African American Baha'i
"I WAS A FIGHTER PILOT", so said Dempsey W. Morgan, Jr. in a 19 Feb 2012 interview in the Roanoke Times. Morgan, a member of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation", was born on March 1, 1920 the son of Dempsey Matthew(1892-1946) and Pope Sims(nee Porter) Morgan(1890-1926) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older half-sister Gertrude Sims Hodge(1904-1990). He enrolled as a member of the 1942 Class of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and was one of 996 Army Air Force Pilots who graduated from the Flight School at Tuskegee, Alabama between 1939 and 1949. He was, with his graduation in 1943, in the 15th of 44 Classes of Pilots, that completed training at the School before the end of the War. He flew missions over the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, while based in Italy as a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. The 332d was later rolled into the XV Air Force. The 332nd was immortalized in the 2012 Movie "Red Tails", a fictionalized account of their exploits in the air. His Squadron flew air cover missions over the beach at Anzio during Operation Shingle (which also included black ground soldiers) from 22-29 January 1944. They also escorted Bombers from North Africa on bombing missions throughout Southern Europe. An 4 October 1944 mission, highlighted in the book, "The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History" was the highlight of his service in Europe. He, as a 1st Lt., along with four other pilots (1st Lt. S. L. Curtis, & 1st Lt Willard Woods (also of the 100FS), Capt. Claude B. Govan (301FS) and 1st Lt. Herman A Lawson (99FS)) made their way to a German Airbase in Greece where they destroyed nine planes while they were still on the ground. For this Mission all five were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They joined 91 other Tuskegee Airmen to have won the DFC approximately 10% of the total number of members of the 332nd Fighter Group. In that interview in the Roanoke Times, he stated, "We got to the base and destroyed everything." He self-published an autobiography in which a Certificate of Valor lists a Bronze Star and an Air Medal(w4 Oak Leaf Clusters), included but not limited to, as other Decorations he received.
After the War, he was licensed to fly commercially, but was unable to because of the racial discrimination that was prevalent at the time. He accepted the Baha'i Faith after the War and became a teacher and international missionary in Asia, Africa and Central America for his Faith for approximately 40 years. He, and his second wife Adrienne, lived abroad until approximately 1997 when they retired to Bristol, Va. He was awarded a Doctorate in Public Service by Tuskegee Institute in 2006. In 2007 President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to him and the rest of the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Health issues forced his relocation, in 2011, to the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke.
After the Feb. 19th article, he received a number of invitations to schools and Memorial Day services where he was honored for his Military Service. The Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also awarded him their "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice" Award. This award recognizes "significant accomplishments and contributions to justice."
Recent estimates state that there are fewer than 200 of the over 900 pilots still living.
Funeral was 15 April 2013 in Roanoke. He was buried in the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
According to the 1900 US Census his mother Pope Porter was born in Jan 1885. Her Death Certificate lists birth as 1890(Mar. 7) She died March 19, 1926. His father Dempsey M. Morgan was born May 15, 1892 and died Sept. 3, 1946.
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Dempsey Wesley Morgan
March 1, 1920 - April 11, 2013
Dempsey Wesley Morgan Jr., Tuskegee Airman, 93, of Roanoke, Virginia passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2013, following an extended illness. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he was born on March 1, 1920, the son of the late Dempsey Matthew and Pope Morgan. The impossible tasks of attempting to place the global experiences and influences of First Lieutenant Dempsey Morgan into a few words or even a few pages is an impossible one. First Lieutenant Morgan is most famously known in recent years for his stellar performances as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group and 100th Fighter Squadron of the Historic Tuskegee Airman. During his four years of service he received numerous citations including the Certificate of Valor, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also given a license to fly commercial planes upon leaving the military, but was unable to do so because of discrimination. In 2006, he was awarded a doctorate in Public Service from Tuskegee University. A year later, President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor to the surviving Tuskegee Airmen. Upon his acceptance of the Baha'i Faith after leaving the military he was determined to spread the message of peace and did so with his wife, Adrienne for the next 40 years abroad in Asia, Africa and Central America before returning to America for health reasons. Here he continued to teach the principals of the Baha'i Faith until his passing. In his words: "I fear no man, only God" and "I said the 23 Psalm every morning and thanked God every evening." He is survived by his wife; three daughters and several grandchildren.
