Photo Courtesy of WJAR
A Rhode Island veteran, retired Sergeant Victor Butler, is the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen. He is now asking Americans to help him celebrate his 100th birthday.
Butler will be turning 100 on May 21 and is believed to be the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen in Rhode Island.
He is looking forward to his 100th birthday and hopes Americans across the country will help him celebrate with birthday cards.
“Oh, I’ll read every one of them,” he said.
The Tuskegee Airmen, nicknamed Red Tails, were a group of Black military pilots who broke barriers and made history fighting in World War II and desegregating the U.S. military.
According to WJAR10, Butler joined the Air Force at the beginning of World War II and became a mechanic for the Airmen.
“At first, I was going to join the Canadian Air Force with a friend of mine, but after I had signed up, my mother and father wouldn’t approve of it,” Butler said. “So I joined with the American Air Force.”
Butler says he worked through experiencing racism while making history.
“The airfield was very nice. It was the visit to the town that was bad,” said Butler. “Being in Tuskegee, Alabama, it wasn’t very acceptable to white people for black soldiers to be walking around,” he explained.
Butler has several awards, souvenirs and other trinkets from his time as an airman.
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Overall, Butler is grateful for his time with the Airmen, despite the racism he was subjected to.
As he reflects on almost 100 years, he has a few words of wisdom to share.
“Just enjoy life as it is. Be thankful,” he said. “I’m thankful that I have a nice wife and a nice home to live in.”
You can mail your happy birthday wishes to Victor W. Butler (C/O Gary Butler). The address is P.O. box 3523, Cranston, Rhode Island, 02910.