By Andrea Siegel
On December 5, 2014 Fitz Allen Squires, a 38 year resident of Pelham Parkway, died peacefully of natural causes in his sleep. He is survived by his wife, Myra Higgins who is also a lifelong resident of the Bronx.
On March 29, 2009 Mr. Squires received the Congressional Gold Medal from then President Bush, in the capital rotunda in Washington D.C.. This award was given to the Tuskegee Airmen who were members of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the 332nd and the 447th fighter groups of the Army Air Corps during World War II.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Afro-Americans to serve in the army Air Force. They operated in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from October, 1942 until November 1945. Their mission was to protect allied bombers during their runs over targets in Nazi occupied areas of Africa and Europe. The outstanding service of the Tuskegee Airmen ( who claim they never lost a bomber ) led to the integration of the armed forces of the United States of America in 1948.
When Mr. Squires was in North Africa in 1942 as the assistant to the intelligence officer, he had the opportunity to meet General Patton and shake his hand. Subsequently, he was sent to Sicily and participated in the invasion of Italy at Anzio.
The Gold Congressional Medal of Honor has only been awarded to several hundred Americans since the first medal was granted to George Washington.
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