S 944

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 944
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A senate RESOLUTION
TO COMMEND THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF
THEIR ACTIVATION; honor their extraordinary legacy of service, valor, and
perseverance; AND recognize THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND ENDURING LEGACY OF
SOUTH CAROLINA'S OWN TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.
Whereas, on this day in
1942, the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African Americans to serve as military
pilots in the United States Armed Forces, were activated at Tuskegee Institute,
marking a pivotal moment in American and military history; and
Whereas, when congress
required the Army Air Forces to train African American pilots, a program was
established under the cloud of segregation and prejudice, with many in
positions of power expecting the men to fail; and
Whereas, contrary to
those expectations, the Tuskegee Airmen excelled, earning distinction as one of
the most respected and highly decorated fighter groups of World War II, flying
combat missions with extraordinary skill, discipline, and courage; and
Whereas, their success
not only helped secure Allied victory abroad but also challenged the deeply
entrenched policies of segregation that treated Black servicemen and women as
second-class citizens, helping to pave the way for the eventual integration of
the United States Armed Forces; and
Whereas, South Carolina proudly
claims several distinguished Tuskegee Airmen whose service and sacrifice
reflect the very best of our State and nation including, but not limited to:
Edward Matthew "Gibby" Gibson Sr., a native of Charleston who served as a
bombardier-navigator; Leroy Bowman, a Sumter native who became a fighter pilot
in 1943 and flew P-40, P-47, and P-51 aircraft in the famed 332nd Fighter
Group; Ernest Henderson Sr., a Laurens County native who served as a flight
instructor at Tuskegee Institute and became the first Black South Carolinian to
earn multiple pilot ratings; Paul Adams, a Greenville native and 1943 graduate
who served as an intelligence officer in Italy; Robert Friend, born in South
Carolina, who flew 142 combat missions during World War II; and Willie Ashley,
a South Carolinian recognized for his honorable service as part of this
historic unit; and
Whereas, many Tuskegee
Airmen also trained and refined their combat skills at the Walterboro Army
Airfield in Colleton County, where advanced instruction in aerial combat
tactics, gunnery, and formation flying prepared them for deployment overseas. The
Walterboro Army Airfield now stands as a historic site and memorial honoring
the Tuskegee Airmen and commemorating South Carolina's vital role in supporting
their mission and legacy; and
Whereas, the courage,
excellence, and patriotism of the Tuskegee Airmen remain a powerful reminder
that talent, discipline, and leadership know no color, and that the arc of
American progress has often been bent by those willing to serve a country that
had not yet fully served them; and
Whereas, the members of
the South Carolina Senate express their deep gratitude to the families of the
Tuskegee Airmen and to all African American servicemen and women whose
sacrifice and excellence strengthened both our nation's military and our
democracy.  Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the
South Carolina Senate, by this resolution,
commend the Tuskegee Airmen on the anniversary of their activation; honor their
extraordinary legacy of service, valor, and perseverance; and recognize the
courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of South Carolina's own Tuskegee Airmen.
Be it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to be presented to appropriate
historical and veterans organizations in recognition of this anniversary.
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This web page was last updated on February 19, 2026 at 11:40 AM