The collection also has pdf oral histories of eight montford point. The montford point marines are the first black men to serve in the united states marine corps. Alfred masters became the first african american to enlist in the united states marine. First black marines mark 75th anniversary of the segregated boot camp. The first black male marine to step foot on montford point was pvt. About 400 of america s first black marines are still alive, according to the national montford point marine association. They would be in the first wave of the nearly eight years of montford point s existence, which produced nearly 20,000. Clarence willie, lieutenant colonel, retired, united states marine corps. The montford point marine association mpma is a nonprofit military veterans organization, founded to memorialize the legacy of the first african americans to serve in the united states marine corps. The amazing perseverance of these young men and the. With the beginning of world war ii african americans would get their chance to be in the toughest outfit going, the previously allwhite marine corps the first recruits reported to montford point, a small section of land on camp lejeune, north carolina on august 26, 1942.
This book contains a lot of interesting and eyeopening anecdotes presented verbatim about the marines, race relations in the armed services, prevailing societal attitudes about race when the montford point marines enlisted, and the experiences of black marines in wwii, korea, and vietnam. Montford point marine awarded congressional gold medal. This book serves to recognize and to honor the men who desegregated the marine corps and loyally served their country in three major wars. Sergeant major gilbert hashmark johnson, one of the first africanamericans to enlist in the marine corps, died of a heart attack on 5 august 1972 in jacksonville, north carolina, while addressing an annual meeting of the montford point marine association. The marines of montford point a true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. The marines of montford point by mclaurin, melton a. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of these pioneering african american marines. The men who reported for duty at camp montford point in august 1942 were the first african americans to serve their nation as marines since the american revolution.
The first african american marines, called the montford point marines, went to recruit training at a separate location in montford point camp, n. Defense battalion activated on august 18, 1942 at montford point. Montford point marines was the nickname given to the first african american units to serve in the united states marine corps. Shortly thereafter the secretary of the navy authorized a marine corps. Between 1942 and 1949 when the base was closed as a result of president trumans 1948 order fully desegregating all military forces more than 20,000 men trained at montford point, most of them going on to serve in the pacific theatre in world war ii as members of support units. The troops trained at montford point camp in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949. African americans in the united states marine corps. Desegregation in the united states marine corps wikipedia. The montford marines performed well in their duties at home and abroad, despite the strictures placed on them by society.
Approximately 20,000 african american recruits received training at montford point camp less than 10% of the marine corps end strength duri ng world war ii. The african american marine training experience, montford point. How montford point marines paved the way for african. He served in three wars and received a purple heart and a bronze star. In 1776 and 1777, a dozen black american marines served in the american revolutionary war, but from 1798 to 1942, the usmc followed a racially discriminatory policy of denying african americans the opportunity to serve as marines. America s first black marines kindle edition by mclaurin, melton a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. To the commandant of the marine corps, major general thomas holcomb, the montford point marines were a disgrace. The first african american to fight in a marine role was john martin, also known as keto, the slave of a delaware man, recruited in april 1776 without his owners, william marshall of wilmington, delaware, permission by. The recruits trained at camp montford point in jacksonville, nc from august 26, 1942 until the camp was decommissioned on september 9, 1949. The montford point marines 1942 1949 the first african. With an executive order from president franklin roosevelt in 1941, the united states marine corpsthe last allwhite branch of the u. Woods activated the nucleus of the 51 st defense composite battalion becoming the first. The largest number of black marines to serve in combat during ww ii took part in the seizure of okinawa, with approximately 2,000 seeing action. African americans in the united states marine corps timeline 1776 april.
This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of these marines for the first time. The marine corps celebrates the nationwide observance of african american black history month throughout february. United states of the marine corps montford point marines. I personally have spoken with young black marines on the grounds of the original camp mont ford point who knew nothing of its history. Both are published by the marine corps historical center, building 58. It took roosevelts 1941 exec order banning discrimination in government and defense industry to give blacks chance to serve in the. The montford point marines broke barriers as the first black men in the marines. The montford point marines were the first africanamericans to serve in the united states marine corps. These first dis would join the staff to reinforce the training mission at montford point which was to develop african american marines for support roles in the corps, following their graduation. The national museum of the marine corps montford point marines united states of the marine corps on 25 may 1942, the commandant of the marine corps issued instructions to recruit the first african american citizens for service in the u. Marines and sailors with the 5th marine regiment honored staff sgt. Marines were trained at camp montford point, in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949. The first black recruits received basic training at the segregated camp montford point.
