All Black 54th Coast Artillery Army - Santa Cruz, CA - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

This Memorial is to honor the service of the all black 54th Coast Artillery Army Regiment during WWII, guarding California shores and waters against enemy attack, thus ensuring our safety. Activated February 10, 1941, this mobile, seacoast regiment was formed at Camp Wallace, Texas from a cadre of black soldiers from Texas, Kansas and Missouri.

In leftover WWI uniforms, they trained with 155-MM guns, 6” GFP, 4 guns to a battery, 9 soldiers per battery. They were at Camp Davis, North Carolina for a time. After reports of Japanese enemy activity near Goleta, California they were sent to guard the California coast. They worked in concert with the Coast Guard and Navy, keeping their faithful watch until the fall of Germany. We owe them our gratitude and deepest thanks.

The plaque reads:

In honor of the all black 54th Coast Artillery Army Regiment that aided in protecting the California coast from enemy attack during World War II These members remained in Santa Cruz after the war: Chaplin Baskerville John Bowen Sr. Cornelius Bumpus Sr. Russell R. Dawson Isaac Jackson Wade Jackson William E. Jackson Sr. Bill Jones James McClish Henry Pratt Upsie Hannon Willie Williams Frank Willis

This memorial near Lighthouse Point was dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009. The last known veterans of this regiment, Russell Dawson, 93, and William Jackson Sr., 88, were in attendance at the dedication. The dedication program is available as a PDF.

The Memorial can be seen in Google Street View.

Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link] List if there are any visiting hours: Available 24 hours Entrance fees (if it applies): O Type of memorial: Plaque

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