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Roger Terry
Roger Terry.jpg
Roger Terry
Nickname(s) Bill
Born August 13, 1921
Los Angeles California
Died June 11, 2009
West Los Angeles
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Corps
Rank Lieutenant
Unit 332nd Fighter Group
Awards Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen

Lieutenant Roger "Bill" Terry (born August 13, 1921 – died June 11, 2009) was from Los Angeles, California. He was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American military pilots who fought in World War II. Terry served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was later removed from the military in a way that was later corrected, after an event called the Freeman Field Mutiny.

Early Life and Education

Roger Terry grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While at UCLA, his roommate was the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. Both Terry and Jackie Robinson faced military trials because they stood up against unfair rules that separated people by race in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Military Career

Roger Terry and Tuskegee Airmen
Roger Terry (center) at Tuskegee Army Air Field, December 1944.

After finishing college in 1941, Roger Terry joined the Tuskegee Airmen. In February 1945, he completed his flight training and became a 2nd Lieutenant. At the time, military bases often had separate clubs for white officers and black officers. The club for white officers was usually much nicer. Terry and over 100 other black officers decided to challenge these unfair rules and tried to use the white officers' club. Lieutenant Coleman Young, who later became the first black mayor of Detroit, was also part of this important protest.

The Freeman Field Protest

In 1945, at Freeman Army Airfield, many Tuskegee Airmen tried to enter the officers' club that was only for white officers. These black pilots were arrested for not following orders. Roger Terry was arrested for "jostling" an officer during this event, which became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny.

Terry was accused of not following orders and of getting physical with a white officer. The charge of not following orders was dropped. However, he was found responsible for the other accusation. His punishment included a fine, a reduction in his rank, and he was removed from the military.

Years later, in 1995, Rodney Coleman, who was an important leader in the Air Force, took away the records of punishment for the Tuskegee Airmen involved. He also removed the record of Terry's military trial and his removal from the military. This restored Terry's rights and honors.

Roger Terry was proud of how he acted during the protest and the military trial that followed. He believed he did the right thing by standing up for fairness.

Life After Service

After his military service, Roger Terry earned a law degree. He worked for the District Attorney's office in Los Angeles, California. He remained very involved with the Tuskegee Airmen community. He even became an advisor for the movie Red Tails, which was about the Tuskegee Airmen. In Los Angeles, a special square has been named in honor of Roger Terry.

Awards and Recognition

Later Years and Passing

Roger Terry passed away from heart failure on June 11, 2009, at the age of 87. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

See also

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