Robert Searcy
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Searcy was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen
, a group of African American
military personnel who served with distinction during World War II
as the 332nd Fighter Group
of the US Army Air Corps
. After the war, Searcy lived in Los Angeles, California
. He died of colorectal cancer
in September 2009 at age 88.
, and attended Prairie View A&M University
before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 following the United States' entry into World War II
. Searcy received basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas, and was assigned to lead a group of airmen to Tuskegee, Alabama
. He later recalled receiving his first taste of segregation when his men were denied access to the Pullman car's dining and sleeping quarters on the train to Tuskegee. Searcy demanded passage, and the porters, most of whom were African-American, eventually agreed to allow them to pass. Searcy recalled, "I was put in charge of those men. I felt I had to represent what the Constitution was for those men. That's what leadership is." Searcy served with the Tuskegee Airmen in Italy, France, the Balkans
, the Rhineland
, and elsewhere in Europe between 1942 and 1945. He received commendations for supporting combat missions over Europe
, North Africa and the Middle East
, and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Searcy later recalled that he tried for years "to forget serving as a Tuskegee Airman" and thought of his service in the segregated U.S. military "as two years, 10 months and 27 days lost." He had enlisted hoping to become a pilot, but he was assigned to work in a support position as a clerk in military intelligence. He had hoped to become a doctor before the war, but did not complete college after the war. After the war, Searcy worked for United Airlines
cleaning aircraft in the 1950s. He also worked at a U.S. Post office in downtown Los Angeles and sold women's clothing. He also opened several clothing stores in Los Angeles, California
. Searcy married, but had no children. His wife died in an automobile accident in 1990. Searcy was a resident of Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
, in his later years.
, Searcy supported the candidacy of Barack Obama
, encouraging others at his Van Nuys retirement home to vote for Obama. Obama invited all of the living Tuskegee Airmen to his inauguration, and a Mississippi ophthalmologist, Dr. Lynn McMahan, flew Searcy and three other Tuskegee Airmen to Washington, D.C.
, in his private jet. In agreeing to fly the men, McMahan said, "The Tuskegee Airmen are to pilots like Michael Jordan
is to basketball, and Tiger Woods
is to golf." In video footage from the Chicago Tribune
, Searcy says of Obama's inauguration, "When I leave this earth, I leave it with a smile on my face."
in September 2009 at age 88 while visiting his granddaughter in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
, a group of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
military personnel who served with distinction during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as the 332nd Fighter Group
332nd Fighter Group
The 332d Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the 332d Fighter Wing at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. It was deactivated on 1 July 1949....
of the US Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. After the war, Searcy lived in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He died of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
in September 2009 at age 88.
Tuskegee Airmen
Searcy was born in Mount Pleasant, TexasMount Pleasant, Texas
Mount Pleasant is the county seat and largest city of Titus County in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2000 census, Mount Pleasant's population was 13,935. It is the county seat of Titus County, and is situated in Northeast Texas. This town, by city ordinance, is dry to sell alcoholic beverages....
, and attended Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 following the United States' entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Searcy received basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas, and was assigned to lead a group of airmen to Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
. He later recalled receiving his first taste of segregation when his men were denied access to the Pullman car's dining and sleeping quarters on the train to Tuskegee. Searcy demanded passage, and the porters, most of whom were African-American, eventually agreed to allow them to pass. Searcy recalled, "I was put in charge of those men. I felt I had to represent what the Constitution was for those men. That's what leadership is." Searcy served with the Tuskegee Airmen in Italy, France, the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, and elsewhere in Europe between 1942 and 1945. He received commendations for supporting combat missions over Europe
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
, North Africa and the Middle East
Middle East Theatre of World War II
The Middle East Theatre of World War II is defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa...
, and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Post-war years
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
cleaning aircraft in the 1950s. He also worked at a U.S. Post office in downtown Los Angeles and sold women's clothing. He also opened several clothing stores in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Searcy married, but had no children. His wife died in an automobile accident in 1990. Searcy was a resident of Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the...
, in his later years.
Attendance at Barack Obama's inauguration
Despite being a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Searcy supported the candidacy of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, encouraging others at his Van Nuys retirement home to vote for Obama. Obama invited all of the living Tuskegee Airmen to his inauguration, and a Mississippi ophthalmologist, Dr. Lynn McMahan, flew Searcy and three other Tuskegee Airmen to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in his private jet. In agreeing to fly the men, McMahan said, "The Tuskegee Airmen are to pilots like Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
is to basketball, and Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
is to golf." In video footage from the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, Searcy says of Obama's inauguration, "When I leave this earth, I leave it with a smile on my face."
Death
Searcy died of colorectal cancerColorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
in September 2009 at age 88 while visiting his granddaughter in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.