01/04/2026
Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse is one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, and he was born January 14, 1927 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. When he was just 17 years old, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Woody served with honor as a paymaster in the 332nd Fighter Group and was part of a historic unit that helped break barriers in the U.S. military.
After the war, Woody continued to lead an extraordinary life and graduated from Yale University. He later earned his law degree from Boston University. While attending Yale, Woody faced ostracism and isolation as a Black student on campus. He was ignored in classes and during meals in the dining hall, according to the Yale Alumni Association. Woody said, "I don't consider myself a victim. I would be the first to correct anyone who would refer to me as one."
Woody became a dedicated lawyer, an advocate for veterans, and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. The City of Boston later honored him by naming the intersection of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets "Citizen Square." Woody will celebrate his 99th birthday on January 14, 2026.
(Photo: Courtesy of Enoch Woodhouse | Virginia Mayo/AP | U.S. Army Air Corps)