"I WAS A FIGHTER PILOT", so said Dempsey W. Morgan, Jr. in a 19 Feb 2012 interview in the Roanoke Times. Morgan, a member of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation", was born on March 1, 1920 the son of Dempsey Matthew(1892-1946) and Pope Sims(nee Porter) Morgan(1890-1926) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older half-sister Gertrude Sims Hodge(1904-1990). He enrolled as a member of the 1942 Class of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and was one of 996 Army Air Force Pilots who graduated from the Flight School at Tuskegee, Alabama between 1939 and 1949. He was, with his graduation in 1943, in the 15th of 44 Classes of Pilots, that completed training at the School before the end of the War. He flew missions over the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, while based in Italy as a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. The 332d was later rolled into the XV Air Force. The 332nd was immortalized in the 2012 Movie "Red Tails", a fictionalized account of their exploits in the air. His Squadron flew air cover missions over the beach at Anzio during Operation Shingle (which also included black ground soldiers) from 22-29 January 1944. They also escorted Bombers from North Africa on bombing missions throughout Southern Europe. An 4 October 1944 mission, highlighted in the book, "The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History" was the highlight of his service in Europe. He, as a 1st Lt., along with four other pilots (1st Lt. S. L. Curtis, & 1st Lt Willard Woods (also of the 100FS), Capt. Claude B. Govan (301FS) and 1st Lt. Herman A Lawson (99FS)) made their way to a German Airbase in Greece where they destroyed nine planes while they were still on the ground. For this Mission all five were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They joined 91 other Tuskegee Airmen to have won the DFC approximately 10% of the total number of members of the 332nd Fighter Group. In that interview in the Roanoke Times, he stated, "We got to the base and destroyed everything." He self-published an autobiography in which a Certificate of Valor lists a Bronze Star and an Air Medal(w4 Oak Leaf Clusters), included but not limited to, as other Decorations he received.
After the War, he was licensed to fly commercially, but was unable to because of the racial discrimination that was prevalent at the time. He accepted the Baha'i Faith after the War and became a teacher and international missionary in Asia, Africa and Central America for his Faith for approximately 40 years. He, and his second wife Adrienne, lived abroad until approximately 1997 when they retired to Bristol, Va. He was awarded a Doctorate in Public Service by Tuskegee Institute in 2006. In 2007 President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to him and the rest of the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Health issues forced his relocation, in 2011, to the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke.
After the Feb. 19th article, he received a number of invitations to schools and Memorial Day services where he was honored for his Military Service. The Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also awarded him their "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice" Award. This award recognizes "significant accomplishments and contributions to justice."
Recent estimates state that there are fewer than 200 of the over 900 pilots still living.
Funeral was 15 April 2013 in Roanoke. He was buried in the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
According to the 1900 US Census his mother Pope Porter was born in Jan 1885. Her Death Certificate lists birth as 1890(Mar. 7) She died March 19, 1926. His father Dempsey M. Morgan was born May 15, 1892 and died Sept. 3, 1946.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Dempsey Wesley Morgan
March 1, 1920 - April 11, 2013
Dempsey Wesley Morgan Jr., Tuskegee Airman, 93, of Roanoke, Virginia passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2013, following an extended illness. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he was born on March 1, 1920, the son of the late Dempsey Matthew and Pope Morgan. The impossible tasks of attempting to place the global experiences and influences of First Lieutenant Dempsey Morgan into a few words or even a few pages is an impossible one. First Lieutenant Morgan is most famously known in recent years for his stellar performances as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group and 100th Fighter Squadron of the Historic Tuskegee Airman. During his four years of service he received numerous citations including the Certificate of Valor, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also given a license to fly commercial planes upon leaving the military, but was unable to do so because of discrimination. In 2006, he was awarded a doctorate in Public Service from Tuskegee University. A year later, President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor to the surviving Tuskegee Airmen. Upon his acceptance of the Baha'i Faith after leaving the military he was determined to spread the message of peace and did so with his wife, Adrienne for the next 40 years abroad in Asia, Africa and Central America before returning to America for health reasons. Here he continued to teach the principals of the Baha'i Faith until his passing. In his words: "I fear no man, only God" and "I said the 23 Psalm every morning and thanked God every evening." He is survived by his wife; three daughters and several grandchildren.
