Ocala in Marion County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Red Ball Express

Ocala - Marion County Veterans Memorial Park

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 14, 2022

1. The Red Ball Express Marker

Inscription. The Red Ball Express was an enormous truck convoy system created by Allied forces to supply their forward area combat units, from August 25 to November 16, 1944. The route was marked with red balls and the trucks were also marked with red balls and given priority when on regular roads. The Red Ball Express operated 5,958 vehicles and carried 12,500 tons of supplies per day. Almost 75% of all Red Ball drivers were African Americans.

Erected by Bonnie R. Saupe.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Roads & Vehicles • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 1944.

Location. 29° 11.192′ N, 82° 6.106′ W. Memorial is in Ocala, Florida, in Marion County. It can be reached from East Fort King Street 0.1 miles south of East Silver Springs Boulevard. Marker located within the Ocala - Marion County Veterans Memorial. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 2601 East Fort King Street, Ocala FL 34470, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stalag Luft IV (here, next to this marker); World War II Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Allies Victorious (here, next to this marker); Raid on Tokyo Japan (here, next to this marker); Iwo Jima (here, next to this marker); Navy Seabees of America (here, next to this marker); Tuskegee Airmen (here, next to this marker); Normandy Invasion (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ocala.

Also see . . . “Keep ‘em Rolling”: 82 Days on the Red Ball Express. (Submitted on May 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 14, 2022

2. The Red Ball Express Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 545 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.