Bill sends us the sad news that Floyd Carter, Senior, one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airman, has passed at the age of 95. Aside from flying with the famous fighter group during World War II, he continued his service in the Air Force Reserves during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as serving at home as a detective with the New York City Police Department. From the New York Daily News;
The decorated veteran of three wars and 27 years with the NYPD died Thursday at age 95, leaving a long legacy as a groundbreaking hero pilot and a city police detective.
Carter, who simultaneously rose through the ranks of the U.S. Air Force Reserves and the police, was honored in 2007 with the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bush for breaking the color barrier in Tuskegee.
“We mourn the loss of a true American hero,” read a tweet from the 47th Precinct in his adopted home of the Bronx. “Our community & nation has lost a giant.”
Carter rose to the rank of Air Force lieutenant colonel years after joining the group of African-American pilots at Tuskegee University.
He met his wife Atherine there, where the Alabama native was working as part of an all-female repair crew.
Comments
24 responses to “Floyd Carter Sr. passes”
RIP
God bless you good sir! I will pray for you and your family during this sad time! You were truly a great man!
Calm seas and trailing winds Colonel.
Another Warrior joins his Comrades in Valhalla. R.I.P. Sir, may we live to be worthy of your legacy. *Slow Salute*
Peace and prayers go out to the family of this American hero. Our thanks for the many years of service he gave all of us.
Rest now in peace, sir. You more than earned it.
You’re flying high with the angels sir.
RIP
I am at a loss. The examples we young punks need: keep leaving us. But LTC Cartier- rest well kind sir, until the victory feast in the next life.
With apologies to John Gillespie MacGee Jr.:
For he has slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And dances now on laughter-silvered wings . . . .
RIP, Lt Col Carter. Godspeed.
He lived a life of service; there is no better epitaph than that…
Truly a man among men and a man who dedicated his life to the service of his country and his fellow citizens. Rest well, Sir; we have the watch.
May you rest well dear Sir.
What a legend.
R.I.P.
Retired LtCol and 27 years with the NYPD. Such a life LIVED.
Rest easy sir, we have the watch.
Rest in Peace.
WW2, Berlin Airlift,…NYPD Detective. Some of the things this great man must have seen/ experienced in his life. RIP Sir.
RIP sir, the youth of American need more examples like you!
Thank you for your decades of service to our country, Sir.
How wonderful would it be to have thousands such as him as examples and leaders to the youth of this country. The adults to benefit from his experiences, also.
Oh, well, we have the reverend al. That’s good enough. Bwhaaaaa
Rest in peace Sir.
A long and well-lived life…
I wish there were far more like him now.
Rest in Peace Lt Col Carter.
Looking at his photograph, I realized that I regret never having the chance to sit and listen to him talk.
That man has the look of one from whom one could learn many things – all of the beneficial to being a true man and a gentle. I hope someone has a record – preferably video – of his stories.
Rest in peace, our elder brother in arms.
The Tuskegee Airman Association sometimes has a display table at various US Mil Airshows – stop by and talk.
My spousal unit worked for a USAF Tuskegee Airman officer in the ‘Seventies – good guy.