Print This Page

Airman First Class Geraldine Hendricks Young

Columbarium marker that reads: Johnnie A. Young, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, Korea, Vietnam. 1931-2021. A Hui Ho. Geraldine H. Young. Airman First Class, U.S. Air Force, Korea. 1934-2007.
  • Unit: 807th Supply Squadron, 807th Combat Support Group, Strategic Air Command
  • Date of Birth: January 29, 1934
  • Entered the Military: July 25, 1952
  • Date of Death: March 8, 2007
  • Hometown: Alderson, Oklahoma
  • Place of Death: Waipahu, Hawaiʻi
  • Award(s): National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Good Conduct Medal
  • Cemetery: Section C10-K, row 200, site 249. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Contributed by Kirra Dixon
Mentored by Mrs. Amy Boehning
Hawaiʻi Technology Academy
2024/2025

Early Life

Geraldine Hendricks was born on January 29, 1934 in Alderson, Oklahoma. She lived on an reservation with her Native American mother, Mabel M. Green Hendricks, and her nine siblings. Her father, Essie Hendricks, was an African American man. After Essie Hendricks died, Geraldine’s mother Mabel was left with the difficult task of caring for ten children on her own.  

Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw Nation, deeply rooted in Oklahoma, faced significant land loss through treaties between 1786 and 1830, eventually relocating west of the Mississippi to land shared with the Chickasaw Tribe. A treaty in 1866 fostered cooperation among tribes and granted legal amnesty to both groups. Over time, the Choctaw settled in Oklahoma, where they remain today. Geraldine’s family, the Hendricks, has longstanding ties to the reservation, dating back to her grandparents.

In the 1930s, the Great Depression deeply impacted the Choctaw Nation, exacerbating poverty and unemployment while disrupting agriculture. Federal programs like the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934 and New Deal initiatives provided some relief by restoring tribal governance and creating jobs through projects like road and school construction. Geraldine’s oldest brother, Thomas became a provider at age 21, taking on odd jobs to increase the family’s income.

During World War II, many Choctaw men and women served in the military, continuing their proud legacy of contributing to the nation’s defense. The war also brought economic opportunities as tribal members found employment in industrial jobs and war-related industries, often leaving the reservation to do so.

African-American School: L’Ouverture High School

In May 1952, an 18-year-old Geraldine graduated from L’Ouverture High School with 19 other students of color. During the ceremony, she was awarded the Southern Region Federated College Chest, Madame Depriest Salutatorian Award, a Freshman Scholarship from Wilberforce University in Ohio, National High School Honors Certificate, Chorus, and Dramatics Activity Awards. 

Established in 1908, L’Ouverture High School served as a vital institution for Black Oklahomans, offering education and jobs. Its name, inspired by Toussaint L’Ouverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution, symbolized liberation and opportunity. Though the school closed in 1968, it was repurposed in 2014 by alumni and remains a lasting symbol of resilience and community empowerment.

Letter confirming that Mabel Green  (listed as May Bell) was an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation, 1905.
L’Ouverture High School Auditorium and Gymnasium, 1938. Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory (06000486).
The 1940 census shows the Hendricks family in Alderson, Oklahoma. Thomas, age 21, is the only one listed as employed with “odd jobs.” National Archives and Records Administration.

Homefront

Alderson, Oklahoma 

Alderson, a small town located three miles southeast of McAlester, Oklahoma, began as a mining camp. It was named in honor of W.C. Alderson, an employee of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad. The railroad provided transportation between Alderson, McAlester, Hartshorne, and nearby towns before automobiles became widely available. The town’s population reached 855 in 1920 but decreased to 421 by 1930. This decline continued, with the population falling to 311 in 1950 and 207 in 1960.


Segregated Communities

During the Korean War, Oklahoma was deeply segregated, with African American soldiers and residents facing racism, discrimination, and violence. The state had one of the most extensive segregation systems in the United States. Laws and community leaders promoted segregation. Schools, public facilities, and transportation were racially divided.

Many African American Oklahomans joined the military and served during the Korean War, contributing to the overall American military effort despite facing segregation and discrimination at the time.

