Shadow box

William Stockton Surcey of Jacksonville didn't receive his long-overdue honor for being part of an elite group of airmen in World War II until six decades had passed. But the Congressional Gold Medal was finally presented to the Tuskegee airman in 2009, long after the nation's first all-black unit in the Army Air Corps disbanded.

Mr. Surcey died May 6 of a heart attack and stroke. He was 92.

The World War II veteran never talked about his time as a Tuskegee Airman, said daughter Katherine Surcey. She learned about it just before a 1995 film on the African-American air corps came out.

"It wasn't until they got ready to do the movie on the Tuskegee Airmen and people were calling and checking the facts and I asked why," she said. "He said, 'Because I was one,' and it just blew me away. He said, 'It was just a job. I served my country and did what I was supposed to do.'"

The Jacksonville native graduated from the Old Stanton High School in 1939 and was in his second year at Tuskegee University in Alabama when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After six months of training as an aircraft mechanic, Mr. Surcey was assigned to the Tuskegee Army Air Field.

"We were the first to occupy the field," he said in a 2007 interview with the Times-Union. "... We found out we could do everything that was necessary to fly and maintain aircraft for combat."

His squadron fought in the 1944 invasion of Italy. He supervised and completed major repairs on seven P-40 aircraft in a week during the fighting and earned a Bronze Star for distinguished service.

Discharged as a master sergeant in 1945, Mr. Surcey finished his studies at Tuskegee University.

He met his wife, Future, at a school football game after he threw peanut shells at her to get her attention. She said she chased him away, but he came back and promised not to bother her again.

He worked as an aircraft mechanic at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, then spent 27 years with the U.S. Postal Service. He also ran an air-conditioning and refrigeration repair business until he retired at 87.

"He was an impressive person who accomplished a lot but always maintained a quiet demeanor," his daughter said. "A friend recently put on Facebook that she will always think of him as the perfect Southern gentleman, and I said, 'Gosh, that says it all.'"

Mr. Surcey is also survived by another daughter, Renee, also of Jacksonville. A third daughter, Melody, died in 1990.

The viewing is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Alphonso West Mortuary, 4409 Soutel Drive, Jacksonville. The funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul AME Church, 6910 New Kings Road, with burial to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park, 2600 Ribault Scenic Drive.

dan.scanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

William Surcey

William Surcey was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Will and Maggie Surcey. He was educated in the Duval County Public School system and graduated from Stanton High School, class of 1939. He was awarded the honor of Eagle Scout during his time in the Boy Scouts. He began his formal education at Tuskegee University (at that time, named Tuskegee Institute) located in Tuskegee, Alabama. While a sophomore, Surcey applied to become a member of the 99th fighter squadron (later called “The Tuskegee Airman”.) He trained, worked and traveled with the Squadron to Italy and at the end of his service, had the rank of Master Sergeant. In 1944, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He returned to Tuskegee, earning a degree in Auto Mechanics. In 1947, while at Tuskegee, Surcey met Future Trammell, his college sweetheart and in 1948 she became his wife. They settled down in Jacksonville, Florida where they started a family of three daughters. Surcey owned a business “Bills Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service” and worked with the United States Postal Service retiring as a USPS Supervisor after 30 years. He has been a faithful member of Saint Paul A.M.E. Church for 91 years. Since retirement he spends quality time with friends and family and continues his work with various organizations, including the Tuskegee Airmen, The Jacksonville Chapter of the Tuskegee Alumni Association, the Boy Scouts of America, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and David Dwight Boy Scout Committee, to name a few. In March 29, 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.
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Surcey, William Stockton, MSgt

William Surcey, 1918-2011: Tuskegee airman hailed from Jacksonville

William Surcey

Friday, May 8, 2009

Mr. William Stockton Surcey–Tuskegee Airman: Received The National Congressional Medal of Honor