The montford point marine memorial is dedicated to all montford point marines and their legacy. The marines of montford point are largely absent from the world war ii narrative, and relatively unknown to individuals in the military services and to the public at large. The marines of montford point university of north carolina. In 2007, a documentary entitled the montford point marine project was released, honoring the black marines who trained at montford point. Camp johnson became the home of the marine corps combat service support schools. The marines of montford point by mclaurin, melton a.
Drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point relates the experiences of these pioneers in their own words. 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. Montford point marine memorial jacksonville, nc official. Music legend, montford point marine johnnie johnson awarded. After 144 years of official policy against allowing blacks to serve their country as u. Jim crow america and the marines of montford point a thesis. A montford point drill instructor, he served during world war ii and the korean war. May 31, 2017 the montford point marines were the first african american marines to enter the corps. See more ideas about marines, black history and camp lejeune. 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. The day that i found out the truth about montford point and montford point marines, i cried because i felt so inadequate because it was a huge. Marines of montford point essay 737 words bartleby. Camp johnson is situated on montford point, the site of recruit.
A platoon of montford point marine recruits stand at parade rest in 1943 at new river, nc. With an executive order from president franklin roosevelt in 1941, the united states marine corps the last allwhite branch of the u. 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. The montford point story montford point marines of america. Korea because some of the most ferocious engagements of the korean war came in the early stages of that con. National archives they had come from the nations capital, the beaches of key west, the streets of philadelphia and beyond.
This web site was supported by the department of the navy, office of naval research, through a grant with south carolina state university and developed by the university of north carolina wilmington, working in close cooperation with the montford point marines museum at camp lejeune in jacksonville, n. The montford point marine association mpma is a nonprofit military veterans organization, founded to memorialize the legacy of the first african americans to. But after i was out for a few, five months exactly, i reentered the marine corps and came to montford point. The montford point marines are the subject of a documentary written and directed by dr. The montford point marines fought two wars, one abroad and one at home. Joining the ranks just after world war ii, the montford point marines persisted through segregated and. Montford point marine widow accepts congressional gold medal. In 1965, a reunion of marines was held in philadelphia which included former montford point marines along with marines on active duty. Johnnie johnson had traveled and seen the face of racism in many different ways, yet he signed up and said. And from 1946, 47, 48 and 49 up until they closed, i was at montford point. Honoring the bravery of the montford point marines youtube. But the montford point marines have not been forgotten. Music legend, montford point marine johnnie johnson.
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. First black marines mark 75th anniversary of the segregated. A group of the montford point marines in dress blues, ca. Feb 26, 2007 the marines of montford point was a book written from interviews conducted for a documentary. The montford point marines were the first african american marines to enter the corps. Carpenter collection, elmer bowen collection coll3739, and john r. The men who enlisted in response completed recruit training at montford point, north carolina during a time and place where racism and segregation were a part. With an executive order from president franklin roose. Breaking through racial barriers, they transformed the face of the corps and became the.
From their stories, we learn about their reasons for enlisting. Vernon harris composed the music to a song, ill take the marines, commemorating the group. It was a marine corps their courage, determination, and sacri. Breaking through racial barriers, they transformed the face of the 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. Approximately twenty thousand 20,000 african american marines received basic training at. Montford point marines join 2nd supply battalion 2nd marine. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the. Approximately twenty thousand 20,000 african american marines received basic training at montford point between 1942 and 1949. Aug 10, 2016 during my time in the usmc, i am ashamed to say i never heard or was taught about these courageous heroes.
Breaking through racial barriers, they transformed the face of the corps and became the first african americans enlisted in the u. Stories of the marines defining the marine corps marines. Both jacksonville and wilmington have active montford point marines association chapters, which meant that we could quickly identify interview subjects. This web site was supported by the department of the navy, office of naval research, through a grant with south carolina state university and developed by the university of north carolina wilmington, working in close cooperation with the montford point marines. This proved to be a time of change and growth for the united states marine corps. Johnson, a member of the inaugural montford point marines, served from 19421949. The marines of montford point was a book written from interviews conducted for a documentary. 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. A dedication ceremony was held on july 29, 2016 to officially open the memorial to the public.
