Appreciation overflowed this week for an original Tuskegee Airman.
Dr. Granville Coggs returned to Randolph to celebrate his birthday Thursday afternoon. He and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were the first black aviators to serve in the military. They flew the legendary Red Tails during World War II.
"He is one of the living legends to tear down the walls of racism and discrimination and segregation and led to the integration of our military,” Lt. Col. Oliver R. Johnson Jr. said.
As any pilot would have it, Coggs wanted to celebrate his 90th birthday in the skies.
“I wouldn’t be flying with just anyone, so I'm privileged to fly without fear with this group,” he said.
Coggs served in the Army Air Corps from 1943-46. During his flight, he was able to point out the Tower of Americas and other landmarks around San Antonio.
"He seemed pretty happy the whole time. We were a lot more, you know, probably more concerned about him than he was about anything else. He was having fun,” Maj. Paul Strom said.
This flight ended with an honorary spraying of water over the aircraft, symbolizing Coggs' final flight.
"This is hard to top except one day at a time,” Coggs said.
After his military career, Coggs earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School. He has several patents for cancer research devices.