Jerry T. Hodges Jr. was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen.
- Died: December 19, 2024 (Who else died on December 19?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles at the age of 99.
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Jerry T. Hodges Jr.’s legacy
Hodges joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944. He chose the Air Corps, knowing the young men at his college were mostly being drafted into the U.S. Navy and preferring a different experience. He was placed at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, where he trained as a pilot, assigned to the 617th Bomb Squadron of the 477th Bomber Group. By the time his training was complete, World War II had ended, so he didn’t fly any combat missions. However, he remained in the Army Air Corps until 1946.
After his return to civilian life, Hodges pursued a business degree at the University of Southern California. He became an accountant, eventually opening his own successful business. Later, he served as chair and president of the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation.
Notable quote
“At the time, I had… no idea at all that we were making history. … I was back in civilian life before it really occurred to me: Look at this, look what we did.” — from a 2024 interview for It Is Written
Tributes to Jerry T. Hodges Jr.
Full obituary: WREG