Jul 30, 2011 the marines were the last to open up and the next year, fizer was among 18,000 young black men who trained not at parris island but at a segregated facility in montford point, north carolina. The montford point marines fought to be assigned to infantry units and eventually won the right, taking part in some. 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. Woods activated the nucleus of the 51 st defense composite battalion becoming the first. 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. Approximately 20,000 africanamericans enlisted in the marine corps from 1942 to 1949 a time when the u. Americas first black marines ebook written by melton a. This really opens your eyes to the way the marine corps operated and how segregation really played a role on the corps. Montford point marine memorial project preserving the legacy of the montford point marines 824 gum branch rd, suite m jacksonville, nc 28540 850 4996727 montford point marine association, inc. The first black recruits received basic training at the segregated camp montford point, adjacent to camp lejeune, near jacksonville, north carolina. The site memorializes the ongoing journey of these marines toward equality and the. Oct 31, 2012 the marines of 2nd supply battalion, combat logistics regiment 25, 2nd marine logistics group embraced their forefathers, the montford point marines, during the battalions 237th marine corps birthday celebration in new bern, n. During the korean war, the united states marine corps fully integrated. While they fought for freedom overseas, they returned home to a nation that was separate and unequal.
The marines of montford point navy general library. Sep 01, 2011 approximately 20,000 africanamericans enlisted in the marine corps from 1942 to 1949 a time when the u. Aug 26, 2017 a group of the montford point marines in dress blues, ca. This is a true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. The montford point marines showed such excellent results in their aptitudes and leadership capacities that an expanded navy recruiting program was initiated. Over the years the association has garnered many successes. 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. 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. Oct 16, 2014 the day that i found out the truth about montford point and montford point marines, i cried because i felt so inadequate because it was a huge part of marine history and who i was, said moore. The marines of montford point navy general library program. Sergeant carrel reavis, with fellow marines, is seen standing on the right. Marines, on june 1, 1942, the nations first black marines broke the color barrier. They were segregated, discriminated, and branded colored, and in 1942 the men of montford point made history.
The marines of 2nd supply battalion, combat logistics regiment 25, 2nd marine logistics group embraced their forefathers, the montford point marines, during the battalions 237th marine corps birthday celebration in new bern, n. Less than a decade later, these marines played an integral part in helping stop the spread of communism through the vietnam war. An important contribution to military and civil rights history. Montford point marines were important in all major campaigns of korea, from serving as frontline troops, to being involved with service and supply units. This collaboration with original montford pointers, university of nc, and universtiy south carolina aims to capture all the stories past and.
It is located at lejeune memorial gardens at montford landing road in jacksonville. The montford point story montford point marines of. 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. National archives they had come from the nations capital, the beaches of. Montford point marine widow accepts congressional gold. The site memorializes the ongoing journey of these marines toward equality and the artillery cannon used by the montford pointers. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the marines of montford point. While the heroism of the tuskegee airmen and the paratroopers of the armys 555th parachute infantry battalion have been noted, the first black marines have been a postscript in history. Paul tolliver, leathernecks train at montford point, new river, n. Marines, joseph carpenter and eugene groves, talked about their experience at montford point training camp in north carolina, and their service. In 1942, the first african american recruits arrived at montford point, camp lejeune, north carolina to begin marine corps training for overseas duty. Montford point marines photos defense media network.
Continued and this time i came to montford point i was assigned to camp maintenance. The story of the montford point marines has attracted little public attention since world war ii. Montford point marines join 2nd supply battalion 2nd. Instead, african american marines were segregated experiencing basic training at montford point a facility at camp lejeune, north carolina. Recounting the days of montford point marine corps base. Marine corps recruiting montford point marines facebook. The marines of montford point, a compelling tale of perseverance and the human spirit. This really opens your eyes to the way the marine corps operated and how segregation really played a. Feb 15, 2010 over the years the association has garnered many successes. Marines were trained at camp montford point, in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949 the associations stated creed is. The marines of montford point a true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. They joined together in remembrance, united by a shared mission and legacy of service. During world war ii, the first africanamerican recruits began training at an allblack recruit training facility, camp montford point in jacksonville, north. The book is written exactly as the men spoke, some parts were hard to read.
It is the true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. Its most recent is the completion of the documentary which tels the story of the montford point marines narrated by louis gosset jr. Vietnam had trained not at montford point, but with their fellow marines at either parris island or camp pendleton. 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. Movie about montford point marines in production marine. The first african american segment of the united states marine corps. The book i chose to do my book report on is the marines of montford point. 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. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of these marines for the first time. The marines were the last to open up and the next year, fizer was among 18,000 young black men who trained not at parris island but at a segregated facility in.