Dervey A. Lomax joined the U.S. Navy during WWII and served in the Pacific, including Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa. When he returned from military service, he was hired by the Department of the Navy in 1948, and rose to the position of supervisory electronic technician with the Naval Electronic Systems Security Engineering Center.
Leonard Smith moved from Beltsville as a young man to Lakeland. He attended Maryland State College. Smith entered the U.S. Army in 1950. He is shown at a master gunner's course in Fort Bliss, Texas. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant during his time in the army. Upon returning Smith became a leader for the American Legion Post in Lakeland, and in 1972 became the first African American American Legion Commander for Prince George's County, where 16 of the 19 posts were predominantly white. As county commander, he led a membership of 7,000.
The youngest of nine children, Clarence A. Gray Sr. was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in September 1945, at the same time his brother Ridgley was stationed overseas. Returning to his base after a visit home to Lakeland for the Labor Day weekend, Private Gray wrote to his brother: “The war is over, and if you are like me, you are glad knowing everybody will be going home shortly. I have more training to go….I don’t know where then. I hope home.” Clarence and Christine Gray reared thirteen children in Lakeland.
In 1942, Edward Lee Tyner was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. Here he celebrates with his wife, Evelyn Giles Tyner, next to him on his right, and friends. They are, from left to right, Eunice Johnson, the Tyners, Vera Johnson Matthews, Mary Weems, Mary Walls Weems, and unidentified.
James Weems (third row, second from right) was inducted into the U.S. Navy in 1944 and went for training at the U.S. Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, MD.
During World War II are shown mother and daughter Mary Day and her daughter Mary Day are shown in front of the family home on Navahoe Street. In the far right are seen two stars showing from a window or door.
While in the army Clarence Gray writes to his brother also in service with news of home after a weekend leave.
M. Sgt. Harry M. Braxton, Sr. was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps in WWII and was a driver in the Red Ball Express. When army general George S. Patton made a rapid advance across France in 1944, he stretched his supply line to near collapse. Supply trucks rolled continuously, 20 hours a day, seven days a week for 82 days across France and into Germany, often facing attack from the ground and the air. Nearly 75% of Red Ball Express drivers were African Americans. Later, Braxton worked with the Graves Registration and gave Holocaust victims the respect they deserved in death by providing them with a proper burial. Sgt. Braxton was proud to have served and expressed great admiration for General Patton.
Letter sent by Harry Braxton Sr. during his army service in Germany during World War II. The letter was to his cousin and godson Elwood Gross in Lakeland. Braxton also sent along a photograph. It is item #01784. Item 1031 is also from that period.
Letter from Harry Braxton Sr to godson, Elwood Gross in Lakeland written in Germany dated 1/26/45
Charles Carroll served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was called up for service after settling in Lakeland with his wife, Julia Mack Carroll. He was a teacher in the public school system of Washington D.C. and later became a draftsman for the Department of the Navy. After retiring form federal service, he was hired by the University of Maryland as its first African American personnel officer. He retired from that position after a decade. From 1973 to 1979, he represented Lakeland on the College Park City Council.
During World War II
In US Navy uniform during WW II
George (Pete) Walls and Omega Giles Crump
At home on leave from the United States Army during World War II in 1942, George “Pete” Walls is surrounded by friends. From left to right are Mary Jane Giles Fields, Amos Guss, Gertrude Davis, Pete Walls, Lucille Giles, Gertrude Brooks, and Evelyn Giles Tyner, playing the guitar.
When the United States entered World War II, the Navy's African-American sailors had for decades been limited to serving as mess attendants. However, the wartime pressures of a manpower shortage, the willingness of thousands of African Americans to serve, plus political pressure, forced important changes. Though the Navy remained racially segregated in training and in most service units, in 1942 the enlisted ranks were opened to all qualified personnel. Weems sent the photograph below to his wife, Mary, while he was serving aboard a ship in the Pacific theater.
Front and back of savings bond booklet. United States War Savings Bonds
Book belonging to Elwood Gross a student at Lakeland Elm. School.
Page of savings stamps from book belonging to Lakeland Elm. School.