Norman Kerr, of Madisonville, Ohio, transferred from Great Lakes to a Navy band at Kansas City in June 1944. The Navy operated bases in Olathe and Hutchinson, both within 30 miles of Kansas City.

Nothing definitive about even which base might have hosted the band: A Black sailor involved at a Kansas City train station riot with White marines in August 1945 was hospitalized at Olathe NAS before transfer to Great Lakes. A Chicago Defender correspondent from Hutchinson reports mostly church news but in one column lists seven Black sailors who have mustered out in 1945 . 

Sources

Hubbard, Ruth A. “Cincinnati Society.” Chicago Defender. 1 July 1944: 15

“Kansas: Hutchinson.” Chicago Defender. 3 Aug. 1946: 19.

“2 Hurt In Race Riot In K.C. Depot.” Chicago Defender. 25 Aug 1945: 3.  

–16 February 2025