2022 -- H 7589

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LC004921

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING THE LAST LIVING RHODE ISLAND TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, MR. VICTOR

WALTER BUTLER

     Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Corvese, Alzate,
McNamara, Filippi, Solomon, Fellela, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen were a distinguished and heroic group of African-

American fighter and bomber pilots and airmen who served our nation with valor and bravery

during World War II, despite facing systemic discrimination on a daily basis and not being treated

equally under the Constitution and laws of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen formed the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group

and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces. In addition to the

pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics,

instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel who served our nation so

honorably during our time of greatest need during the Second World War; and

     WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in

the United States Armed Forces, while Black Americans in the military were still subject to the

racist Jim Crow laws that applied in many states. In addition, the American military and much of

the Federal Government was racially segregated. Yet despite this discrimination, the Tuskegee

Airmen still served our nation and would go on to become one of the most honored American

military groups of the Second World War; and

     WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen became famous for their skill in flying the North

American P-51 Mustang fighter planes as they did battle over the skies of Europe protecting the

American bombers from the Messerschmitt and Focke-Wulf fighter planes. All accounts of their

service record show that they did a magnificent job of protecting their bombers, and often paid a

high price in loss of life in doing so; and

     WHEREAS, Overall, the Tuskegee Airmen saw combat in 1578 combat missions. They

destroyed 112 enemy aircraft in the air and 150 on the ground. They were honored with three

Distinguished Unit Citations, 14 Bronze Stars, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 744 Air

Medals; and

     WHEREAS, Victor Walter Butler, the last living Rhode Island Tuskegee Airman, served

our nation with distinction from 1941 to 1946. Mr. Butler has always been a hard-working man

who always strived tirelessly to provide for his family and loved ones. Mr. Butler was the first

African-American to work for Brown and Sharpe and worked for the company for 34 years. Mr.

Butler was also a successful businessman who owned and operated the “Victor Butler Automatic

Screw Machine Repair” company for eighteen years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Butler is the proud father of Gary Butler, Yvonne Butler, Victoria

Butler, Michelle Butler and Carolyn Butler, and is the beloved grandfather of Alfred Green III,

Anthony Green, Michael Grayson, William Tutt Jr., Wesley Tutt, Ronelle Tutt, Denisha Ford,

and Nicole Harrington. Mr. Butler also has nine great-grandchildren, and three great-great

grandchildren; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

honors and thanks Mr. Victor Walter Butler, the last living Rhode Island Tuskegee Airman, for

his distinguished and heroic service to our nation during World War II while at the same time

serving in a military that was then racially segregated and training in States operating under the

discriminatory Jim Crow laws; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Victor Walter Butler.

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