TUSKEGEE AIRMAN: LOCAL VETERAN POSTHUMOUSLY HONORED

by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY

BALLSTON SPA — This week, The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency held its monthly Honor Deceased Veterans Program by honoring longtime Saratoga Springs resident and Tuskegee Airman Clarence Dart.

Dart flew 95 missions overseas during World War II. Twice, he survived being shot down by the enemy. He grew up during the Great Depression. As a child, his clothing came from the Salvation Army. Much of his food was grown in the family garden in Elmira. He built model airplanes as a child and had a yearning to fly.

The day after his 21st birthday, on Dec. 7, 1941, Dart was singing in his church choir when he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. The young man knew what he wanted to do. The following year, he was accepted into flight training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, joining other young men who had enlisted to become America’s first black military airmen.

Dart served as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group and was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron in the 12th Air Force in North Africa. He was one of about 1,000 fighter pilots who painted the tails of their airplanes red, earning the nickname, “Red Tails.” They were trained as a segregated unit and forbidden to practice alongside their white counterparts.

Dart later flew P-51s escorting 15th Air Force bombers and was discharged from active duty at the rank of Captain in 1947. He went on to serve in the NY Air National Guard and retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

For his service Dart received two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained during air combat, the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the WWII Victory Medal, and the American Defense Medal, the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross, and the NYS Conspicuous Service Star.

While he fought for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four freedoms, when Dart returned home from the war there was no heroic welcome, and no job that was available to him to fulfill his dream of being a commercial airplane pilot.

The accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen are credited with influencing President Harry Truman to officially desegregate the U.S. military in 1948. It was the same year Dart relocated to Saratoga Springs. He married his wife, Mildred, in June 1950 and the couple raised their family of seven daughters and two sons in the Spa City.

After the war, Dart worked for General Electric Co. until his retirement in 1987, after which he began visiting schools and talking to students about his experiences in the war, explaining to them the importance of getting an education as a way of bettering themselves and creating opportunities. It was only after Dart began to speak about his wartime experiences at the request of neighborhood schools that his own children began to truly understand some of their father’s experiences.

It took more than 60 years for recognition to come for the humble man from Elmira. In 2007, Dart was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, alongside other Tuskegee Airmen in the Capitol Rotunda, and in 2011 was honored locally at the Wesley Community senior housing facility where he resided at the time. Dart died in 2012. He was 91 and was buried with military honors at the family plot at Greenridge Cemetery on Lincoln Avenue.

Established in 1999 by the Saratoga County Board of

Supervisors, the Honor Deceased Veterans Program provides a way for county leadership and residents to show gratitude for the service of veterans past and present. The ceremony is dedicated to a different Saratoga County veteran each month. To date, more than 300 Saratoga County Veterans have been honored.

To learn more about Clarence Dart, in his own words, go online to YouTube and search: Clarence W. Dart.

Elizabeth Thornton

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On March 14, 2023, Elizabeth “Betty” Thornton, 91 passed away. Burial will be Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s Cemetery. At Betty’s request, a celebration of life will follow. Memorial donations to The Community Hospice www. communityhospice.org/donate Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.

Ann Marie O’Brien

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ann Marie O’Brien, 85, of Gansevoort, entered into God’s Kingdom on March 18. Mass will be on Saturday, March 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Clements Church with burial in St. Charles Cemetery. Arrangements are with Burke Funeral Home. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

Patrick F. Walsh

CLIFTON PARK — Patrick F. Walsh, 83, passed away 3/20/2023. Calling hours, 10-12, Friday, 3/24/2023 at Corpus Christi Church, Round Lake, followed by Funeral Liturgy. Burial following in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial donations to : Tunnel to Towers Foundation, www.T2T.org Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

William T. (Bill) Allen Jr.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — William T. (Bill) Allen Jr. died on October 5, 2022, at age 85, at his home in Saratoga Springs. He was born to Dorothy and Bill Allen of Niskayuna on August 10, 1937. Bill grew up in Niskayuna and graduated from Nott Terrace High School in 1955. He attended one year at West Point Military Academy and then served two years in the army, stationed in Japan. Bill graduated from Union College in 1961, and he received

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

his master’s degree in Sociology from Columbia University in 1963. He worked in college admissions at Union, at Yale University as an Associate Director of Admissions and finally Skidmore College, where he was Director of Admissions from 1972 until 1977. After earning a second master’s degree in Secondary School Administration, he served as a guidance counselor at South Glens Falls Junior High from 1978 until 1991. During this time, he enjoyed working summers at the Saratoga Race Track as a parimutuel clerk and

Dora McCormick

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Dora McCormick died March 8 at the Wesley Health Center. Family and friends gathered to remember her on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., in Saratoga Springs. Visit: www. compassionatefuneralcare.com

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

did so in his retirement years, at Saratoga Race Course.

