Milton Lorenzo Spencer (1925 - 1999)

Born 4 Dec 1925 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Alice Mae (Mihaljevich) Spencer — married 2 Jul 1955 (to 10 Jul 1981) in Franklin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Nov 1999 at age 73 in Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dee Spencer-Carr [send private message]

Biography

Milton Spencer is a part of US Black heritage.

Milton was a racially fluid ancestor.

Milton Spencer is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army 1942-1950
Served in World War II.

Milton Spencer was awarded the Purple Heart.

Milton Lorenzo Spencer was born 4 December 1925 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lonnie Spencer and Zanana Brown. ^[1]

Ain’t we got fun

He had one sister Doris Ramona and three brothers, Leon Addison, Earl Louis, and David Leroy

Growing Up in The Selma of the North

Milton grew up during a time when African Americans who navigated the Jim Crow Era in Milwaukee aka The Selma of the North did as all African Americans in the country did. ^[4] Due to residential segregation most, if not all, Milwaukee African Americans found themselves consigned to the “colored district” and faced with difficult choices. They found themselves either ;

(1) moving their families to another county before losing their homes to the construction of Interstate 43, therefore increasing isolation

(2) relegating themselves to segregation

(3) exercising their racial fluidity if possible aka "passing "

(4) Fighting for their rights , protest and hope for the best. ^[5]

The Spencer residence, where Milton grew up as a young boy was also locked into the area along with poor blacks and other racial and ethnic groups including immigrants. The Spencer’s were a black family and even though Milton's father Lonnie Spencer continued moving up in ranks at Milwaukee Police Dept., Milton's residence, due to the family’s race as recorded in census', was also included in the segregated area of Milwaukee called Bronzeville with no other options.

• By the 1940’s at least sixteen of the eighteen Milwaukee County suburbs were using racially restrictive covenants to exclude black families from residential area.
• Some subdivisions previously established in 1927 in Cudahy, Shorewood, West Milwaukee, Whitefish Bay, and Wauwatosa , excluded all non-Caucasian families.
• In the 1930’s subdivisions created in Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, St. Francis and South Milwaukee categorically excluded blacks.
• In the 1940’s Brown Deer, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, St. Francis, and West Allis were still using covenants to exclude blacks from newly created subdivisions.
• As late as 1958, ten years after the United State Supreme Court outlawed judicial enforcement of these covenants, race restrictions were recorded in the courthouse for a new subdivision in Greendale.^[6]

In 1943, when Milton was 18 years old he was working as a taxi driver for yellow cab company in Milwaukee, WI. He was later hired as a truck driver and his military service would have him AB Truck Driver for a medical unit. He was an excellent driver, and he enjoyed driving on long road trips. It was his way of escaping the segregation in the city of Milwaukee.

Milton made a personal and conscious choice to “change” his race when he was required to register for the US Selective Service System. On 4 December 1943 he exercised his racial fluidity in order to “pass for white”. He, like so many others who could for their survival, changed his race with a swipe of a pen , from “B” aka Black to “W” aka White on his draft card. Milton was in a military record on 4 December 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.^[7]

With the Swipe of a Pen

He thought it was his way of survival in the Jim Crow era, but at what cost?

As quoted in ‘“Choosing Racial Identity in the United States’. “Eighty-eight percent of Black men who passed did so, compared with only 39 percent of Black men who didn’t pass. “It was personally costly,” the author stated . “To live as a white person, a man moved away from his community and if his family was unable to pass for white with him, would cut himself off from his family. The psychological and emotional pain incurred was tremendous. All of this suffering had to be done in secrecy and silence, which could have only added to the trauma.”' ^[8] Due to his choice, Milton had to estrange himself from his black family.

