LeRoy A. "Boots" Battle, Sr.
Biography A Documented Orginal Tuskegee Airman
Author: Tuskegee Airman Inc. Pubic Relations
P.O. Box 830060, Tuskegee, AL 36083
LeRoy A. Battle, Sr. was inducted into the service on 23 August 1943 at Camp Upton, Long Island, New York. He went to Keesler Field, Mississippi for Basic Training, then Tuskegee Institute for Air Cadet Training, then to several other Camps and Air Felds for Gunnery and Bombardier Training before returning to Tuskegee for Pilot Training. At Freeman Field, Indiana, LT Battle was among the first 19 Black Officers arrested on 11 April 1945 for attempting to enter the "All-White" Officers' Club. The actions of this group served as a catalyst in the 1948 abolishment of segregation in the military.
LT. Battle was honorably discharged from the service on 13 October 1945 and immediately enrolled at the Julliard School of Music. In 1946, he enrolled at Morgan (State) College, Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated in June 1950, majoring in Instrumental Music and received his Master of Education Degree in 1961 from the University of Maryland.
Leroy Battle taught music at the Frederick Douglass Elementary Junior Senior High School in Upper Marlboro, MD, for 22 years and is credited with raising the Frederick Douglass Music Department into one of our nation's finest organizations. In February 2003, LeRoy was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Maryland Music Education Association.
LeRoy performed as House Drummer at the "Three Deuces" and "Downbeat" Clubs where he accompanied Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Nat "King" Cole, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey and many other notable artists. He played with: "Tee" Carson, Buck Hill and many other famous entertainers in Washington, DC. He was a Drummer with the Redskins Marching Band for 17 years - and led his jazz ensemble, "Roy Battle and the Altones".
Mr. Battle is a recognized and honored Educator, Jazz Musician, Composer, Civil Rights Pioneer and Author of Easier Said and And The Beat Goes On AND A TUSKEGEE AIRMAN.