WASHINGTON — Family members and a community of veterans and friends will celebrate the life of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Shelton Ivan Ware, one of the last few survivors of the nearly 19,000 World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen, at two services in March.
Lt. Col. Ware, who was a beacon of bravery and excellence throughout his lifetime, died September 12, 2024, at age 101, of natural causes, his family said.
The People’s Community Baptist Church will host the first service on March 18 in Silver Spring, Maryland, followed by an interment March 19 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
"We fought two wars," Lt. Col. Ware told a reporter during an interview published in September on Military.com just before his passing. "You had to fight the war of segregation and you also had to do your duty as far as the enemy was concerned: keep them from killing you and the rest of your buddies."
Born on Jan. 29, 1923, in Neptune, New Jersey, Lt. Col. Ware was among a generation of African American airmen who broke racial barriers and overcame tremendous odds to serve their country during World War II. He played a critical role in the war effort as part of the renowned Red Ball Express, the vital World War II logistics operation, primarily run by African American soldiers, who transported critical supplies from Allied supply depots in Normandy, France, to the frontlines after the D-Day invasion.
As a member of the trailblazing Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Col. Ware not only contributed to the Allied war effort, but also helped lay the groundwork for the integration of the U.S. armed forces in July 1948, which opened doors for generations of African Americans in the military.
Lt. Col. Ware’s military career was marked by numerous accomplishments. While assigned to Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., he led a convoy to Eglin Army Base, Florida, in ground support of the Tuskegee Airmen’s 332nd Fighter Wing’s participation in Operation Combine III in September 1948. Later, he served as assistant director at the Army Food Service School at Fort Hood, Texas. His contributions to military food service training were pivotal during his time at the Army Food Service School, where he trained Air Force cooks and bakers.
After his honorable discharge in 1946 as a staff sergeant, Lt. Col. Ware continued his education at Howard University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in government. His dedication to service led him to become one of the first graduates of Howard’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Program. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1948 and went on to serve a distinguished 30-year career in the Air Force.
Throughout his career, Lt. Col. Ware continued to break barriers and make history. After serving as director of military training at Wiesbaden Air Base in Germany, he returned to the U.S. and served with the Tuskegee Institute AFROTC Program in Alabama. His final military assignment was as professor of Aerospace Studies from 1969-1972 at Howard University, where he helped shape the next generation of military leaders.
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., the national organization that provides oversight of more than 50 chapters around the country focusing on preserving the airmen’s legacy, honored Lt. Col. Ware with a Hall of Fame Award during its 2024 annual convention. According to TAI officials, he was the last living member of the original 40 Tuskegee Airmen who formed TAI in 1972.
Lt. Col. Ware lived and contributed to the community of Silver Spring, Maryland, for over 50 years. He was one of the original volunteer math tutors at the Olney Saturday School, sponsored by his Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
In 2007, Lt. Col. Ware was among the Tuskegee Airmen honored by President George W. Bush during the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Award ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. His tireless efforts to educate others about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen left an indelible mark on the Washington, D.C., area and beyond.
“My godfather was known for his wit and storytelling — especially about his military service,” said Dwayne Foster, who frequently accompanied Ware to numerous events that highlighted the Tuskegee Airmen. “He left behind a legacy rooted in service, resilience and advocacy for racial equality.”
ABOUT THE EAST COAST CHAPTER TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, INC.
Founded in 1973, the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) is the oldest and largest chapter of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. ECCTAI has about 100 members from diverse backgrounds, which include Tuskegee Airmen heritage-kindred descendants, active-duty and retired military, civil servants and private citizens from all walks of life. At one time, the chapter included more than 50 Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, combat veterans of World War II who received their military training at Tuskegee, Alabama. ECCTAI provides educational assistance scholarships to students and produces a Youth in Aviation Program that preserves the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy and supports workforce development initiatives in underserved and underrepresented communities. ECCTAI’s geographical focus area is the District of Columbia and its surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia. The chapter is incorporated in Washington, D.C., and has its 501(C)3 designation. Click to download full press release.
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