Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler (June 8, 1925 – August 10, 2007) was an American military serviceman and electrician. He was trained with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces at age 17.[1] By the time he was awarded his wings in 1944, there was no need for more pilots.[1] He left the service in 1947 as a second lieutenant.[2]
Bohler and his family moved to Tampa, Florida in 1950.[3] This time, he was told[by whom?] that he could not own his own business. His persistence again paid off as he became Tampa's first African-American licensed electrician and built a successful business,[1] rising to become one of Tampa's first African-American millionaires.[citation needed]
In 1960, Bohler, his wife and their three children went to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa.[2] The family was denied entry to the zoo because of their race. Bohler sued the city for discrimination. During the two years it took to hear the case, Bohler was routinely harassed by city police who would pull his car over and demand to check his driver's license.[2] On the day he was ordered to appear in federal court, he was pulled over five times.[2] Bohler ultimately prevailed, with the result being a 1962 federal order requiring Tampa to integrate its public recreation facilities.[2]
Later lifeedit
Bohler often spoke to school groups about his military service and attended annual reunions of the Tuskegee Airmen, flying his own Piper Archer airplane to the events.[citation needed]
Bohler stopped flying at the age of 80 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Some time later, he fell in his garage and hit his head, which apparently caused bleeding on the brain that was undetected at the time. He was later admitted to a local hospital and spent the next two years in various care facilities. Henry Bohler died on August 10, 2007, in Tampa, Florida, from complications from his fall injuries. He was survived by his wife Clifford Bohler, three children Henry Jr., Pamela, and George, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.[citation needed]
henry, cabot, lodge, bohler, june, 1925, august, 2007, american, military, serviceman, electrician, trained, with, tuskegee, airmen, during, world, bohler, 17bornjune, 1925augusta, georgiadiedaugust, 2007, 2007, aged, tampa, floridaallegianceunited, states, am. Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler June 8 1925 August 10 2007 was an American military serviceman and electrician He was trained with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II Henry Cabot Lodge BohlerBohler at 17BornJune 8 1925Augusta GeorgiaDiedAugust 10 2007 2007 08 10 aged 82 Tampa FloridaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States Army Air CorpsYears of service1942 1947RankSecond LieutenantUnitTuskegee AirmenBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsAir Medal Contents 1 Military service 2 Post war life 3 Later life 4 See also 5 ReferencesMilitary service editHe enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces at age 17 1 By the time he was awarded his wings in 1944 there was no need for more pilots 1 He left the service in 1947 as a second lieutenant 2 He graduated from Hampton University in Virginia 2 Post war life editBohler and his family moved to Tampa Florida in 1950 3 This time he was told by whom that he could not own his own business His persistence again paid off as he became Tampa s first African American licensed electrician and built a successful business 1 rising to become one of Tampa s first African American millionaires citation needed In 1960 Bohler his wife and their three children went to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa 2 The family was denied entry to the zoo because of their race Bohler sued the city for discrimination During the two years it took to hear the case Bohler was routinely harassed by city police who would pull his car over and demand to check his driver s license 2 On the day he was ordered to appear in federal court he was pulled over five times 2 Bohler ultimately prevailed with the result being a 1962 federal order requiring Tampa to integrate its public recreation facilities 2 Later life editBohler often spoke to school groups about his military service and attended annual reunions of the Tuskegee Airmen flying his own Piper Archer airplane to the events citation needed Bohler stopped flying at the age of 80 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor Some time later he fell in his garage and hit his head which apparently caused bleeding on the brain that was undetected at the time He was later admitted to a local hospital and spent the next two years in various care facilities Henry Bohler died on August 10 2007 in Tampa Florida from complications from his fall injuries He was survived by his wife Clifford Bohler three children Henry Jr Pamela and George seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren citation needed See also editExecutive Order 9981 List of Tuskegee Airmen Military history of African AmericansReferences edit a b c Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler 82 ex Tuskegee Airman sought equality Los Angeles Times Time Wire Reports August 17 2007 a b c d e f Shannon Behnken August 15 2007 Tuskegee Airman fought for equality in Tampa in 1960s Sarasota Herald Tribune TBO com Obituaries Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler amp oldid 1185162982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
