Joseph Gomer (June 20, 1920 – October 10, 2013) was an American pilot who served with theTuskegee Airmen duringWorld War II.
Gomer was born inIowa Falls, Iowa in 1920. He attended and graduated fromEllsworth Community College.[citation needed]
In 1942, he enlisted in theUnited States Army Air Forces and carried out over 160 special missions until 1947. DuringWorld War II, he was shot down by an enemy fighter, but he survived.[1] By 1964, he achieved the rank of major and soon after retired. Gomer spent more than 20 years working for the US Forest Service.[2]
In 1985, he received the Superior Services Award for his work with minorities and women. In 2004, Gomer was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame and was also awarded with a Doctorate of Humanities from the Ellsworth College.George W. Bush awarded the Tuskegee Airmen collectively, including Gomer, with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.[3] He was also invited to several events by current USA president,Barack Obama. At theDuluth International Airport, Gomer was honored by a bronze statue built at a new terminal located in the Duluth Airport.[4] In 2013, Iowa Falls honored Gomer with a bronze statue, located on the campus of Ellsworth Community College.[5]
He married Elizabeth Caperton in 1949, who died in 2012. The couple had two daughters, Tanya and Phyllis. Gomer died on October 10, 2013, of cancer.[6]
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