African American Baha'i
"I WAS A FIGHTER PILOT", so said Dempsey W. Morgan, Jr. in a 19 Feb 2012 interview in the Roanoke Times. Morgan, a member of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation", was born on March 1, 1920 the son of Dempsey Matthew(1892-1946) and Pope Sims(nee Porter) Morgan(1890-1926) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older half-sister Gertrude Sims Hodge(1904-1990). He enrolled as a member of the 1942 Class of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and was one of 996 Army Air Force Pilots who graduated from the Flight School at Tuskegee, Alabama between 1939 and 1949. He was, with his graduation in 1943, in the 15th of 44 Classes of Pilots, that completed training at the School before the end of the War. He flew missions over the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, while based in Italy as a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. The 332d was later rolled into the XV Air Force. The 332nd was immortalized in the 2012 Movie "Red Tails", a fictionalized account of their exploits in the air. His Squadron flew air cover missions over the beach at Anzio during Operation Shingle (which also included black ground soldiers) from 22-29 January 1944. They also escorted Bombers from North Africa on bombing missions throughout Southern Europe. An 4 October 1944 mission, highlighted in the book, "The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History" was the highlight of his service in Europe. He, as a 1st Lt., along with four other pilots (1st Lt. S. L. Curtis, & 1st Lt Willard Woods (also of the 100FS), Capt. Claude B. Govan (301FS) and 1st Lt. Herman A Lawson (99FS)) made their way to a German Airbase in Greece where they destroyed nine planes while they were still on the ground. For this Mission all five were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They joined 91 other Tuskegee Airmen to have won the DFC approximately 10% of the total number of members of the 332nd Fighter Group. In that interview in the Roanoke Times, he stated, "We got to the base and destroyed everything." He self-published an autobiography in which a Certificate of Valor lists a Bronze Star and an Air Medal(w4 Oak Leaf Clusters), included but not limited to, as other Decorations he received.
After the War, he was licensed to fly commercially, but was unable to because of the racial discrimination that was prevalent at the time. He accepted the Baha'i Faith after the War and became a teacher and international missionary in Asia, Africa and Central America for his Faith for approximately 40 years. He, and his second wife Adrienne, lived abroad until approximately 1997 when they retired to Bristol, Va. He was awarded a Doctorate in Public Service by Tuskegee Institute in 2006. In 2007 President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to him and the rest of the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Health issues forced his relocation, in 2011, to the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke.
After the Feb. 19th article, he received a number of invitations to schools and Memorial Day services where he was honored for his Military Service. The Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also awarded him their "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice" Award. This award recognizes "significant accomplishments and contributions to justice."
Recent estimates state that there are fewer than 200 of the over 900 pilots still living.
Funeral was 15 April 2013 in Roanoke. He was buried in the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
According to the 1900 US Census his mother Pope Porter was born in Jan 1885. Her Death Certificate lists birth as 1890(Mar. 7) She died March 19, 1926. His father Dempsey M. Morgan was born May 15, 1892 and died Sept. 3, 1946.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Dempsey Wesley Morgan
March 1, 1920 - April 11, 2013
Dempsey Wesley Morgan Jr., Tuskegee Airman, 93, of Roanoke, Virginia passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2013, following an extended illness. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he was born on March 1, 1920, the son of the late Dempsey Matthew and Pope Morgan. The impossible tasks of attempting to place the global experiences and influences of First Lieutenant Dempsey Morgan into a few words or even a few pages is an impossible one. First Lieutenant Morgan is most famously known in recent years for his stellar performances as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group and 100th Fighter Squadron of the Historic Tuskegee Airman. During his four years of service he received numerous citations including the Certificate of Valor, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also given a license to fly commercial planes upon leaving the military, but was unable to do so because of discrimination. In 2006, he was awarded a doctorate in Public Service from Tuskegee University. A year later, President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor to the surviving Tuskegee Airmen. Upon his acceptance of the Baha'i Faith after leaving the military he was determined to spread the message of peace and did so with his wife, Adrienne for the next 40 years abroad in Asia, Africa and Central America before returning to America for health reasons. Here he continued to teach the principals of the Baha'i Faith until his passing. In his words: "I fear no man, only God" and "I said the 23 Psalm every morning and thanked God every evening." He is survived by his wife; three daughters and several grandchildren.
