TMI Newsroom

You are cordially invited to attend the Pass In Review by the TMI Corps of Cadets on November 11th at 9:40 a.m. on the TMI campus located at 20955 W. Tejas Trail, San Antonio, Texas 78257. The reviewing officer is Colonel (Retired), United States Air Force, and Doctor Eugene Derricotte. His profile is listed below.

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Colonel (Retired), United States Air Force, and Doctor Eugene Derricotte. Dr. Derricotte was born and raised in Defienace, Ohio. In 1944 he entered the University of Michigan, but was drafted into the Army in December 1944 and shipped to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for training as an Artillery Cannoneer. During Artillery training, Dr. Derricotte was told about the Army Air Corps pilot training program at Tuskegee, Alabama. He, then a Second Lieutenant, volunteered for pilot training and graduated with Class 46-B in May of 1946. These Army Air Corps aviators would become known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America’s first black military airmen, at a time when there were many people who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism. Each one possessed a strong personal desire to serve the United States of America to the best of his ability.

No standards were lowered for the pilots or any of the others who trained in operations, meteorology, intelligence, engineering, medicine or other officer fields. The black airmen who became single-engine or multi-engine pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama. From 1941 through 1946, nine hundred and ninety-four pilots graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field, receiving commissions and pilot wings.

The outstanding record of black airmen in World War II was accomplished by men whose names will forever live in hallowed memory. Each one accepted the challenge, proudly displayed his skill and determination while suppressing internal rage from humiliation and indignation caused by frequent experiences of racism and bigotry, at home and overseas. These airmen fought two wars – one against a military force overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad.

Dr. Derricotte was discharged from the Army Air Corps and returned to the University of Michigan to study Pharmacy and play football. Again Dr. Derricotte proved that his abilities could defy the racial prejudice of the time and became the first African-American to play in the backfield for the University of Michigan football team.

Dr. Derricotte concluded his college football career with a University of Michigan victory in the 1948 Rose Bowl. He was awarded a Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy in 1950 and went on to earn second degree in Dentistry in 1958.

In 1962 Dr. Derricotte returned to the military service and completed assignments in The Republic of Vietnam, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Texas, Hawaii, Virginia, Illinois, and The Air Force Academy, before retiring in 1985. He then relocated to San Antonio and served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center until retiring again in 2000.

After finally retiring from multiple distinguished careers serving the United States and local communities, Dr. Derricotte and his wife, Jeanne, enjoy occasional golf, travel, and spending time with their grandson.