Wilmore B. Leonard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilmore B. Leonard
|
|
|---|---|
Wilmore B. Leonard
|
|
| Birth name | Wilmore B. Leonard |
| Born | Salisbury, Maryland, US |
| Died | Washington, DC |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Force |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen |
Wilmore B. Leonard (who lived from 19?? to 1978) was an amazing American. He was a brave fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He was also a college professor!
Wilmore B. Leonard was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. These were the first African American military pilots in U.S. history. He was among the first 50 African American combat fighter pilots. After serving his country, he became a dentistry professor for 25 years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wilmore B. Leonard was born in Salisbury, Maryland. This city is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He had two siblings, a brother named Howard and a sister named Lillian.
In 1939, he finished his studies at the Hampton Institute. After graduating, he worked as a teacher. He taught at Accomac County High School in Accomac, Virginia.
Wilmore B. Leonard was married to Elizabeth A. Leonard. They had a daughter named Charmaine and one grandchild.
Military Service
Wilmore B. Leonard joined the military and became a pilot. On September 6, 1942, he finished flight school at Tuskegee. He earned his pilot's wings and became a 2nd Lieutenant.
He was part of the sixth group of cadets to graduate from Tuskegee. This made him one of the first 50 African American combat fighter pilots. He bravely served in World War II in Europe. In 1946, he left the military as a captain.
Awards and Recognition
Wilmore B. Leonard, along with all the other Tuskegee Airmen, received a very special award. In 2006, they were given the Congressional Gold Medal. This is one of the highest awards given to civilians in the United States.
Life After the Military
After leaving the military, Wilmore B. Leonard wanted to continue his education. In 1947, he applied to the University of Maryland to study chemistry. He was first accepted, but then the university changed its mind. They said his grades were not good enough, but it was likely because of his race.
However, this did not stop him! In 1948, he went to the Howard University School of Dentistry. He graduated in 1952 and then became a professor there. He taught at Howard University for 25 years, retiring in 1976.
As a professor, he taught many important subjects. These included how to diagnose problems in the mouth and how to treat them. He also helped manage the dental clinics at the university. Howard University gave him an award for his great work in dental education. He was also a member of several important dental groups. He even wrote articles for science journals about teeth and gums.
Later Years
Wilmore B. Leonard passed away on April 2, 1978. He died at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC.
See Also
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
