(Radio Iowa) – The main terminal at the Dubuque Regional Airport has been named in honor of a man who helped desegregate the U.S. military. Captain Robert L. Martin was born in Dubuque in 1919 and was one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen, a World War II unit of black pilots. Dawnelle Gordon is chair of the Martin Commemoration Committee. “At the time, people in the military were in debate and argument over whether Black Americans could be successful as officers in the military,” she says.

Captain Martin had graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and studied engineering in Ames at what was then called Iowa State College. He was one of 12 Tuskegee Airmen from Iowa. “They stepped up to serve this country during a time when they had few opportunities, even worse adversity than today,” Gordon says, “but they wanted to serve this country they wanted to protect the United States and its freedom.”

Capt. Robert L. Martin

Gordon says convincing local officials to name the terminal for Martin was easy, but it was harder to raise the money to pay for an exhibit and for signs at the airport. Donations totaled 80-thousand dollars.