One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Brig. Gen. Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse overcame racial discrimination early in his military career, receiving the Congressional Gold medal with his unit for their heroic service during World War II.
Brigadier General Enoch Woodhouse
Brigadier General Enoch Woodhouse joined the U.S. Army when he was 17 years old and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force.
He came from a family that valued service and his brother also served in the military, becoming one of the first Black Marines.
Brigadier General Woodhouse faced many challenges during his time in the military, including racial discrimination. On his journey to basic training, he was forced to leave the train because of his skin color, which made him late for his assignment. Despite these obstacles, he remained committed to doing what was right.
After his basic training, Woodhouse joined Squadron F, an all-Black squadron in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He worked as a waiter in the Officer's Club, which allowed him to share good food with his fellow servicemen. One day, a lieutenant saw that he owned a book by Dante Alighieri and was impressed. He offered to help Woodhouse apply for Officer Candidate School.
At the age of 19, Woodhouse became a second lieutenant and joined the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black military aviators in the United States of America. He served as the paymaster and finance officer for the squadron, which was made up of nearly 1,000 pilots and over 14,000 other personnel. Colonel Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. led the squadron, and they had an outstanding combat record during World War II.
Throughout his life, Brigadier General Woodhouse has believed in doing what is right and serving his country. One of his biggest motivations in life is his mother's guidance and the importance of not letting her down.
After his active-duty service, Woodhouse has continued serving in the Massachusetts Reserves where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. In 2022, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker appointed him to the esteemed rank of Brigadier General. In 2007, he and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush to honor their heroic service and contributions to the nation.