RIP: Oldest surviving Tuskegee Airman Has Died

At the age of 101, Willie Rogers, the oldest surviving Tuskegee Airman has passed away.He died last Friday. The news was delivered, to his church's congregation by Pastor Irby in St. Petersburg, Fl. Up until three weeks ago, Rogers would walk from the nearby senior living complex to church every Sunday.

Rogers was drafted in the army in 1942 and became a part of the 100th Air Engineering Squad and also the Red Tails. He was shot and wounded in the stomach and leg by German soldiers in Italy.

When the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded medals by President Bush in 2007, Rogers was not there. He nor his children knew that he was a part of something so historic. It wasn't until 2012 when his children found out the full story.

Many friends and family recall Rogers as being a friendly man and a man who knew a ton of history. He would share his war stories with anyone who would listen.

I hope his story and the rest of the Tuskegee Airmen stories live on forever.