Roger Terry

Lt. Roger "Bill" Terry (August 13, 1921 – June 11, 2009) from Los Angeles, California was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He was dishonorably discharged after the Freeman Field Mutiny.

Early life Terry was from Los Angeles, California. Terry graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where his roommate was the baseball player Jackie Robinson. Both Terry and Jackie Robinson would go on to be court-martialed for resisting segregation in the U.S. Armed forces.

Terry was charged with insubordination and also charged with getting physical with a white officer. The insubordination charge was not upheld, but he was convicted of getting physical with a white officer. His punishment was a $150 fine and a reduction in rank, and he was dishonorably discharged.

In 1995 the assistant secretary of the Air Force, Rodney Coleman removed disciplinary letters from the files of the Tuskegee airmen. He also removed Terry's court martial and dishonorable discharge and restored his rights and privileges.

After service Terry earned a law degree and worked for the District Attorney of Los Angeles, California. He was active in Tuskegee Airmen causes and was also an advisor on the film Red Tails. In Los Angeles, Stanford Ave & E 28th St was named Roger Terry Square in his honor.

Death Terry died of heart failure on June 11, 2009. He was 87. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.