Stewart didn’t let the unfair treatment stop him. He flew 43 missions alongside U.S. bomber planes, protecting them from being shot down. The Airmen shot down 112 planes, helping the U.S. win the war.
Their success helped change the U.S. military. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman announced that the U.S. armed forces would become integrated.
Still, Black soldiers came home to discrimination. Stewart applied for pilot jobs with two airlines—but neither would hire a Black pilot.
“As proud as I was to fight for freedom, it was discouraging to return home to find that little had changed,” says Stewart.
Stewart retired from the military in 1950. He continues to tell his story, hoping to inspire future generations.
“Use it as an example of how great this country can be,” says Stewart. “Go after what you want with all of your heart and soul.”