Lucius Theus
Major General, U.S. Air Force

Lucius Theus was born on 11 October 1922 in Madison County, TN.

In 1942, Theus began his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a Private. Advancing rapidly through the military ranks, he was a Training Officer with America's Tuskegee Airmen, was Base Commander at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam and held several top administrative posts at the Pentagon. He retired a Major General in 1979.

Theus was the first African-American combat support officer to be promoted to the rank of general officer, and was one of only three members of the World War II 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, to receive that rank.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2 Awards)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal

He was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, his Nation's highest civilian award.

Honors

• Theus was instrumental in the establishment of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum at Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit.

• He is a member of both the Enlisted Men's Hall of Fame and the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame.

Death and Burial

Major General Lucius Theus died on 15 October 2007 in Southfield, MI. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.