Between 1942 and 1949 when the base was closed as a result of president trumans 1948 order fully desegregating all military forces. Americas first black marines hardcover february 26, 2007 by melton a. At the dedication of a memorial friday honoring the first black u. Nalty, published in 1995, or from blacks in the marine corps, reprinted in 2002. The first african american segment of the united states marine corps. Recruitment of black men for the marine corps started on june 1, 1942, a year after the order had been signed.
Huff were selected for their leadership and maturity and became the first black drill instructors. And we were the first ones to enter that training program. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the political implications that. Uss bladen apa63 was a gilliamclass attack transport that served with the us navy during world war ii. By october only 600 recruits had begun training although the call was for 1,000 for combat in the 51st and 52nd.
When vaughn arrived at montford point, he was greeted by five white, combathardened drill instructors, who were veterans of guadalcanal and the solomon islands. African americans in the united states marine corps timeline 1776. Technical sergeant alfred masters became the very first african american in the united states marines at his swearingin on june 1, 1942 not to be confused with howard p. The first african american marines were sent to a segregrated separate training camp named montford. It is also the story of achievement and ultimate triumph in the face of unrelenting racial prejudice, of an unyielding determination to prove their mettle as fighting. On june 25, 1941, fdrs executive order 8802 allowed. Inglewood says goodbye to one of the first black marines. The first recruits arrived at the newly estab lished camp on 26 august 1942.
Army, the tradition in the navy was to assign their. Army and navy had long relied on african american sol. First african american marines recognized with congressional honor. Montfort point marine, part of the corps first integrated. By 1945, all drill instructors and many ncos at montford point were black. Maradmin 03320 encourages commanders to hold observance events within their. For a new generation fizer wants the next generation to know montford pointers struggles and to recognize times have changed for the better.
Memorial to first black marines dedicated at camp lejeune. Marines, john spencer imagines his mind will recall what it was like to become a montford point marine. Perry was the first of 10 black recruits that arrived at montford point on aug. Excerpt this project began with a chance conversation in the spring of 1999 with dr. The marines speak with flashes of anger and humor, sometimes with sorrow, sometimes with great wisdom, and always with a pride fostered by incredible accomplishment in the face of adversity. Drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point relates the experiences of these pioneers in their own words. Marine corps observes african american black history. The men served in all black units, mostly in the pacific theater, and distinguished themselves while battling racism from within and enemies from without. Raymond williams enlisted in the marine corps in august 1946 as. If it were a question of having a marine corps of 5,000 whites or 250,000 negroes, he said in 1942, i would rather the whites.
Approximately twenty thousand 20,000 african american marines received basic training at montford point between 1942 and 1949. He received the highest rank of all who entered montford point camp. The first black recruits received basic training at the segregated camp montford point, adjacent to camp lejeune, near jacksonville, north carolina. Mcphatter, chc, usnr retired was one of the first young black men to enlist in the united states marine corps, and the last montford pointer on active duty, the last of the chosen few. The first africanamercan combat unit in the marine corps was the 51 st defense battalion initially designated in june 7, 1943 whose principle armament became the 90mm antiaircraft weapon. The first black marines are at risk of losing their. Randolph elder with the congressional gold medal posthumously during a ceremony at the 5th marines memorial garden, aug.
The signing of this act allowed for vaughn to become one of the first 20 black marines to receive their training at camp montford point, n. The story of reluctant integration in the marine corp and the struggles of the black marines. You must remember that there were no african american troops in the marine corps at all at that time, said banker. Al banker, one of the first africanamericans to train at montford point, said he joined the marine corps because he felt it was the proper thing to do. Perry of charlotte, north carolina, who has the distinction of being the first black recruit. Roosevelt ordered the armed forces in 1941 to recruit african americans. The montford point marine museum is currently housed in the chow hall the montford point marines used during the 1940s. Unlike the buffalo soldiers or the tuskegee airmen, whose stories have received considerable scholarly attention and exposure in the popular media, the men of mont ford point remain virtually unknown. The united states marine corps usmc is a desegregated force, made up of troops of all races working and fighting alongside each other. Americans served in the montford point marine units during world war. The uss bladen was boarded by african american marines and departed the west coast for pearl harbor 20 november 1944 and upon arrival embarked personnel of the 103rd and 109th construction battalions for guam. The first black marines 1942 1949 iwo jima they were. Theirs is a story of honor, duty, and patriotism, characteristic of what has come to be known as the greatest generation. In honor of black history month, today we look at the montford point marines of world war ii 19391945.
The history of the black marine marine barracks news. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the marines of montford point. One of the first african american marines to integrate the ranks of the corps died feb. Barnett person, a montford point marine, tells of the struggles against discrimination that he faced in his early years in the marine corps aug. The black marines were segregated at montford point camp to train between 19421949.