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Milwaukee Sentinel Extra! 25 August 1942 ; Milton sustained a serious injury due to a train and trolley car accident in Milwaukee, when he was 17 years old. He suffered upper torso damage and lung damage and was hospitalized. Later on he developed a hole in his right lung. He had 2 surgeries to repair it. Ultimately, his cause of death many years later would be “Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis “. ^{[9][10] [11]}

Trolley accident

Military Service

Milton registered for the Selective Service in December 1943. ^[12] In 1945 , Milton was drafted into the US army, sent to Ft Bragg, NC as TRUCK driver AB 7245 . His unit was sent to the European arena during WW2. He separated at Camp Stoneman, California. ^[13]

Foreign Service , Central Europe

1. European African Middle Eastern Medal^[14]

Medals and Recommendations

(1) Good Conduct Ribbon

(2) Bronze Star

(4) Purple Heart

(5) Glider Badge

(6) Paratrooper Wings

(7) Victory Medal

Letter of Awards

Milt returned to the United States in August of 1945 aboard the SS Thomas Barry and was assigned to a Special Task Force in Alaska.

Task Force Frigid

Milton in the Army

Task Force Frigid, Art Grau Jr

In early 1946 the US Army announced that three special task forces would be organized to conduct winter exercises. TASK FORCE WILLIWAW was destined for Adak (in the Aleutian Islands); TASK FORCE FROST was destined for Camp (now Fort) McCoy, WI; and the largest being TASK FORCE FRIGID with 1500 military personnel, also sent to Alaska. Both FRIGID and WILLIWAW formed at Ft. Ord, CA while FROST assembled at Camp McCoy. TF FRIGID sailed from San Francisco, CA on 7 September 46, arriving at Whittier, AK on 11 September, and arriving at its home for the winter – Ladd Field (now Ft. Wainwright) on 12 September. Threat of Another War Spurred Tests In September 1945 relations between the US and the Soviet Union worsened and the possibility of armed conflict played an important role in the Army’s plans to conduct winter operations in the arctic. These operations were to test the endurance of soldiers exposed to harsh winter conditions and also test clothing, weapons, vehicles, and other equipment that would be used in combat. The Soviet had much experience fighting in severe cold weather whereas the US had little such experience. A Unique Outfit, TF FRIGID was termed a unique outfit comprising “one of everything” in the Army ground forces.This is only partial text and a limited number of graphics from the original article. The original article, which contains much more detailed information than here, and additional graphics, is contained in the April -June 2001 issue of The Trading Post." ^[15] Unfortunately, discrimination against black people still existed when Milton was serving in the US Army. Although desegregation within the U.S. military was legally established, full integration of African-American servicemen was not established until 1953 in the Army. ^[16]

Milton Spencer Image 16

Civilian Life

Milton continued his racial fluidity in and after his military service. Milt eventually returned to Milwaukee in 1950 and yet remained estranged from his black family. He resumed his lifelong friendship with George Riley.^[17]

1 Apr 1950: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Name	Sex	Age	Status	Relation	Occupation	Birth Place
Paul Ziemer	M	56	Divorced	Lodger	Plant Laborer	Germany
Eugene R Ziemer	M	25	Never married	Lodger	Assembler	Wisconsin
Louis J Togni	M	32	Never married	Lodger	Bettle House Worker	Michigan
George O Reilly	M	29	Never married	Lodger	Truck Driver	Wisconsin
Milton L Spencer		24	Never married	Lodger	Truck Driver	Wisconsin

Milton met his future wife, Alice,a single mother of 2, in 1954, in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Milton married Alice M Mihaljevich, aka Walters, on 2 July 1955 in Franklin, Wisconsin, at Dreamland Motel. Witnesses were friends, George and Opal ^[18]

Marriage certificate Spencer Mihaljevich(Walters)

Milton was still exercising racial fluidity due to the fact interracial marriage was not legal until 1967 in the United States. Interracial marriage finally was made legal in the 1967 Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia.

Milton and Alice had 2 mixed race children and remained secretive about their ethnicity from their father, Milton.

(1)Diane in 1956

(2)David in 1959

^[19]

SPENCER blended WALTERS CHRISTMAS

From 1955 until 1970 Milton further continued his racial fluidity while living on the South side of Milwaukee, just a couple blocks across the 16th Street viaduct, 1710 Washington Street, Milwaukee ^[20]

During the summer of 1967, civil unrest continued in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while Milton secretly built a new family home in the suburbs of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Milton moved his family away from the city of Milwaukee in the summer of 1970.^[21]

Milt was a professional driver for the trucking company, Fred Olson Motor Service, aka FOMS, until the early 1970s . He was a member of the Brotherhood of Teamsters when he was a trucker.

