Albert William Jennings Papers

Albert William Jennings was born in Denver, Colorado in 1900. He grew up in a house at 2926 Williams Street. Jennings attended Manual Training High School, where he graduated in 1915. He later attended Parks Business College for one year. Following his year at Parks Business College, Jennings enlisted in the Army of the United States of America. His 40 years of service with the U.S. government included 30 years in the Army. In 1918, Jennings participated in the U.S. Army’s operation that drove Pancho Villa out of Juarez, Mexico. In 1924, he served as corporal and company clerk at Fort Benning, Georgia.

During World War II Jennings was stationed in England, France and Okinawa, Japan. He recalled the military invasions of Normandy Beach, France and Okinawa, Japan, respectively. In England Jennings represented his military unit at a grand ball hosted by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The King and Queen received him at Buckingham Palace where the ball was held. In France Jennings was assigned officer rank to oversee African American soldiers voting in France during the 1944 elections being held in the U.S. Lieutenant Ben Lear shadowed Jennings in France during this election year process.

Jennings was the recipient of service medals for his contributions to the Mexican border campaign and World War II. He is credited with receiving more military honors and decorations than any other member of Denver’s Wallace Simpson American Legion Post, of which he was an adjutant member.

After retirement from the Army, Jennings continued to serve in a government capacity with the Colorado Department of Life Science at the Military Academy in Denver. There he was employed 10 years as a lab technician.