Eugene Calvin Cheatham, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name=Eugene Calvin Cheatham, Jr.


caption=
born=birth date|1915|8|27
died=death date and age|2005|5|10|1915|8|27
placeofbirth=Georgia
placeofdeath=Spring Valley, California
nickname=
allegiance=United States
branch=United States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
serviceyears=1941–1977
rank=Lieutenant colonel
unit=332d Fighter Group
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
commands=
battles=World War II, Korean War
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

Eugene Calvin Cheatham, Jr. (August 27, 1915 — May 10, 2005) was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and a career officer in the United States Air Force.

Cheatham was born in Georgia; his father was an Episcopal missionary who's work took the family to Africa and Europe. [cite news |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/obituaries/20050517-9999-1m17cheatham.html |title=Col. Eugene Cheatham Jr., 89; Tuskegee Airman |last=Williams|first=Jack |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=2005-05-17 |accessdate=2008-05-25] While living in New York City, he became a Boy Scout and by 1930 he had completed the requirements for Eagle Scout. Unable to afford a full uniform, he never appeared before his board of review.

Cheatham was a fighter pilot with the 332d Fighter Group— better known as the Tuskegee Airmen —during World War II. He flew 150 missions during the Korean War. He achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel and retired in 1977. He then worked as a personnel and equal-opportunity officer for the Air Force, serving in Japan, Montana and San Bernardino, California. [cite web |url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/eccheatham.htm |title=Eugene Calvin Cheatham, Jr. |work=Arlington National Cemetery |accessdate=2008-03-09]

In 2001, Cheatham attended a Veterans Day event where he expressed his regret at not earning Eagle Scout to one of the organizers who happened to be an Eagle Scout. Executives from International Profit Associates petitioned the National Council of the BSA to award Cheatham's Eagle Scout. [cite news|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb162281.htm |title=International Profit Associates Campaign and Succeed in Obtaining Eagle Scout Award for Tuskegee Airman|date=2004-09-24|work=PRWeb |accessdate=2008-05-25] Unable to locate records, the Scouts tested Cheatham and performed an exhaustive board of review according to the requirements of 1930. On September 18, 2004 Cheatham was awarded his Eagle Scout in a ceremony at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. [cite journal |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040807-9999-1n7scout.html |title=At 88, veteran to get Eagle Scout award |journal=San Diego Union-Tribune |author=John Wilkens |date=2004-08-07 |accessdate=2008-03-09] [cite journal |url=http://aerospacemuseum.org/getinvolved/newsletters/fall04.pdf |title= Col. Cheatham's Eagle Court of Honor |journal=Flight Lines |publisher=San Diego Aerospace Museum |issue=Fall 2004 |accessdate=2008-03-09]

Cheatham died on May 10, 2005 from pancreatic cancer and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. [cite news |url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/05/18/military/16_26_235_17_05.txt |title=Tuskegee airman dies |date=2005-05-17 |work=North County Times |accessdate=2008-05-24]

References