Teamster logo

Milton returned to school in the 1970’s to earn his High School GED . He retained a license in residential real estate sales in the state of Wisconsin. He worked as an agent for Wauwatosa Realty Wisconsin for many years.^{[22] [23]}

In 1981 Milton and Alice divorced.^[24]

Milton was remarried on 25 Jul 1981 to Judy Kay Mc Cormick in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[25] Milton and Judy lived in Mukwonago for a time then later moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin.^[26]

Milton died on 9 November 1999, at the VA Hospital, Milwaukee WI. ^[27] https://www.fold3.com/record/528171850 Milton's son, David, and daughter Diane were by his side at the time of his death. ^[28]

Research Notes

Although Milton was determined to hide his racial identity and that of his two children, his daughter Diane confirmed with DNA that which Milton felt needed to be hidden. ^[29] Spencer-24565 11:58, 21 June 2023 (UTC)

The 1960 census will cite the Spencer family living at 1710 West Washington Street Milwaukee WI . The family consisted of Milton Alice Diane age 4 David age 1 and step kids, Michael 11 and Kristine Walters 10.

MLK JR was assassinated on 4 April 1968.

The 1970 census will cite the Spencer family living at 1021 S 17th St Milwaukee WI Milton Alice , Diane 14 and David 11 Michael at UW Whitewater and Kristine a constant runaway. Later the same year relocating to Waukesha County without the Walters siblings at Lakeside Subdivision . Spencer-24565 00:44, 22 June 2023 (UTC)

When Milton was 14 years old he witnessed his younger brother Earl’s sudden death. Earl died one day before Milt’s birthday. This traumatized Milton and he never fully came to terms with Earl’s death. It would haunt him all his life.^[30]