"I WAS A FIGHTER PILOT", so said Dempsey W. Morgan, Jr. in a 19 Feb 2012 interview in the Roanoke Times. Morgan, a member of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation", was born on March 1, 1920 the son of Dempsey Matthew(1892-1946) and Pope Sims(nee Porter) Morgan(1890-1926) in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older half-sister Gertrude Sims Hodge(1904-1990). He enrolled as a member of the 1942 Class of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and was one of 996 Army Air Force Pilots who graduated from the Flight School at Tuskegee, Alabama between 1939 and 1949. He was, with his graduation in 1943, in the 15th of 44 Classes of Pilots, that completed training at the School before the end of the War. He flew missions over the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, while based in Italy as a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. The 332d was later rolled into the XV Air Force. The 332nd was immortalized in the 2012 Movie "Red Tails", a fictionalized account of their exploits in the air. His Squadron flew air cover missions over the beach at Anzio during Operation Shingle (which also included black ground soldiers) from 22-29 January 1944. They also escorted Bombers from North Africa on bombing missions throughout Southern Europe. An 4 October 1944 mission, highlighted in the book, "The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History" was the highlight of his service in Europe. He, as a 1st Lt., along with four other pilots (1st Lt. S. L. Curtis, & 1st Lt Willard Woods (also of the 100FS), Capt. Claude B. Govan (301FS) and 1st Lt. Herman A Lawson (99FS)) made their way to a German Airbase in Greece where they destroyed nine planes while they were still on the ground. For this Mission all five were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They joined 91 other Tuskegee Airmen to have won the DFC approximately 10% of the total number of members of the 332nd Fighter Group. In that interview in the Roanoke Times, he stated, "We got to the base and destroyed everything." He self-published an autobiography in which a Certificate of Valor lists a Bronze Star and an Air Medal(w4 Oak Leaf Clusters), included but not limited to, as other Decorations he received.
After the War, he was licensed to fly commercially, but was unable to because of the racial discrimination that was prevalent at the time. He accepted the Baha'i Faith after the War and became a teacher and international missionary in Asia, Africa and Central America for his Faith for approximately 40 years. He, and his second wife Adrienne, lived abroad until approximately 1997 when they retired to Bristol, Va. He was awarded a Doctorate in Public Service by Tuskegee Institute in 2006. In 2007 President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to him and the rest of the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Health issues forced his relocation, in 2011, to the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke.
After the Feb. 19th article, he received a number of invitations to schools and Memorial Day services where he was honored for his Military Service. The Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also awarded him their "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice" Award. This award recognizes "significant accomplishments and contributions to justice."
Recent estimates state that there are fewer than 200 of the over 900 pilots still living.
Funeral was 15 April 2013 in Roanoke. He was buried in the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
According to the 1900 US Census his mother Pope Porter was born in Jan 1885. Her Death Certificate lists birth as 1890(Mar. 7) She died March 19, 1926. His father Dempsey M. Morgan was born May 15, 1892 and died Sept. 3, 1946.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Dempsey Wesley Morgan
March 1, 1920 - April 11, 2013
Dempsey Wesley Morgan Jr., Tuskegee Airman, 93, of Roanoke, Virginia passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2013, following an extended illness. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he was born on March 1, 1920, the son of the late Dempsey Matthew and Pope Morgan. The impossible tasks of attempting to place the global experiences and influences of First Lieutenant Dempsey Morgan into a few words or even a few pages is an impossible one. First Lieutenant Morgan is most famously known in recent years for his stellar performances as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group and 100th Fighter Squadron of the Historic Tuskegee Airman. During his four years of service he received numerous citations including the Certificate of Valor, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also given a license to fly commercial planes upon leaving the military, but was unable to do so because of discrimination. In 2006, he was awarded a doctorate in Public Service from Tuskegee University. A year later, President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor to the surviving Tuskegee Airmen. Upon his acceptance of the Baha'i Faith after leaving the military he was determined to spread the message of peace and did so with his wife, Adrienne for the next 40 years abroad in Asia, Africa and Central America before returning to America for health reasons. Here he continued to teach the principals of the Baha'i Faith until his passing. In his words: "I fear no man, only God" and "I said the 23 Psalm every morning and thanked God every evening." He is survived by his wife; three daughters and several grandchildren.