The Choctaw Nation contributed significantly to World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Choctaw service members were first recognized in World War I for using their native language as an unbreakable code, despite not being granted U.S. citizenship until 1924. Native Americans volunteered in large numbers, displaying bravery and strategic skill in multiple wars.

Korean War Contributions

During the Korean War, McAlester played a key role in ammunition production, leveraging a facility originally built during World War II for storing and loading bombs and ammunition. The construction led to a population boom, growing from 12,000 to 20,000 as workers flocked to work at the ammunition plant. After World War II, most of the workforce left but were called back during the Korean War to refurbish ammunition stockpiles.

Aerial view, looking east, of McAlester, Oklahoma, June 30, 1939. George I. Gird Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society (21628.7172.B).
U.S. Navy photograph showing employees working at the Navy Test House at the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot in McAlester, Oklahoma, 1950s.
A 20mm cartridge loader at the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot at McAlester, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society (2012.201.B0927.0208).

Military Experience

Joining the Women’s Air Force

In 1949, the desegregation of basic training in the U.S. Air Force allowed more African American women to join the Women’s Air Force (WAF). On July 25, 1952, just two months after graduating high school, Geraldine Young enlisted for a three-year term at her local recruiting office. By 1953, she completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Lackland, Texas.

Serving in a Supply Company

Young’s first assignment was with the 2950th M and F Squadron at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During a family visit while on leave, she expressed her enthusiasm for military service, recommending that “all girls of the right age bracket inquire about enlisting.”

Her next post was at an Air Force base in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York, where she served as a material clerk. The role required precision and attention to detail, as she managed shipments, purchases, and orders—essential tasks to ensure the forces received necessary materials while maintaining the base’s operations.

March Air Force Base, Riverside, California

After the Korean War, Young joined the 807th Medical Group. Established on October 27, 1944, this unit is the largest medical command in the U.S. Army Reserve. Here she received the National Defense Service Medal and achieved the rank of Airman Second Class. She reenlisted in July 1955 and was stationed at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California, where she specialized in medical inventory management for the 807th Medical Group.

In 1959, Young completed her service with a second honorable discharge, receiving the Air Force Longevity Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal in recognition of her dedication to the U.S. Air Force.

Korean War era Women’s Air Force recruiting poster, 1951. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, Digital Public Library of America.
Newspaper account of Geraldine Hendricks visiting her sister. McAlester Democrat, January 1, 1953.
 A photograph of the Strategic Air Command Combat Operations Center at March Air Force Base in Moreno Valley, California. Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress (HABS CA-2788-A). 

Veteran Experience

Geraldine Hendricks married Technical Sergeant Johnnie Young on November 18, 1955, in Riverside, California, during the first year of her reenlistment. Young, an African American Veteran from Alabama, met Geraldine through their military service in California. The couple decided to share their lives together, no matter where their journeys took them. Johnnie went on to serve multiple tours in Korea and Vietnam.

During their time in Seoul, Korea, the couple welcomed their only son, Johnnie, also known as Samuel Young. 

A New Career in Teaching

The Young family eventually settled in Waipahu, a town on the island of Oahu, to raise their son. Geraldine Young embarked on a new career as an educator, teaching neurodivergent elementary school students. She dedicated herself to this work until her retirement.

The Young family embraced the Hawaiian culture of their final station, making Oahu their permanent home. In retirement, Mrs. Young cherished spending time with her son and grandchildren.

Commemoration

Geraldine Young passed away on March 8, 2007, at the age of 73. During her life, she lived boldly—traveling around the world, serving her country with distinction, and raising a family.

Geraldine Hendricks Young was a woman of color who served our country with great pride and honor. She was a trailblazer who broke barriers for women in the Air Force, leaving an indelible mark on history. Born into a time when women of color faced significant challenges, Young defied the odds stacked against her. Throughout her life, she served in multiple important roles both in the military and within her personal life. She demonstrated resilience and strength, overcoming the mistreatment of her era and paving the way for others to follow.

