By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Retired Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., a Tuskegee Airman, passed away at age 100. A decorated World War II pilot, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down three German aircraft and was part of a Top Gun-winning team. Despite facing racial barriers throughout his life, including being denied a commercial pilot’s license due to his race, Stewart achieved a distinguished career as a mechanical engineer and vice president of a natural gas pipeline company. His death comes amid controversy surrounding the temporary removal of Air Force training materials featuring the Tuskegee Airmen.
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Harry Stewart Jr., a decorated pilot and one of the last surviving members of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, passed away at the age of 100. His death marks the end of an era, a poignant loss for a generation that witnessed incredible bravery and faced profound injustice. The irony of his life, however, is stark; a man who achieved so much in the face of adversity, whose skill and courage were undeniable, still encountered racial barriers that prevented him from pursuing his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot after his service. This heartbreaking reality underscores the persistent struggles faced by Black Americans even after their contributions to the war effort.
It’s deeply disheartening to consider the obstacles he faced. After earning accolades and recognition for his wartime service, he was denied opportunities solely based on his race. The sheer injustice of this situation is appalling, a stark reminder of the systemic racism that permeated American society even after World War II. His story, and that of his fellow Tuskegee Airmen, deserves to be remembered not just for their military achievements, but also for the systemic discrimination they continued to face upon their return home.
The recent attempts to erase the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen from history books and Air Force training curricula add another layer of tragedy to this already painful narrative. The claim that this was simply a matter of editing is unconvincing, particularly given the timing and context. It feels deliberately timed, a callous attempt to diminish the contributions of these brave men who fought so fiercely for their country, only to be met with continued systemic racism upon their return.
These actions, attributed to previous administration efforts, are an affront to their sacrifice and a disservice to future generations. The idea that new recruits might not even learn about the Tuskegee Airmen, about Harry Stewart Jr.’s contributions, is unacceptable. It’s a blatant attempt to rewrite history, to sanitize the past, and to ignore the profound injustices faced by these heroic individuals. The fact that the issue required a significant pushback before a course correction was made highlights the insidious nature of these efforts to erase their story.
The narrative that the Tuskegee Airmen receive only a paragraph in most high school history books is further evidence of the inadequate recognition of their immense contributions. A paragraph? For men who fought for their country, for a cause, under conditions that many of us can scarcely imagine, to be relegated to a paragraph is an insult. And the fear that even that paragraph might be removed highlights the urgent need to preserve and protect the stories of these brave individuals, to make sure their sacrifices are never forgotten.
It is truly remarkable to consider the double bind these men faced. They fought bravely for a country that, upon their return, treated them as second-class citizens. The fact that they were treated better in Europe, by their wartime enemies, than in their own country, is a profound and damning indictment of American society at the time. It’s a testament to their resilience and strength of character that they persevered despite such blatant injustice. It’s a reminder that the fight for equality, then, was as much a battle at home as it was abroad. The accounts suggesting even German POWs experienced better treatment in some US camps than Black Americans highlights the systemic nature of this discrimination.
The recent actions concerning the removal of Tuskegee Airmen content from USAF professional education courses, followed by a reversal, reveal the ongoing battle over historical narratives. That the Air Force initially ordered the removal of this content, before reversing course, is further indication of the struggle to maintain an accurate and inclusive historical record. It speaks volumes about the fight for truth and against systematic erasure of these remarkable men and their profound contributions.
Ultimately, Harry Stewart Jr.’s life and legacy serves as a potent reminder of the persistent fight for racial justice and equality. His story is not just about his military service, it’s about a man who faced systemic discrimination throughout his life and, despite those challenges, remained a testament to resilience and courage. His death represents the loss of a significant figure in American history; a loss compounded by the continuous efforts to minimize his legacy and that of his fellow Tuskegee Airmen. It is imperative that future generations understand the full breadth of his service and the systemic racism he and so many others faced, ensuring their stories are not just remembered, but celebrated. The ongoing fight to maintain an accurate, inclusive historical record is vital to their memory. Harry Stewart Jr., and the Tuskegee Airmen, must not be erased.