Tuskegee Airman: Hackley E. Woodford, M.D.

Hackley Elbridge Woodford decided at an early age that he wanted to become a medical doctor.  He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 1936 and went on to earn his medical degree from Howard University in 1940.  He interned at Chicago's Provident Hospital from 1940 to 1942.  Musically talented, he also played piano and violin and performed with small orchestras in the Benton Harbor, Michigan area in his spare time.  Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and sent to North Carolina, they did not realize he was black until he arrived.  After objecting to the poor treatment he received there by the then-segregated Army he was reassigned to Tuskegee, Alabama.  There he learned to fly from instructor C. Alfred Anderson and served as a flight surgeon during World War II.  He rose to the rank of Captain before his discharge in 1945.  Returning to civilian life he was committed to righting social injustice and racial wrongs.  In addition to integrating hospitals and a YMCA in Benton Harbor he was also a contributor to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Urban League, among other causes.  In 1971 he moved to Pasadena, California and joined Kaiser Permanente as a physician and was their first member to be certified by the American Board of Family Practice.  He worked there until his retirement in 1984 when he moved to Rancho Bernardo, California.  He was chosen as a Distinguished Alumnus of Western Michigan University in 1991. Throughout his medical career Dr. Woodford treated patients before and after office hours and accepted payment in the form of produce or fish from those who did not have cash.  He helped people of all races and helped many people go to college or medical school, both financially and by references, and encouraged blacks to pursue medical degrees.

Tuskegee Airman: John Allen Pulliams, Jr.

John Pulliams, Jr. joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a PVT in the 99th Pursuit Squadron during World War II.  His service continued through Korea and Vietnam until his retirement after 30 years as a CWO.

Tuskegee Airman: Perry Willis Lindsey

Perry Willis Lindsey was a pilot and served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and Korea.  He graduated from flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama on October 16, 1945, Class 45-G-TE (Twin-Engine Bomber) as a 2nd LT.  He achieved the rank of 1st LT.  After leaving the service he went on to become the first African-American principal in the Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach, California.

Preserve Access to the SSDI

Genealogists and gravers, as you know by now access to the SSDI is being restricted.  Here's an opportunity to voice your opinion and take action.  Please sign the RPAC (Records Preservation and Access Committee) Petition at Whitehouse.gov.  Time is limited.

Take steps to stop fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from recently deceased infants & adults NOW.

Tuskegee Airman: Charles William Ledbetter

Charles W. Ledbetter served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. During the Korean War T/SGT Ledbetter was assigned to the 3rd Bomb Wing where he flew 25 night missions in Fifth Air Force B-26 light bombers as an engineer-gunner. He entered the service on October 21, 1942 and served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force until his retirement as a M/SGT on April 30, 1972.