Gibbons, Lena.

Lena Gibbons (formerly Pasqualine Lawson) was one of the few African Americans who served as a Psychiatric Social Worker in the field of neuropsychiatry during World War II. She graduated with a bachelors and graduate degree from New York University and did coursework at Fordhams School of Social Work. Her exemplary record of service went unrecognized by the Air Force which was common for many African Americans, Japanese Americans and other minorities who served during World War II. In 2005, US Representative Diana DeGette passed a house resolution that formally recognized Gibbon's service and declared that her rank upon discharge from the Air Force should have been Technical Sergeant, rather than Private First Class.