Willie Rogers, the oldest surviving Tuskegee Airman, died at age 101 last Friday in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.
He died from complications of a stroke, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Rogers was a master sergeant in the all-black Tuskegee Airmen in World War II during the segregation era of the U.S. military.
He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in November 2013 after his family learned of his background in the legendary 100th Fighter Squadron and worked to have his service acknowledged, which happened in 2012, reported the Times.
Family members told the Times that Rogers would tell them he was often silent about his service because he worked on the ground in logistics and administration and felt others were more deserving of the attention.
"He would always say there were many who deserved attention more, but were not here to receive it," said his daughter, Veronica Williams.
But Rogers did see combat action, being shot in the stomach and leg by German soldiers during a mission in Italy in January 1943, according to Times. He returned to war after spending three months in a London hospital.
"From 1942 to 1946, approximately 15,000 men and women participated in the Tuskegee Institute during World War II," said Rhiannon Walker with the website The Undefeated. "The U.S. military trained civilians as part of the Tuskegee Experience, starting in May 1940 when students completed their pilot training program."
"The Tuskegee Airmen would turn out to be one of the most successful fighter units in U.S. history — fighting in more than 200 combat missions and never losing a single bomber to enemy fire. No other group can claim that achievement."
The Times said President George W. Bush saluted 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen and awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. He apologized for any indignities they endured as well.
Born in 1915 in Apalachicola, Florida, Rogers moved to St. Petersburg after the war and opened his own business, Rogers Radio Sales and Services, said The Undefeated.
Lawmakers and supporters honored Rogers on Twitter.
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