Roger Terry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Terry
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Roger Terry
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| Nickname(s) | Bill |
| Born | August 13, 1921 Los Angeles California |
| Died | June 11, 2009 West Los Angeles |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
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.
Contents
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
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
- Congressional Gold Medal: This high honor was given to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006 for their bravery and service.
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
- Dogfights (TV series)
- Executive Order 9981
- Freeman Field Mutiny
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
- Tuskegee Airmen
