Montford Point MarinesOn this Memorial Day, in recognition of all American Service men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom we cherish today, Black History Today honors them by acknowledging the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps “The Marines of Montford Point”. In 1942 African Americans were recruited for the Marines to receive basic training at the segregated Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Over 20,000 troops were trained at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949. The base was deactivated in September of 1949 following President Truman’s Executive Order #9981 negating segregation in July of 1948.
The Montford Point Marines.
Montford Point MarinesThis photo is of two recruits in a light tank during training in mechanized warfare at Montford Point, Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 1943
Montford Point Marines, Francis Hooper Jr., Turner Blunt and Johnnie Thompkins at the 25th Annual Montford Point Marine Heritage Dinner Dance in Jacksonville, N.C on February 9, 2013.
