Double Victory: A WWII Soldier Comes Home a Changed Man

During WWII, more than 2.5 million African American men registered for the draft, and African American women volunteered in large numbers. Many of them were motivated by the Double V Campaign message that was printed in the Philadelphia Courier, while others were driven by personal circumstances. One Louisiana African American solider saw it as a way to elevate his family and escape sharecropping work on the plantation. 

In this presentation, Gaynell Brady uses genealogical research and oral history to delve into the life of a Louisiana African American soldier. Cary Clifford was born on a plantation in Glynn, Louisiana. After fighting alongside thousands of enlisted men and officers in Europe, he returned home deeply affected by his wartime experiences. 

Gaynell Brandy is an educator and museum professional who is passionate about learning, genealogy, and museums. She currently serves as the Owner/Educator at Our Mammy's LLC, where she teaches families about genealogy and African American history. In her role at Our Mammy's, she develops and implements hands-on history and genealogy lessons for participants using information from her own family tree. 

Past professional experiences include the National World War II Museum, the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, and River Road African American Museum. Gaynell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from Southern University at New Orleans.