Thurman Spriggs passes
Mick sends us a link to the sad news that Thurman Spriggs, one of the Tuskegee airmen has passed. That’s him on your right in the picture above.
Spriggs and 11 others were inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006 for their military accomplishments and battles against racism.
Spriggs was an accomplished track athlete who left Des Moines, Iowa, to join the Army in 1941.
He first served in the 9th Cavalry, nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers. He joined the Tuskegee Airmen in 1944 and graduated from flight school as a fighter pilot who flew single-engine aircraft. He served with the unit for two years, although he was never deployed overseas. He left the Army in 1946.
The historian of the Tuskegee Airmen tells us that Spriggs didn’t actually fly in combat with the unit, but that he trained with them and he’s a documented member of the Tuskegee Airmen, which is an accomplishment in itself.
Category: Blue Skies
Rest in Peace, Brother.
Thank you for your service, Sir.
Rest in well deserved peace Brother.
And I bet he made sure to make it known he never flew in combat. To earn the title “Tuskeegee Airman” is an accomplishment in itself.
Fair skies ahead, Mr. Spriggs.
Rest in peace, sir.
Between the Japanese American 442 Infantry unit and the Tuskegee Airmen one really has to have a lot of respect for the people that overcame the racism of those days and served the same country that fought so hard to keep them down.
Rest Easy Sir, you have earned it…
God bless, sir.
Some gave their all. The rest of us were willing but never called to do so.
Rest now in peace, sir. You were willing but never called into combat. We are grateful for your service.
THANK YOU for your service and Rest In Peace.
Thank all of you who posted kind comments. Thurman Spriggs was my father. And, I appreciate you took time to read the post and to say something positive.
You honor us with your visit, Mr Spriggs. We send you all of our best.