The Reminiscences of Mr. Paul D. Richmond: 1920-2006

During World War II, after graduating from the Naval Academy in 1941 and being commissioned as a Naval Reserve officer, Richmond was involved in the training of new recruits at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station north of Chicago. In 1942, with the influx of thousands of black sailors among the recruits, Richmond served as a battalion commander at the segregated Camp Robert Smalls. In early 1944, 16 black sailors reported to Great Lakes to undergo a two—and—a—half—month training program ...