Keyser in Mineral County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Clifton E. Brooks Sr.
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 1, 2026
1. Clifton E. Brooks Sr. Marker
Cryptologist…
His code was excellence
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Communications • War, World II.
Location. 39° 26.436′ N, 78° 58.627′ W. Memorial is in Keyser, West Virginia, in Mineral County. It is at the intersection of North Mineral Street and Center Street, on the right when traveling west on North Mineral Street. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 26 N Mineral St, Keyser WV 26726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the Eastern Panhandle. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: West Virginia (Mineral County) / Maryland (a few steps from
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Encircling the Nazi War Machine & German Capitulation (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Bridge at Remagen (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Bridge at Remagen (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Bridge at Remagen (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Aftermath of Kesternich / Germans Retreat (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Battle for Kesternich (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Medal of Honor (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Regaining the Initiative (was about 300 feet away but
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 1, 2026
2. Clifton E. Brooks Sr. Marker
Also see . . . West Virginia’s last surviving Tuskegee Airman remembered for his humility. KEYSER, W.Va. — Mineral County resident T.J. Coleman says Tuskegee Airman Gene Brooks was a bar-raiser who created a path for Coleman himself and others to follow.
Coleman and many who knew ‘Mr. Gene’ whose full name was Clifton E. Brooks Sr., are remembering his life and service following his recent death.
Brooks, a native of Piedmont and longtime resident of Keyser, died on Christmas Eve. He was 99.
Gov. Jim Justice said Brooks was West Virginia’s last surviving Tuskegee Airman.
“We lost a true American hero on Christmas Eve,” Justice said. “Clifton Brooks Sr. should be remembered as a hero who spent his life giving back to his state and his country.”
Coleman said he didn’t know much about Brooks and his service with the famed World War II airmen until he began working on the the Aubrey Stewart Project. Stewart was another World War II veteran from Mineral County’s Piedmont community. He was one of 11 Black soldiers murdered by the German Secret Service in December 1944.
Coleman said once he met Brooks he wanted to do as much as possible to honor him while he was still alive.
“If you can do these things through these people’s lives, these remarkable people, while they live, while the light shines upon them, you have to do as much as possible to place them in their light,” Coleman told MetroNews Wednesday.
Coleman, himself an Air Force veteran, said Brooks and the other members of the Tuskegee Airmen blazed the trail that Coleman and other Black military members could follow.
“It’s because of them that when I decided to go to the Air Force I could anything I wanted to do and be anything I wanted to be because of these men and women,” Coleman said.
Brooks was a mechanical engineering student at West Virginia State College when he joined the Air Force to serve in World War II. He became part of the Tuskegee Airmen and became an expert in secret codes, a cryptologist.
Coleman said Brooks and the other airmen performed under unfathomable pressure.
“They had to fight for the right to fight and to prove themselves and they did it with excellence, above excellence, and that paved the way for me and countless other Blacks to enter our fields of choice,” Coleman said.
The airmen earned over 100 Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Star Medals, eight Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, Legion of Merit and three Presidential Unit Citations.
A park in Keyser and the bridge entering town were named after Brooks in recent years. Coleman remembers the park ceremony when Brooks’ humility came shining through.
“He said in a soft voice, ‘I can’t believe you’re doing all this for me.’ It was humility personified,” Coleman said. “Not only did he live his life with excellence but he lived it with humility too.”
Brooks’ obituary says, “Mr. Brooks retired with over 40 years of service with the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, in Cumberland, where he was named “Man of the Year” when he retired. Gene was a life member with over 75 years of service to the Washington-Smith Post 152, American Legion in Keyser, was a member of the Chaplain’s Hall of Fame and served in numerous offices at the state department level. He was a member of Potomac Masonic Lodge 41, Keyser and was a member of the Shrine Temple where he became a 33rd degree mason, Lodge 662, Loyal Order of Moose, Keyser and Queen’s Point Memorial Post 6775, VFW, in McCoole. He also was a member of Janes United Methodist Church, in Keyser, where he served as a lay leader and treasurer until his passing.”
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday at Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Brooks will be buried with full military honors at Thorn Rose Cemetery in Keyser. (Submitted on August 30, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
