Special Exhibits for Feb. 3-28: Honoring our African American Servicemembers
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is presenting a special exhibit in recognition of Black History Month honoring the service of African American servicemembers in WWII. This exhibit will be open from Tuesday, February 3 and through Saturday, February 28, 2026. The museum is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm ET and there is no charge for admission.
African Americans served in large numbers during WWII despite being denied full rights as American citizens. They served in segregated units in both the Army and the Army Air Corps, one of the most recognizable being the Tuskegee Airmen. Many African American soldiers trained at Camp Gordon Johnston in transportation units such as Amphibious Truck Companies, where support units often worked close to combat and came under fire.
At Camp Gordon Johnston, these Amphibious Truck Companies trained in the use of the amphibious truck known as the DUKW, using the bay and sandy beaches in Carrabelle and all along the Forgotten Coast to practice operating, loading and unloading these truly amphibious vehicles. The Museum continues its research into the units that trained at Camp Gordon Johnston in Carrabelle and served in World War II including being part of the campaign on Iwo Jima.
This exhibit will share what has been uncovered about these servicemen who, like many African Americans of the era, served their country with honor in a still-segregated military and faced significant challenges along the way.
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is located in Carrabelle, directly across from Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1873 Hwy 98 West. For more information, contact Camp Gordon Johnston Museum at (850) 697-8575 or museum@campgordonjohnston.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
Past Events
Sidney A. Winchester Building Dedication at Camp Gordon Johnston Museum
The Camp Gordon Johnston Association and WWII Museum was honored to dedicate our museum building on September 21, 2019 to the late Sidney A. Winchester, a Carrabelle native, U. S. Army veteran and key supporter of Camp Gordon Johnston Museum. We were joined by U.S. Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02) who made two very special presentations during the ceremony. Congressman Dunn presented a container of sand from Utah Beach, Normandy, France to the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum and then presented an American Flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. to Sidney Winchester’s wife, Bobbye, who accepted the flag on behalf of the Museum in honor of Sidney’s service both as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and as a charter member and champion of the Camp Gordon Johnston Association. The sand from Utah Beach and the flag will be on display at the Museum. Also on this day, Camp Gordon Johnston Museum celebrated Smithsonian magazine’s 15th annual Museum Day. This national celebration honors museums that follow the example of the Smithsonian with free admission.
Click Here to see the Video of the Dedication Ceremony and Congressman Neal Dunn’s special presentations. Thanks to Mayor Brenda La Paz for this video! Click here to learn more about these events.
