to earn a bachelor's degree in commerce from Salmon P. Chase College in Cincinnati.
Leslie Edwards loved to share his wartime experiences. He spoke to schoolchildren and other groups about his time as a Tuskegee Airman. He was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. He also attended the presidential inaugurations of Barack Obama in both 2009 and 2013.
Family Life
Leslie Edwards married Anna Mae in 1943. They had four children together. Their marriage lasted for 72 years, until Anna Mae passed away in 2016. Leslie Edwards Jr. passed away on September 23, 2019, at the age of 95. His funeral was held on October 4, 2019, at the First Unitarian Church in Avondale. He was survived by three daughters, one son, and 19 grandchildren.
