Henry Wise, Jr.

Who was Henry Wise, Jr.?

Henry A. Wise, Jr. was an American physician and World War II Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot with the 99th Pursuit Squadron, 332nd Division.

Wise's plane was shot down over Romania and he became a prisoner of war. He received the Purple heart; the Air Medal for Combat Missions flown in World War II; the Certificate of Valor for Courage in combat, and the Tuskegee Airmen Pioneer Award for Distinguished Service and Historic Achievement.

Wise was the first African-American physician in Prince George's County, Maryland to be admitted to practice at Prince George's Hospital. Along with his wife, Roberta Wise, Dr. Wise founded the Youth Motivational Program based in Maryland with the purpose of providing training to more than 1,000 young people in the region and scholarships worth more than $25,000.

On October 27, 2005, the Board of Education for Prince George's County Schools unanimously approved the motion to name a high school in Upper Marlboro, Maryland after his name to honor his achievements as well as to motivate, guide, and inspire students to reach the highest levels of academic excellence.