Malvin Greston Whitfield, a Tuskegee airman and three-time Olympic gold medalist who went by the moniker Marvelous Mal, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday.
Whitfield died in November at age 91. He joined the military in World War II and served as a tail gunner during bombing missions in the Korean War. He flew 27 missions in both wars.
In the 1948 London Olympics, Whitfield won two gold medals -- one was as a member of the 1,600-meter relay team and the other for setting an Olympic record in the 800 meter with a time of 1:49.2. He also won a bronze in the 400 meter. In the 1952 games, he took home gold in the 800 meter again and a silver as part of the 1,600-meter relay team.
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