Emma Didlake
Emma Didlake was an African-American supercentenarian and the oldest living American World War II veteran until her death on August 16, 2015 at age 111. She served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
Early life and education
Didlake was born in Boligee, Alabama in 1904.At a young age, Didlake and her family moved to Kentucky, where she married a coal miner in 1922 and later stayed to raise her own family.
Career
In 1943, when she was 38 years old and the mother of five children, Didlake enlisted in the WAAC. She told the San Antonio Express-News that she joined the Army because she "wanted to do different things." She served stateside as a private and a driver.For her service in World War II, Didlake earned the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.
After service
After leaving the service, Didlake and her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she lived until her death. Soon after moving to Detroit, Didlake joined the local NAACP chapter. In 1963, she marched alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, D.C.In 2013, Didlake was awarded the James Weldon Johnson lifetime achievement award at Detroit NAACP's 58th annual Freedom Fund Dinner.
On July 17, 2015, at 111 years old, Didlake visited Washington, D.C. on an honorary trip that included meeting President Barack Obama and touring several historic monuments, including the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, where she received mementos from retired Brigadier General Wilma Vaught. The trip was organized and funded by Talons Out Honor Flight, a division of the Honor Flight Network.
At their meeting in the Oval Office, Didlake sat in her wheelchair in the same spot where foreign leaders sit when they meet the president in the White House. President Obama praised Didlake for her "trailblazing" service as one of the female and African American veterans who helped to integrate the U.S. Army.
Didlake attributed her longevity to a diet with a great deal of fruits and vegetables. Each day, she would also eat golden raisins that she had soaked in vodka overnight.
Death and legacy
About a month after visiting the White House, Didlake fell ill. She died on August 16, 2015 at 111 years old. She is survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.On August 19, President Obama issued the following statement to honor Didlake's death:
Emma Didlake served her country with distinction and honor, a true trailblazer for generations of Americans who have sacrificed so much for their country. I was humbled and grateful to welcome Emma to the White House last month, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to Emma's family, friends, and everyone she inspired over her long and quintessentially American life.
With Didlake's death, the oldest known veteran became Frank Levingston.
Awards and decorations
| Women's Army Corps Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal |