Dr. Dempsey Morgan, 87, a Baha'i in Bristol, Va., was among the 300 Tuskegee Airmen who were present Thursday, March, 29, to receive a replica of the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor from President George Bush at the Capitol Rotunda. (See related article from USA TODAY).

Myron WilsonMyron Wilson, who grew up in Danville, Ill., and died in 2001, was the only other Tuskegee Airman to become a Baha'i.

The Tuskegee Airmen, who numbered close to 1,000, were the first group of African-American fighter pilots in the United States and the only group of African-American fighter pilots in World War II. Their bravery led President Harry S. Truman to order the desegregation of the U.S. military in 1948.

The Tuskegee aviation program was formed under social pressure after the NAACP filed a lawsuit on behalf of a student at Howard University -- a historically black college -- was denied acceptance into a U.S. military program to train pilots.

Dempsey Morgan located on the far leftBoth Dr. Morgan and Mr. Wilson were illustrious fighter pilots. Dr. Morgan flew 181 combat missions and received 13 decorations. Mr. Wilson downed two German jet fighters, but, sadly, wasn't accorded recognition.

"Instead, the credit went to white pilots," says his son Myron A. Wilson, a Baha'i in Aurora, Colo. "The Air Force said it needed footage of Mr. Wilson and his buddies flying the plane, something they couldn't provide."

After experiencing more racial slights, Mr. Wilson dejectedly left the military, but found the Baha'i Faith, which his son says helped "start the healing process. He went to his grave healed."