World War II Honoree

John Gilmore Penn

Hometown

Abingdon, Virginia

Honored By

VMI-Mc'43

GRADUATED FROM THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE WITH THE CLASS OF 1935. HE SERVED AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE FIELD ARTILLERY OF THE U.S. ARMY, UNTIL TRANSFERRING TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS. HE WAS THE FIRST COMMANDANT OF CADETS AT THE TUSKEGEE AIR INSTITUTE IN ALABAMA WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO TRAIN AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO FLY AND MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT. HE RETIRED AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN 1963.