He was an avid gardener, ham radio operator, and cat whisperer. He honed his interest in running and completed the New York City Marathon in 1995. He loved participating in alumni affairs at Union College and was awarded the Alumni Gold Medal for his service.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Allen, sister Judy Kubilus, daughter, Susan Spande, son, Will Allen, stepsons, Christopher and John Serrell, and grandchildren, William Allen, Sydney Allen, and Amber Spande.

Hans P. Henriksen

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Hans P. Henriksen, who loved life, music, dance, his friends and his family, passed 3/14/2023. Calling hours: Sunday, 3/26, 1 –3:30 at Burke FH, followed by FH service. Burial is private. Memorial donations to: Opera Saratoga, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Suite 215, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or www.operasaratoga. org. burkefuneralhome.com

Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes

SARATOGA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

On March 3, the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit charged Douglas B. Williams, 37, of Halfmoon, with assault in the second-degree, a felony. Williams is accused of striking and injuring a child less than 7 years of age in the town of Halfmoon in February. He was released on his own recognizance with a Temporary Order of Protection issued on behalf of the victim, who is related to Williams. He is due back in the Halfmoon Town Court in April.

On March 11, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office charged Tammy L. Mahan, 52, of Hudson Falls, with felony burglary and misdemeanor petit larceny. Mahan is accused of unlawfully entering a residence and stealing a video camera.

In a joint investigation involving the Saratoga County, Warren County and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices, David T. Henderson, Hernandez J. Hayes and Kristin M. Lamb were charged in connection with suspected drug charges on March 12. All three subjects are accused of possessing large quantities of cocaine with the intent to sell. Hayes was additionally charged with possession of fentanyl pills. A search warrant was executed on a vehicle on Interstate 87, in the town of Halfmoon. As a result of the investigation and search warrant execution, authorities said approximately 465 grams (over 16 ounces) of cocaine, 16 grams of fentanyl pills, and U.S. currency were seized. David T. Henderson, 46, of Fort Edward, was charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hernandez J. Hayes, 48, of NY, NY, was charged with three felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Kristin M. Lamb, 33, of Ballston Spa, was charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. All were arraigned and sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail, pending further action on the matter.

Saratoga Springs Police

Austin Bayliss, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 10 with DWI.

Stephen Clark, 41, of Stillwater, was charged March 9 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a vehicle equipment violation.

Scott McVey, 51, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 8 with DWI, speeding, operating without an inspection certificate, and making an illegal signal.

Steven Welch, 40, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 8 with criminal contempt, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and aggravated family offense.

Cody McCumber, 24, of Watervliet, was charged March 8 with public lewdness.

Stephanie Shriner, 43, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 8 with criminal contempt.

Tyquan Simon, 30, of Troy, was charged March 8 with criminal impersonation.

Teryn Loverme, 33, of Cambridge, was charged March 7 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a vehicle equipment violation.

Jessica Henderson, 36, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 6 with aggravated unlicensed operation, and registration suspended violation.

Christopher Cira, 64, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 6 with aggravated unlicensed operation, and operating vehicle with unsafe tires.

Sean Bergin, 51, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 6 with DWI, refusal to take breath test, and failed to stop at a stop sign.

Marlin Turner, 39, of Milton, was charged March 5 with DWI, and failure to keep right.

Derek Radz, 52, of Nassau, was charged March 4 with criminal mischief.

Michael Domey, 32, of Troy, was charged March 4 with assault.

Saratoga County Court

Mitchum F. White, 35, homeless, Saratoga Springs, pleaded March 15 to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. Sentencing May 17.

Theresa H. Travis, 32, of Saratoga Springs, pleaded March 15 to felony DWI. Sentencing May 17.

Stephen Matthews, 32, of Gansevoort, pleaded March 13 to felony assault, and criminal contempt – a misdemeanor, first charged June 2022 in Moreau. Sentencing May 15.

Jarred P. Lasorsa, 29, of Clifton Park, was sentenced March 10 to 1 year local incarceration, after pleading to criminal contempt in the first-degree.

William Carr, Jr., 39, of Valley Falls, pleaded March 10 to criminal contempt in the first-degree, first charged April 2022 in Clifton Park. Sentencing May 12.

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