• Fact: Residence (1930) Milwaukee (Districts 1-250), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
• Fact: Residence (1935) 2214 No 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
• Fact: Residence (1940) 2214 No 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
• Fact: Social Program Application (Jan 1942)
• Fact: Milton severely injured in trolley accident (23 August 1942) While riding a streetcar in Milwaukee Wisconsin on August 25 1942 the trolley was struck by a train which caused many injuries to passengers. Milton was Jinji red and transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
• Fact: Residence (10 April 1950) Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
• Fact: Burial (9 November 1999) Wisconsin, United States
• Fact: Previous Residence Waukesha, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQR-822G?cid=fs_copy
2. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census," database with images
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 2342322
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #58886171 (accessed 25 June 2023)
   Milton Spencer (4), single son, in household of Lonnie Spencer (26) at 1111 Walnut Street, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Born in Wisconsin.
3. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census," database with images
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: m-t0627-04550; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 72-226
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #75802384 (accessed 25 June 2023)
   Milton Spencer (14), single son, in household of Lonnie Spencer (36) in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born in Wisconsin.
4. ↑ Article. Title Jim Crow Laws, Author, History.com, Website, HISTORY,[ https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws.]
5. ↑ ‘’Dahis, Ricardo and Nix, Emily and Qian, Nancy, Choosing Racial Identity in the United States, 1880-1940 (November 2019). [1] NBER Working Paper No. w26465, Available at SSRN:[https://ssrn.com/abstract=3492879] “
6. ↑ https://dc.uwm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1177&context=eti_pubs
7. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947," database with images
   National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards For Wisconsin, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 689
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #199293009 (accessed 25 June 2023)
   Hair Color: Brown; Registration Date: 4 Dec 1943; Weight: 165; Name: Milton Lorenzo Spencer [Spencer ]; Birth Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Residence Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Complexion: Light; Height: 6 1"; Next of Kin: Mrs Anna Spencer;
   Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
   Milton Lorenzo Spencer 18
   Anna Spencer Mother; Registration Place: Milw, Wisconsin, USA; Gender: [M] [M (Male)]; Eye Color: Brown; Relationship to Draftee: [] [Mother]; Employer: Yellow Cab Co; Race: [ Black] [White]; Birth Date: 4 Dec 1925; Age: 18.
8. ↑ ‘’Dahis, Ricardo and Nix, Emily and Qian, Nancy, Choosing Racial Identity in the United States, 1880-1940 (November 2019). [2]”
9. ↑ State of Wisconsin Dept of Health Service and Family Services, Original Certificate of Death, Certificate of Vital Record, Local State File No.5379 , 9 November 1999, Milton Lorenzo Spencer, issued 2 Oct 2022, in personal files of Dee
10. ↑ MILWAUKEE SENTINEL EXTRA! (Milwaukee, WI) 25 August 1942, page 2 GenealogyBank https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A119BAA7547AD9B50%40GB3NEWS-16E681D105AEBFB0%402430597-16E5A031207E39C0%401 : accessed 16 May 2023
11. ↑ MILWAUKEE SENTINEL EXTRA! (Milwaukee, WI) 25 August 1942, page 1 GenealogyBank https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A119BAA7547AD9B50%40GB3NEWS-16E681D105AEBFB0%402430597-16E675124706911E%400 : accessed 16 May 2023
12. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
    National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards for Wisconsin, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 689
    Ancestry Record 2238 #199293009 (accessed 12 March 2023)
    Name: Milton Lorenzo Spencer [Spencer ]; Gender: [M] [M (Male)]; Race: [ Black] recorded as [White]; Age: 18; Relationship to Draftee: [] [Mother]; Birth Date: 4 Dec 1925; Birth Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Residence Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Registration Date: 4 Dec 1943; Registration Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Employer: Yellow Cab Co; Height: 6 1"; Weight: 165; Complexion: Light; Hair Color: Brown; Eye Color: Brown; Next of Kin: Mrs Anna Spencer;
    Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
    Milton Lorenzo Spencer 18
    Anna Spencer Mother.
13. ↑ DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty PFC Milton Lorenzo Spencer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Last Duty Assignment or major command was Fort Bragg , North Carolina, US Command to which transferred. To reenlist in RA Inf no time lost Primary Specialty, TRUCK driver AB 7245 Record of Service, 1 Year , 5 Months , 4 days Date entered, 18 Dec 1945-Separation date, 23 April 1945
14. ↑ DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active DutyPFC Milton Lorenzo Spencer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Last Duty Assignment or major command was Camp Stoneman , California, US Command to which transferred. To reenlist in Regular Army INF Reserve to the benefit of the US Army with no time lost. Primary Specialty, TRUCK driver AB 7245 Record of Service, 1 Year , 5 Months , 4 days Date entered, 23 May 1947-Separation date, 29 April 1948 Service member's copies are located in personal family files of Spencer-24565.
15. ↑ United States Task Force “Frigid”, 1947. (1947). Polar Record, 5(33-34), 78-78. doi:10.1017/S0032247400037268,United States Task Force “Frigid”, 1947. (1947). Polar Record, 5(33-34), 78-78. doi:10.1017/S0032247400037268
16. ↑ Racism against African Americans in the U.S. military
17. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
    United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Roll: 2117; Sheet Number: 16;EnumerationDistrict:7347Ancestry Record 62308 #117861124 (accessed 18 February 2023)
    Milton L Spencer (24), single lodger, Truck Driver, in household of Paul Ziemer (56) in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Born in Wisconsin.
18. ↑ Marriage Certificate of Milton L Spencer & Alice M Walters, License No 314057, 2 July 1955, Groom's original copy, bride&grooms parents, State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Clerk issued 25 June 1955.witnesses George Riley-14679 and Opal Riley. Located in personal files of Spencer-24565"
19. ↑ Birth Certificate of Diane Theresa Spencer, 22 December 1956, mother Alice M. Mihaljevich, father Milton L Spencer, Wisconsin State Board of Health, Original Certificate of Live Birth, State Birth No.118-56-24235, signed on 26 December 1956, filed 28 December 1956, in the possession of Spencer-24565[’’https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/149926632’’]
20. ↑ [3] 'Milwaukee’s, History of Segregation and Development. A Biography of Four Neighborhoods
21. ↑ Milwaukee’s, History of Segregation and Development. A Biography of Four Neighborhoods. 2016, available at (accessed 4 January 2023) Jesse Paulson, Meghan Wierschke, and Gabe Jin Ha Kim, University of Wisconsin, Madison March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project, University of Wisconsin-16th Street Bridge (Viaduct) [4]
22. ↑ Employment: "Wisconsin, U.S., Employment Records, 1903-1988"
    Wisconsin Real Estate Examining Board. Wisconsin Real Estate Commission; Wisconsin; Applications For Licenses, 1920-1976; Series: Applications for licenses, 1920-1976; Book Series: 1636
    Ancestry Record 61705 #235840 (accessed 26 February 2023)
    Application Date: 1 Jan 1975; Residence Date: 1975; Industry: Real Estate; Residence Street Address: Route 2 Box 382 A; License Date: 1 Jan 1975; Name: Milton L Spencer; Residence Place: Mukwonago, Waukesha, Wisconsin; Occupation: Real Estate.
23. ↑ 1979 Newspaper': "Newspapers.com"
    Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin) 28 Jan 1979, page 13
    Newspapers Clip: 86505478 (accessed 1 March 2023)
24. ↑ Divorce: "Wisconsin, U.S., Divorce Index, 1965-1984"
    Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Wisconsin Divorce Index, 1965-1984. Madison, WI, USA: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1244 #201230 (accessed 14 March 2023)
    Milton Lorenzo Spencer divorced Alice Mae Mihaljevich on 10 Jul 1981.
25. ↑ Marriage: "Nevada, U.S., Marriage Index, 1956-2005"
    Page: 123814; Book: 6290
    Ancestry Record 1100 #3357550 (accessed 14 March 2023)
    Milton Lorenzo Spencer marriage to Judy Kay McCormick on 25 Jul 1981.
26. ↑ Directory: "U.S., Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002"
    City: Mukwonago; State: Wisconsin; Year(s): 1995
    Ancestry Record 7339 #242362959 (accessed 14 March 2023)
    Zip Code: 53149; Address: 8775 Lakeside Dr; Name: Milton L Spencer; Residence Place: Mukwonago, Wisconsin, USA; Residence Years: 1995; Phone Number: 414-363-4216.
27. ↑ 'Original Certificate of Death
28. ↑ Personal recollection, recorded 4 January 2023, as told to Diane Spencer by Spencer-25402 All documents and notes in the possession of Diane Spencer, Spencer-24565.
29. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-matches/compare/4b9e98a3-728a-40c8-a9d9-d2bdbbdd3577/with/527b1fbf-48af-42fa-b8b5-187483988f91/ethnicity
30. ↑ first hand knowledge experienced by Milton’s daughter a family member Spencer-24565

