Henry D. Polite
1926 – May 8, 2023

Born in Philadelphia in 1926 and later settling in Los Angeles, Polite faithfully served his country as a crew chief and engineer among the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators and service members during World War II. In 2007, President George W. Bush awarded Polite and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service.

During Polite’s time in the service, he endured racism anywhere he went. Henry told his daughter, Veronica Polite, he once removed a “colored only” sign in anger at the injustices of the time. Following his military service, he continued to work as an electrical engineer for the Department of Defense for three decades until his retirement.

Veronica Polite said what her father remembered most about his time in the military was the racism he faced wherever he went.

“He said he saw a ‘colored only’ sign hanging up. He snatched it down. I think he carried that anger for a long time, and when he came home from the service, he kept that sign,” Veronica Polite recalled.

Polite’s legacy is one of heroism and resilience.

Sources:
California American Legion
NCBC Los Angeles

Share:

More Posts

Willard L. Woods

Willard L. Woods March 30, 1918 – 2002 Class: 43-H-SE Graduation date: 8/30/1943 Rank at time of graduation: 2nd Lt. Unit: 100th Fighter Squadron Service # 0811295 From: Memphis, TN Willard L. Woods and my

Read More »

Hardy G. Bennett

Hardy Grant Bennett August 6, 1921 – May 10, 2006 Class: 45-F Bennett G. Hardy was born 6 August 1921 in Kokomo, Indiana to the late Joseph and Eula Hardy.  He graduated from Kokomo High

Read More »

Carla Howard Horowitz

Carla Howard Horowitz May 28, 1922 – February 19, 2018 Class: 44-W-8 Training Location: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.) Assigned Bases: Blackland Army Air Field (Waco, Tex.) Planes flown: PT-17, BT-13, AT-6, AT-10 “It seemed to

Read More »

Mary Harriet Nesbit Hearn

Mary Harriet Nesbit Hearn February 19, 1921 – February 7, 2015 Class: 44-W-5 Training Location: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.) Planes flown: PT-17, BT-13, AT-6 Assigned bases: Marana Army Air Field (Ariz.)  “I was absolutely convinced

Read More »

Send Us A Message