Marshall on mclaurin, the marines of montford point. One step towards civil rights handouts photograph, a platoon of africanamerican marines listening to their drill instructor, sergeant gilbert hubert johnson at camp montford point, north carolina national archives and record administration 208np10ff1. Hashmark johnson, acting field sergeant major, recruit depot battalion, montford point camp, surveys a platoon of recruits, ca. Marines corps photo under the direction of swimming instructor marine pfc. The montford point marines fought for the right to fight for their country. In 2007, a documentary entitled the montford point marine project was released, honoring the black marines who trained at montford point. Montford point marines chapter 10, jacksonville, nc. Between 1942 and 1949 more than 20,000 men trained at camp montford point, a segregated facility adjacent to camp lejeune. In chicago, the groups first location was near 75th street and king drive, but it burned down. Between 1942 and 1949, 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 book i chose to do my book report on is the marines of. Feb 26, 2007 the marines of montford point was a book written from interviews conducted for a documentary. It was a nice experience sharing with the montford marines, said sgt.
Between 1942 and 1949, approximately 20,000 africanamerican men completed recruit training and became known as the montford point marines. Mclaurin focuses most of his work on the montford point marines training during world war ii. Neimeyer director of marine corps history division o n 27 june 2012, the marines of montford point received recognition from. This really opens your eyes to the way the marine corps operated and how segregation really played a role on the corps. Apr 02, 2020 the marine corps is known for its heroes, and lieutenant general lewis b. Inglewood says goodbye to one of the first black marines. My reasons for joining the marine corps essay 1822 words. Montford point marines were important in all major campaigns of korea, from serving as frontline troops, to being involved with service and supply units. The book signing marked the start of three events in support of montford point marines day. Drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point relates the experiences of these pioneers in their own words. Puller mastered small unit guerrilla warfare as a lieutenant in haiti in the 1920s, and at the end of his career commanded a division in. The montford point marines fought to be assigned to infantry units and eventually won the right, taking part in some of our nations greatest battles.
This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the. Celebrating the montford point marines city of san diego. With an executive order from president franklin roose. In addition to the materials in the subcol lection africanamerican. With an executive order from president franklin roosevelt in 1941, the united states marine corpsthe last allwhite branch of the u. The marines of montford point was a book written from interviews conducted for a documentary. Montford point marine legacy deputy commandant information. It is about the first black recruits who received marine corps basic training at the segregated camp montford point adjacent to camp lejeune. Roosevelt issued executive order 8802, which prohibited racial discrimination in the services. Honoring the bravery of the montford point marines youtube.
Marine corps base quantico the story of the montford point marines and their fight to be marines will soon be coming to the big screen. Montford point marines visit 3rd civil affairs group. Raj amit kumar, a filmmaker and the founder of dark frames, is producing black boots, a film that follows three africanamericans from their introduction to boot camp at segregated camp montford point in jacksonville, north carolina, in 1942 to their. And from 1946, 47, 48 and 49 up until they closed, i was at montford point. Season episode 10012 26m 47s drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point relates the experiences of. 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 marines of montford point navy general library program. Woods activated the nucleus of the 51 st defense composite. Montford point marines honored at the basic school marine. Mar 30, 2015 this award winning documentary tells the story of the first african americans admitted into the usmc. The initial intent of the marine corps hierarchy was to discharge these african american marines after the war, returning them to civilian life leaving the marine corps an allwhite.
The marines first black recruits received basic training at the segregated montford point base adjacent to camp lejeune, nc and would continue to do so until 1949. Sep 01, 2011 approximately 20,000 africanamericans enlisted in the marine corps from 1942 to 1949 a time when the u. Marines, joseph carpenter and eugene groves, talked about their experience at montford point training camp in. Barnett person, a montford point marine, tells of the struggles against discrimination that he faced in his early years in the marine corps aug. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the political implications that. Camp history today camp johnson is the home of marine corps combat service support schools mccsss which consists of four mos producing schools, four tenant commands and one other marine corps o6 level command who reports to the commanding general of training command, field medical training battalioneast fmtbe. The book is written exactly as the men spoke, some parts were hard to read. An important contribution to military and civil rights history. Raj amit kumar, a filmmaker and the founder of dark frames, is producing black boots, a film that follows three africanamericans from their introduction to boot camp at segregated camp montford point in jacksonville, north carolina. George kidd, a montford point marine, signs the guestbook at the conclusion of the last friday evening parade of the season at marine barracks washington aug. Stories of the marines defining the marine corps marines. Drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of these marines for the first time.
