The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian recognition awarded by the U.S. Congress. This medal was presented to the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots flying for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Awarded on March 29, 2007, the medal recognized their “unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.” 


HUMBLE HERO: Charles W. Tate of Pittsburgh, PA was born in 1922 and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps straight out of high school. He attended the pilot-training program at Tuskegee, AL and graduated in 1943.

Tate served in the famed 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism on May 21, 1944. He reenlisted after the war and continued serving through the Korean War.

Tate returned to Pittsburgh after Korea and worked for the U.S. Postal Service, working hard to raise his family following the death of his wife. He was a quiet about his military career and rarely spoke of his wartime service. “He didn't talk much about it when we were young,” remembered his son Robert. “Then, one day I was playing with his medals … I learned real quick how important they were to him.”

Capt. Tate died on November 18, 2005 

National Cemetery of the Alleghenies

My first memory of Captain Tate was after my husband was buried near him in March of 2006. I thought what a great person for him to be close to. I know nothing personally of the captain, but have read books and seen movies about the Tuskegee Airmen, and what a wonderful group of men they are. I am very proud to have him in the same section and every time we visit Scott, we visit Capt. Tate, bringing flowers and greetings for them, and the others we stop to see when we are there. And make sure he gets a wreath for Wreaths across America. I don`t know if he has anyone else in the area to visit him but I hope we bring some peace and cheer when we say hello. God Bless. 

CHARLES W TATE

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