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 02 October 2023, 18:02), entry for Milton Spencer (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L2R2-QTP ); contributed by various users.

See also

• memorial
• Milwaukee’s, History of Segregation and Development. A Biography of Four Neighborhoods. 2016, http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/78997 Also available at (accessed 4 January 2023) Jesse Paulson, Meghan Wierschke, and Gabe Jin Ha Kim, University of Wisconsin, Madison March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project, University of Wisconsin-16th Street Bridge (Viaduct) https://uwm.edu/marchonmilwaukee/keyterms/16th-street-bridge-viaduct/
• [‘’https://www.uso.org/stories/2034-8-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-army-s-82nd-airborne-division-on-its-birthday]
• NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES CHOOSING RACIAL IDENTITY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1880-1940 Ricardo Dahis Emily Nix Nancy Qian Working Paper 26465 [5] NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 November 2019[6]
• https://www.mphswi.org/HighProfileHistory/1967Riots
• FRED OLSON MOTOR SERVICE CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN,MC135540,DOT# 46628,6022 W STATE ST,MILWAUKEE, WI 53213
• White Flight
• Important historical information
• [7]

• 13th Airborne Division 222nd

• 23 Feb 1947, Page 34 - Asheville Citizen-Times at Newspapers.com

• 22 Aug 1946, 6 - The Lincoln Times at Newspapers.com