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. I was the executive producer, videographer for many of the interviews as well as the editor. The montford point marines museum, an arm of the association, is located at the site of the original camp montford point on camp lejeune, forty miles up the road from wilmington at jacksonville. 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. A platoon of montford point marine recruits stand at parade rest in 1943 at new river, nc. Despite the challenges presented to those montford. Instead, african american marines were segregated experiencing basic training at montford point a facility at camp lejeune, north carolina. Christopher bryant, the barracks assistant supply chief. From their stories, we learn about their reasons for enlisting. Americas first black marines is a set of excerpts of interviews which, in studs terkel fashion, create an oral history of this group of marines. Most of the men went to serve in the pacific theater as members of support units. During world war ii, the first africanamerican recruits began training at an allblack recruit training facility, camp montford point in jacksonville, north carolina, under the instruction of white drill instructors. Black histeory, educational scholarship, veterans, military, banquets, events.
New recruits lineup to begin the journey to become montford point marines, montford point, new river, n. As the first african americans to become marines, montford point marines changed the face of the united states marine corps forever. Approximately twenty thousand 20,000 african american marines received basic training at montford point between 1942 and 1949. Kidd, along other original montford point marines, was one of the guests of honor the event. Montford point marines visit 3rd civil affairs group marine. Movie about montford point marines in production marine. Both jacksonville and wilmington have active montford point marines association chapters, which meant that we could quickly identify interview subjects. Less than a decade later, these marines played an integral part in helping stop the spread of communism through the vietnam war. 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. Marines of montford point essay 737 words bartleby. Johnson is a satellite camp of marine corps base camp lejeune in jacksonville, north carolina and home to the marine corps combat service support schools mccsss, where various support military occupational specialties such as administration, supply, logistics, finance, and motor transport maintenance are trained.
Jan 01, 2019 in 1965, the montford point marines association was created and chapters opened around the country. Three montford point marines who served in battles from world war ii to vietnam and two marine corps veterans from the montford point marine association spoke about their service. Marine corps recruiting montford point marines facebook. He, like all proud marines, had to prove his mettle. The first african american segment of the united states marine corps. The marines of montford point navy general library. A montford point drill instructor, he served during world war ii and the korean war. The site memorializes the ongoing journey of these marines toward equality and the artillery cannon used by the montford pointers.
Paul tolliver, leathernecks train at montford point, new river, n. As a result, the initial recruits who trained at montford point. Breaking through racial barriers, they transformed the face of the corps and became the first african americans enlisted in the u. The montford point marine memorial in jacksonville was dedicated at lejeune memorial gardens in july 2016 with hundreds of montford point marines and their families in attendance. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the political implications that were going on at the time. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the web site developers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the office of. Montford point marine awarded congressional gold medal. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the. Montford point marines photos defense media network. The montford point marines fought two wars, one abroad and one at home. The book i chose to do my book report on is the marines of montford point. Montford point marines of detroit, detroit, michigan. Camp johnson, lejeune recognize montford point marines. The first african american marines, called the montford point marines, went to recruit training at a separate location in montford point camp, n.
Desgrosseilliers, commander of the basic school, had in mind for his young marines with the running of the 2nd annual montford point biathlon at camp barrett on july 25. The african american marine training experience, montford point. Facing battles abroad and inequity at home, the montford point. His assignments and activities covered an extraordinary spectrum of warfare.
The marines were able to thank the veterans for their contributions and received the opportunity to ask the montford point marines questions about their service in battles. This is a true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. Puller has long been considered the greatest of them all. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial. Marines with 3rd civil affairs group, force headquarters group, marine forces reserve, pose for a picture with montford point marines, feb. Continued and this time i came to montford point i was assigned to camp maintenance.
Timeline 45 minutes divide students into groups of three or four students each. Marines were trained at camp montford point, in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949 the associations stated creed is. Montford point was a segregated training facility established in 1942 to train the first africanamerican marines. Melton mclaurin, the marines of montford point season. 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. Fizer got off the train to report for training at montford point, north carolina in the summer of 1942. But unfortunately, the style of the book is not my favorite. 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. The montford point marines showed such excellent results in their aptitudes and leadership capacities that an expanded navy recruiting program was initiated. But after i was out for a few, five months exactly, i reentered the marine corps and came to montford point. Marine corps photo a recruit platoon of montford point marines stand at. Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters. Camp johnson became the home of the marine corps combat service support schools.
Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually. This book contains a lot of interesting and eyeopening anecdotes presented verbatim about the marines, race relations in the armed services, and prevailing societal attitudes about race when the montford point marines enlisted. But holcomb had little sway when president franklin d. With an executive order from president franklin roosevelt in 1941, the. Before the american civil rights movement of the 1960s, racial segregation was an unfortunate fact of life even in the u. Marines were trained at camp montford point, in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949. Aug 26, 2011 the montford point marines walked the grounds prior to and after the ceremony to talk with the men and women who joined the corps during a time of war, just as they did nearly seven decades ago. Corps marshall islands military montford point marines montford point veterans mother. One step towards civil rights 4 procedure activity one. Breaking through racial barriers, they transformed the face of the marine corps. While they fought for freedom overseas, they returned home to a nation that was separate and unequal.
382 72 46 1223 1147 733 352 691 1262 1337 911 834 1036 292 271 1384 50 989 1364 639 138 130 904 1485 540 353 60 1199 254 378 467 122 1455