Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Montford Point Marines

Veterans Memorial Gardens at Bayview Park

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 3, 2023

1. Montford Point Marines Marker

Inscription. The United States Marine Corps was the last branch of the military to admit African Americans.

The Montford Point Marines were the first African Americans to serve in the Corps. Thirteen of those young men were native sons of Key West, Florida.

Segregation laws of the 1940’s prohibited blacks from training with whites. A separate training facility was created for black recruits at Montford Point Camp near Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Montford Point Marines participated in the Pacific Theater Campaigns of WWII, including Iwo Jima.

This memorial is dedicated to the memory of those 13 men from Key West who were among the first.

Clarence Alce, Sr • Charles A. Allen, Sr.• George A. Carey • Vernol H. Carey • James Hall • Shedrack M. A. Hannibal, Jr. • Timothy E. Johnson • William C. Johnson, Sr. • Charles G. Manuel • Nathaniel W. Mickens • Robert B. Sawyer, Sr. • Nathan B. Tynes • Ralph Williams

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • War, World II.

Location. 24° 33.445′ N, 81° 47.282′ W.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Memorial is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of Truman Avenue (U.S. US1) and Jose Marti Drive, on the right when traveling north. This marker is located within the Veterans Memorial Gardens at Bayview Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1320 Truman Avenue, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on the Florida Keys.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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: Dedicated to All Women Veterans (here, next to this marker); 2nd South Carolina Regiment (here, next to this marker); Agent Orange (here, next to this marker); Korean War Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Eloy Angel Rodriguez

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 3, 2023

2. Montford Point Marines Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Vietnam Living Memorial (a few steps from this marker); All Gave Some, Some Gave All (a few steps from this marker); American Revolutionary War (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . . Who Were the Montford Point Marines?. (Submitted on June 1, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 233 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.