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° 33.448′ N, 81° 47.282′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Truman Avenue (U.S. US1) and Jose

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Marti Drive, on the right when traveling north. This marker is located within the Veterans Memorial Gardens at Bayview Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1320 Truman Avenue, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 2nd South Carolina Regiment (here, next to this marker); Eloy Angel Rodriguez (here, next to this marker); Agent Orange (a few steps from this marker); Korean War Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (a few steps from this marker); War of 1812 (a few steps from this marker); Iraq War (a few steps from this marker); American Civil War (within shouting distance of 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.)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 3, 2023

2. Montford Point Marines Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 14 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.