John L. Harrison Jr., of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, dies

Tuskegee Airman Eugene J. Richardson Jr., places a flower on the casket containing the remains of his comrade John L. Harrison, Jr., after Harrison's a funeral mass at the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia, Friday, March 31, 2017. Harrison Jr. became one of America's first black military airmen, one of nearly 1,000 pilots who trained as a segregated unit with the Army Air Forces at an airfield near Tuskegee, Ala. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press)

Tanzy Williams, (granddaughter) center, looks on as an Airman hands Joan Harrison, right, the flag that covered her father John L. Harrison Jr. casket at the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia, Friday, March 31, 2017. Harrison Jr. became one of America's first black military airmen, one of nearly 1,000 pilots who trained as a segregated unit with the Army Air Forces at an airfield near Tuskegee, Ala. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press)

Joan Harrison pays her respects to her father John L. Harrison, Jr., ahead of his funeral mass at the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia, Friday, March 31, 2017. Harrison Jr. became one of America's first black military airmen, one of nearly 1,000 pilots who trained as a segregated unit with the Army Air Forces at an airfield near Tuskegee, Ala. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press)

A Philadelphia man who was a member of the famed all-black Tuskegee Airmen has died. He was 96.

The Murphy Ruffenach Funeral Home says John L. Harrison Jr. died March 22 at a Philadelphia hospice. Harrison's funeral was held Friday with military honors at the Chapel of the Four Chaplains.

Harrison was 22 when he became one of America's first black military airmen. He was among nearly 1,000 pilots who trained as a segregated unit with the Army Air Corps at an airfield near Tuskegee, Alabama. He saw combat in Italy during World War II and remained in the service until his retirement as an Air Force major after two decades.

In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor.