Beloved Tuskegee Airman from Lakewood dies at 96

Mike Davis | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Lakewood resident, Tuskegee Airman remembered George B. Watson, Sr., was a fuel mechanic for the \u0022Red Tails\u0022 during World War II

LAKEWOOD - George B. Watson Sr. was known throughout the Shore as one of the original Tuskegee Airmen.

He told the war stories thousands of times over the years, in classrooms or veteran events — or, more likely, in the living room of the Watson family's split level home in Lakewood.

But, on Tuesday, it was his children sharing the stories of not only an Air Force veteran, but a "great father, a mentor and a humanitarian," as his youngest son, Maurice Watson, described him.

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The elder Watson died June 19 due to complications from pneumonia. His death was announced by the family on Tuesday. Watson was 96 years old.

Services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Lighthouse Church, just a few hundred feet away from the Watson home on East County Line Road in Lakewood.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking mourners to make contributions in his name to the Honorable Hannibal Cox Tuition Assistance Fund, in honor of Watson’s many efforts over the years to support students.

"He was always very passionate about talking to students, telling them to strive for it. He'd say, 'You have to get your education and go forth,'" said Tina Watson, his daughter. You can watch a video of her remembering her father in the video above.

Watson volunteered for the U.S. Army in February 1942 and, after a short stay at then-Fort Dix, was part of the first group of recruits sent to an all-black military base in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Serving with the "Tuskegee Airmen," as they became known, Watson was stationed mostly in Italy. For his service, Watson was awarded a Purple Heart and the Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

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The war stories became a part of Watson's legend within the community. His favorite was that of "Operation Fuel Tanks," when he and other mechanics took part in an "unauthorized procurement" of a set of abandoned fuel tanks in order to ensure pilots would be able to make it back from a bombing run in Berlin.

A LOOK BACK: Tuskegee Airman receives Purple Heart Tuskegee Airman George Watson, of Lakewood, receives a Purple Heart during a ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. STAFF VIDEO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO

“He loved the service, but there was a lot of racism,” Tina Watson said.

The American military was still segregated and, in the Air Force, it was to the extreme: black mechanics were barred from working on the planes of white pilots and vice versa.

“He found that, when they were overseas, the German and Italian prisoners were treated better than the black soldiers. You always had that kind of turmoil,” Tina Watson said.

“But he was never bitter about it. It was always, ‘You’ve got to fight for your country. This is where you are. This is where you were born,'" she said.

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Watson was born in Wildwood but moved to Lakewood with his family when he was a young child. After World War II, his wife Louise — they were married 71 years before her death in 2014 — and children moved with him while he was stationed in England and Germany.

Tuskegee Airman celebrates his 94th birthday Family and friends gathered to celebrate Tuskegee Airman George Watson's 94th birthday at Echo Lake Park in Howell.

But, upon his military retirement, it was back to the town he grew up in.

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In Lakewood, Watson was as much a pillar of the community as Route 9. Children knew him from his regular appearances in their classroom, talking about World War II, or the friendly recruiter chatting with anyone who walked into the post office.

He was a fixture on the sidelines of Lakewood High School football and basketball games, taking pictures of athletes and later printing them up for free.

And even into his 90s, Watson loved to cook at home. It was like "pulling teeth" trying to get him to a restaurant, Tina Watson said.

Fried fish was his specialty, and most Friday nights the Watson house became a makeshift catering hall for family and whatever friends happened to stop by.

“He went to school here. He was always comfortable here,” Tina Watson said. “His mother brought him here when he was little and we’ve stayed ever since. It’s always been home base.”

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com