Geraldine Young’s obituary. Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 18, 2007.
The remains of Geraldine and Johnnie Young are inurned together at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, December 9, 2024. Courtesy of Lynne O’Hara.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

A 20mm cartridge loader. Photograph. Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society (2012.201.B0927.0208). https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=US002

Arnes Aerial Surveys. Aerial view, looking east, of McAlester, OK. Photograph. June 30, 1939. George I. Gird Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society  (21628.7172.B). https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1589730/

Be One of the Smartest Women of the Year. Poster. 1951. United States Air Force. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, Digital Public Library of America. https://digitalpubliclibraryofamerica.tumblr.com/post/123550070979/be-one-of-the-smartest-women-of-the-year-by

Employees inside the old Navy Test House at the Yard Master’s Office on the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot, McAlester. Photograph. 1950s. U.S. Navy. https://www.flickr.com/photos/143443403@N04/43592895060/.

“Geraldine Hendricks.” Honolulu Star Advertiser [Honolulu, HI]. March 18, 2007. Newspapers.com (266814389). 

Geraldine Hendrix and Johnnie Young. California, U.S., Marriage Certificate 1949-1959. Digital image. https://www.ancestry.com/.

Geraldine Hendricks Young, DD-214, Department of the Air Force. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Geraldine Hendricks Young, Discharge Special Order, Department of  the Air Force. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Geraldine Hendricks Young, Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Air Force. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Indian Territory. Choctaw Nation. 1900 U.S. Federal Census. Digital image. https://www.ancestry.com/

Letter from the Commissioner of the Choctaw Nation to Lewis Green. February 27, 1905.

“LHS Seniors Are Graduated.” The M’Alester News- Captial [McAlester, OK], May 24, 1952. Newspapers.com (905896425). 

Looking south along Riverside Drive…March Air Force Base, Strategic Air Command, Combat Operations Center…Riverside County, CA. Photograph. Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress (HABS CA-2788-A). https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ca3424.photos/?sp=1

L’Ouverture Gymnasium. Photograph. McAlester Photos.

L’Ouverture Gymnasium. Photograph. 1999. Oklahoma State University. http://oli_shpo.okstate.edu/query_result.aspx?id=30321&pbc=P

Mabel Green. U.S., Native American Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes, 1895-1914. Digital images. https://ancestry.com

Oklahoma. Pittsburg County. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Digital image. https://www.ancestry.com/

S. Hendricks and Mabel Green. Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995. https://www.familysearch.org/

“Servicewomen visit relatives here.” McAlester Democrat [McAlester, OK], January 1, 1953. Newspapers.com (164022092). 

Secondary Sources

“807th Medical Command (Deployment Support).” U.S. Army Reserve. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://www.usar.army.mil/Commands/Functional/807th-MCDS/About-Us/ .

Edwards, Erica Johnson. “L’Ouveture High School: Race, Place, and Memory in Oklahoma.” Age of Revolutions (blog), September 28, 2020. https://ageofrevolutions.com/2020/09/28/louverture-high-school-race-place-and-memory-in-oklahoma/

“Geraldine Hendricks Young.” Find a Grave. Last modified July 3, 2011. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72587158/geraldine-young.

“Geraldine Hendricks Young.” Veterans Legacy Memorial. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/GERALDINEHENDRICKSYOUNG/D363F43.

“History.” Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Accessed October 23, 2024. https://www.choctawnation.com/about/history/

Jackson, Kevin. “Army Official Talks Ammo Plant History, Importance.” U.S. Army. Last modified May 12, 2016. Accessed October 23, 2024. https://www.army.mil/article/167826/army_official_talks_ammo_plant_history_importance

Kester, Marissa N. There from the Beginning: Women in the US Air Force. Air University Press, 2021. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/AUPress/Books/B_0172_THERE_FROM_THE_BEGINNING..pdf

O’Dell, Larry. “Pittsburg County.” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed October 23, 2024. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=PI016

“On May 17, 1954: Supreme Court Decision Sparks Massive White Resistance to School Integration.” Eiji: A History of Racial Injustice. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/may/17 .

Spearman, Pat. “Alderson.” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=AL005 .

“U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot.” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=US002

“What Changes Came to Oklahoma in the 1950s?” Geary Public Schools. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.gearyschools.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/522f9e3953516/Chapter%2015%20%20What%20changes%20came%20to%20Oklahoma%20in%20the%201950s.pdf.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.