Wilson V. Eagleson
Wilson V. Eagleson II | |
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Born | Wilson Vashon Eagleson II 1 February 1920 West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University), Indiana University |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1942–1972 |
Wilson Vashon Swampy Eagleson II (February 1, 1920 – April 16, 2006), was a
In the early 1950s, Eagleson saved the entire crew of a large
Early life and family
Eagleson was born on February 1, 1920, in
Eagleson's grandfather, family patriarch Halson V. Eagleson Sr., was a highly successful eastside Bloomington barber, founder of an African American orphanage,[6] and incidental civil rights activist in the late 19th century/early 20th century;[7][8][9] All of Halson V. Eagleson Sr.'s five sons attended Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, including Preston, Indiana University's first African American intercollegiate athlete.[10][5]
Raised in Bloomington, Indiana for most of his childhood, Eagleson II and his sister lived with his maternal grandmother.[3] His father, Wilson Vashon Eagleson Sr., became North Carolina Central University's first baseball, football, and basketball head coach.[3] North Carolina Central University named its mascot, The Eagles, in honor of Wilson Vashon Eagleson Sr.[2] Eagleson II's mother became North Carolina Central University's Registrar, functioning in that role for nearly a half century.[2]
In 1933, Wilson Vashon Eagleson Sr. was killed in a car accident in West Virginia, where he taught chemistry at
After graduating from high school, Eagleson II attended West Virginia State College.
On May 1, 1943, Eagleson II married Geraldine R. Thornton, a student at
Military career
On January 19, 1942, the football player-built Eagleson II enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantry soldier.
On April 29, 1943, Eagleson II graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-43-D, receiving his wings and commission as a
In late 1943, he was assigned to the
After World War II, he was transferred to Tuskegee, Alabama where he assisted in the closure of Tuskegee's flight program. After leaving the military for two years, he reenlisted, working as a flight mechanic during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.[3]
Early 1950s, Eagleson II saved the crew of an U.S. Air Force cargo plane when anti-aircraft flak struck it, seriously wounding the pilots. Assuming the controls, Eagleson II safely flew the plane to the
In February 1972, Eagleson II retired from the military.[3][17]
Unit assignments
- 1942–1942, US Army (USA), Ft. Walters, TX; Ft. Benning, GA[18]
- 1942–1943, AAF MOS 770, Aviation Cadet Flight School, Tuskegee AAF[18]
- 1943–1943, AAF MOS 1055, 33rd Fighter Group, Licata, Termini, & Barcellona Airfields, Sicily[18]
- 1943–1944, AAF MOS 1055, 79th Fighter Group, Salsola, Madna, & Capodichino Airfields[18]
- 1943–1945, AAF MOS 1055, 99th Fighter Squadron, several[18]
- 1943–1945, United States Army Air Corps (USAAC)[18]
- 1944–1944, AAF MOS 1055, 324th Fighter Group, Cercola & Pignataro Airfields[18]
- 1944–1945, AAF MOS 1055, 332nd Fighter Group, Ciampino, Orbetello, & Ramitelli Airfields[18]
Commendations and awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross[3]
- Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters[16]
- Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster[16]
- Purple Heart[3]
- Red Star of Yugoslavia[3]
- Korean Service Medal[3]
- Vietnam Service Medal[3]
- Campaign Medals[3]
Later life and death
Eagleson moved to New York where he raised horses and golden retrievers on his family farm. He later relocated to Goldsboro, North Carolina where he worked at Belk's men's clothing department.[3] Eagleson died on April 16, 2006, in Dudley, North Carolina, at the age of 86. He was interred at Markham Memorial Gardens in Durham, North Carolina.[16]
Honors
- The Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's Tuskegee Airmen chapter in Goldsboro, North Carolina—Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is named in honor of Eagleson II.[2][19]
- The Smithsonian Institution displays some of Eagleson II's World War II memorabilia.[3]
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
References
- ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Doris McLean Bates. "Wilson Vash Eagleson II - A Tuskegee Airman 1920 - 2006". NC Museum of History. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Wilson Vash "Swampy" Eagleson II". CAF Rise Above. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, OFFICE OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY Military Collection State Archives of North Carolina. "Wilson V. Eagleson II Interview Summary."
- ^ a b c d "The Golden Book Wilson V. Eagleson Jr. - World War II Pilot". Indiana University. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "H. V. Eagleson, a barber from Bloomington, opens Industrial City, a home for "colored" orphans in Unionville. Reverend A. G. Hall of Louisville presides and preaches during the opening. Source: "Industrial City to Open Sunday," Bloomington Evening World, June 3, 1910, 1 https://timeline.mcpl.info/textonly.php?threshhold=default&topic=1
- ^ "Eagleson Barbershop promotes its services and location in a display advertisement for "The Smithville News". https://timeline.mcpl.info/textonly.php?threshhold=default&topic=1 Source: Smithville News, October 2, 1908. https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15078coll32/id/718
- ^ Bloomington Telephone. "Preston Eagleson, son of prominent east side barber H.V. Eagleson, earns honors at close of the High School's second term, with grades between all his grades between 98 and 100." March 22, 1892, 1. https://timeline.mcpl.info/textonly.php?threshhold=default&topic=1
- ^ Indiana University. "IU History, Pride & Tradition: IU Football, Preston E. Eagleson, and the 1885 Civil Rights Act." February 4, 2021. https://pride.iu.edu/pride-and-tradition/iu-football-preston-e-eagleson-and-the-1885-civil-rights-act/
- ^ 247 Sports. "First black player in history of major college football programs." JORDAN JAMES. Feb 13, 2019. https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/First-black-player-college-football-129076637/#129076637_2
- ^ Source: "Prof. W. Vashon Eagleson Killed in West Virginia," Bloomington Telephone, March 11, 1933, 1.
- ^ Adversity in Harlem. "Tuskegee Airmen." March 25, 2009. https://adversityinharlem.blogspot.com/2009/03/tuskgeegee-airmen_25.html
- ^ a b c d e Christina Headrick (30 March 2003). "Their fight to fly". News & Observer.
- ^ CAF Rise Above. "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster." https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/ . This data derives from CAF Rise Above's research project compiling data from Tuskegee Airmen historians including the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ^ Korean War at 70: Interviews with North Carolina Veterans. Matthew M. Peek, Military Collection Archivist, State Archives of North Carolina. Jun 26, 2020. https://medium.com/nc-stories-of-service/korean-war-at-70-interviews-with-north-carolina-veterans-c222e4bc4966
- ^ a b c d Erica Smith (26 September 2009). "Lt. Wilson Eagleson credited with 2 aerial kills". St. Louis Today.
- ^ NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, OFFICE OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY Military Collection State Archives of North Carolina. "Wilson V. Eagleson II Interview Summary."
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Roll of Honor - U.S. Air Force -Deceased - Eagleson, Wilson Vash, II, 1st Lt - USAF Retired". Together We Served. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.. Web site: http://www.tuskegeeair-nc.org/ )