Roger Terry, 87, of Inglewood, holds the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to members of the Tuskegee Airmen decades after their service in World War II as pilots and air support crewmen. Last month President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. Diane Feinstein, head of the inaugural committee, extended an invitation to Obama's inauguration to the more than 300 surviving members of the black airmen's group.
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Tuskegee Airmen

Roger Terry, 87, of Inglewood, holds the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to members of the Tuskegee Airmen decades after their service in World War II as pilots and air support crewmen. Last month President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. Diane Feinstein, head of the inaugural committee, extended an invitation to Obama's inauguration to the more than 300 surviving members of the black airmen's group.

Roger Terry, 87, of Inglewood, holds the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to members of the Tuskegee Airmen decades after their service in World War II as pilots and air support crewmen. Last month President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. Diane Feinstein, head of the inaugural committee, extended an invitation to Obama’s inauguration to the more than 300 surviving members of the black airmen’s group. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

So far 236 airmen have claimed tickets, including 16 from Los Angeles. Roger Terry plans to attend the inauguration, but he's still searching for a hotel room in the Washington area. Regardless, he said he was going to see if his doctor thinks he's healthy enough to attend; "after all, I'm 87 years old," he said with a laugh.

So far 236 airmen have claimed tickets, including 16 from Los Angeles. Roger Terry plans to attend the inauguration, but he’s still searching for a hotel room in the Washington area. Regardless, he said he was going to see if his doctor thinks he’s healthy enough to attend; “after all, I’m 87 years old,” he said with a laugh. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

These snapshots are of Los Angeles resident Ted Lumpkin when he was an intelligence officer with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

These snapshots are of Los Angeles resident Ted Lumpkin when he was an intelligence officer with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Ted Lumpkin was an intelligence officer with the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. Surviving members of the famed squadron of African American aviators have been invited to the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The challenge will be to get the veterans to Washington, D.C., as most are in their 80s, long retired and living on fixed incomes.

Ted Lumpkin was an intelligence officer with the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. Surviving members of the famed squadron of African American aviators have been invited to the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The challenge will be to get the veterans to Washington, D.C., as most are in their 80s, long retired and living on fixed incomes. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Robert Searcy, 87, of Los Angeles, was a ground crew member of the Tuskegee Airmen. He once worked for United Airlines cleaning aircraft in the 1950s and later had a fashion store for 21 years in Los Angeles.

Robert Searcy, 87, of Los Angeles, was a ground crew member of the Tuskegee Airmen. He once worked for United Airlines cleaning aircraft in the 1950s and later had a fashion store for 21 years in Los Angeles. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Tuskegee Airman Robert Searcy looks at a photo of Ronald Reagan in his Van Nuys retirement complex. Searcy was a ground crew member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Tuskegee Airman Robert Searcy looks at a photo of Ronald Reagan in his Van Nuys retirement complex. Searcy was a ground crew member of the Tuskegee Airmen. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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