Congressman Jason Crow Passes Bill to Rename Aurora VA Outpatient Clinic After Local Hero John Mosley

Colorado Native John Mosley was a Tuskegee Airman, Civil Rights Activist, and First Black Football Player at Colorado State University

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) today passed his bill to rename the new Aurora VA community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) after Lieutenant Colonel John Mosley. Lieutenant Colonel Mosley, a Denver native who lived in Aurora, was a Tuskegee Airman, civil rights activist and the first black football player at Colorado State University. Crow's H.R. 4172 passed the House tonight by voice vote.

"Lieutenant Colonel Mosley embodies the finest our country has to offer. He was an inspirational leader in the Aurora community and in the Air Force," said Congressman Jason Crow. "Naming the new Aurora clinic after Colonel Mosley honors his legacy and will inspire future generations to break barriers."

"I can't think of a better name for my fellow veterans to walk into this new clinic in Aurora, CO, than to see the name of Colonel John Mosely as they walk in and to remember his service, his sacrifice, his leadership, and the best of what we can be as a country," he continued.

See Rep. Crow's full remarks on the House floor ahead of the bill's passage.

CBOCs are important ways the VA provides outpatient primary care, especially for veterans who would otherwise have to travel long distances to receive care at VA facilities. The Aurora CBOC is set to open in Summer 2022.

Rep. Crow secured key endorsements for this effort from the VFW Department of Colorado, American Legion Department of Colorado, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Colorado, as well as support from the full Colorado congressional delegation.

See the full text of the bill here.

Background on Colonel Mosley:

After graduating as a National Merit Scholar and valedictorian at Manual High School, Lieutenant Colonel Mosley enrolled at what was then called Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, as one of only nine black students. He was named vice president of his college class as a junior and senior and became the first black football player in the record-keeping era.

Lieutenant Colonel Mosley fought hard to serve his country during WWII. He paid for his own flight physical and took flying lessons on his own. After being dispatched to a segregated artillery unit in Fort Sill, OK, he wrote letters to the White House and Congress until he became part of the Tuskegee Unit. The brave service of the Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for integration of the armed services. Lieutenant Colonel Mosley retired from the Air Force in 1970 after serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He went on to be special assistant to the undersecretary in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in Washington before returning to Colorado.

See a copy of Rep. Crow's official remarks on the floor below.

I rise today in support of H.R. 4172 to name the new Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado for Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley.

Lieutenant Colonel Mosley embodies the finest our country has to offer. He was an inspirational leader in the Aurora community and in the Air Force.

He was born in Denver, Colorado in 1921 and broke barriers at a time when Black men were prevented from achieving the full rights of their citizenship and full participation in the military.

Colonel Mosley attended what is now Colorado State University and became the first ever Black player on the football team.

After college Colonel Mosley wanted to become a pilot so he paid to get his pilot's license. When the Air Force didn't assign him to be a pilot, he lobbied his command in DC to assign him to a pilot role. He was eventually assigned to the segregated Tuskegee Airmen unit.

During World War II, he trained as a bomber pilot, serving as one of the first African Americans in that role. He earned the flight qualification of Command Pilot during his service in the United States Air Force. The brave service of the Tuskegee Airmen and Colonel Mosley helped pave the way for integration of the armed services.

Upon his return he married Edna. Together John and Edna Mosley became tireless community activists and organizers. Among her many achievements, Edna was elected to three terms as Aurora's first African-American City Council Woman.

After a brief break from military service, John Mosley served during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was an operations officer in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Naming the new Aurora clinic after Colonel Mosley honors his legacy and will inspire future generations to break barriers.

I can't think of a better name for my fellow veterans to walk into this new clinic in Aurora, CO, than to see the name of Colonel John Mosely as they walk in and to remember his service, his sacrifice, his leadership, and the best of what we can be as a country.

Thank you to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for their work to advance this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this effort to honor Lieutenant Colonel Mosley.

I yield back.

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