Tuskegee Airman from Arizona who Flew in 3 Wars Dies at 95

Straighten up and fly right -- God Speed

SSG Robert Mark Odom: From Channel 12 news out of Phoenix:
" “My father wanted to see combat and he didn’t want to be an attendant or cook or that level. He wanted to be a participant,” said his daughter, Rose Biggs-Dickerson.

During World War II, he was sent to train with the Tuskegee Airmen - an all-Black Army Air Corps - and became a navigator.

Even though he was fighting for his country along with his white counterparts, discrimination was common.

“The pilots would not even talk to him and his job was to plot out their routes and where they needed to go. There were times they wouldn’t listen to him and were not where they were supposed to be,” said Dickerson.

Biggs was able to win some of those fellow officers over once they got to know him.

“One of the officers that had not been cordial to him actually bought him a drink and apologized to him at some point,” said Dickerson."

His funeral is tomorrow and the border is going to be manned with extra personnel in order to get dignitaries, Mexican citizens, etc. across the border efficiently in order for them to attend the funeral. Biggs was a Customs Officer after he retired from the military and served in Nogales until his retirement. He was well respected and loved by everyone on both sides of the border. He grew up in Nogales and was one of her favorite sons.