One of the last Arkansas Tuskegee Airmen has been laid to rest.
Lt. Col. Woodrow "Woody" W. Crockett, born in Texarkana, Arkansas, died at the age of 93 at the Knollwood military retirement community in Washington.
During World War II the Army Air Corps began training African Americans through a program called "Tuskegee Experience" to be pilots, navigators, bombardiers, instructors, maintenance and support staff. The military was still racially segregated at the time. Tuskegee airmen faced discrimination as they worked to break the color barrier.
Lt. Col. Crockett flew 149 fighter combat missions during World War II and 45 fighter combat missions in the Korean War.
He was honored with the Soldier's Medal for rescuing downed pilots from burning aircraft twice, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service medal, five awards of the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals. All of the Tuskegee Airmen were given the Congressional Gold Medal.
In 2005, Lt. Col. Crockett donated some of his own artifacts to the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. At that time he told KATV he hoped to inspire the younger generation.
"For children to come there and they take a look at the museum and see the artifacts on display it might endear some of them to that they might want to get in the military also."
He died August 16 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease, according to his daughter. He was laid to rest Friday at Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale, Virginia.
Lt. Col. Crockett was married to the late Daisy J. Crockett for 58 years. He is survived his children Marcia, Rosemary, Woodrow, Jr., and Kathleen as well as his granddaughter Gaea.
Lt. Col. Woody Crockett during a 2005 visit to Little Rock.
