Anything Else Forum

Anything Else Forum

Offtopicland. Remember: no politics, religion, or hot-button social issues.

"Marvelous Mal" Whitfield laid to rest at Arlington

+4 HS
GOOMBAY's picture
June 8, 2016 at 8:47pm
0 Comments

What a life and story! American hero and Buckeye hall of famer.

Marvelous Mal was the headline-ready moniker for Malvin Greston Whitfield, a three-time Olympic gold medalist middle-distance runner, a former Tuskegee airman, and former U.S. Foreign Service officer, who died Nov. 19. Shortly after the memorial service at the cathedral, Whitfield, who joined the military during World War II and served as a tail gunner on dozens of bombing missions during the Korean War, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

* * *

During World War II, he joined the Army Air Forces and then enrolled at Ohio State University, while also serving as a member in a unit of the 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He had become a fan — and friend — of Jesse Owens, track’s most legendary African American runner, who had encouraged Whitfield to attend his alma mater in Ohio.

[mod edit for title]

This is a forum post from a site member. It does not represent the views of Eleven Warriors unless otherwise noted.