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Who Are the Montford Point Marines?
Montford Point Marines were the first African-Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps after President Franklin Roosevelt issued an Executive Order establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission in June 1941. These recruits trained at the segregated Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, NC from August 26, 1942 until the camp was decommissioned on September 9, 1949.
Approximately 20,000 African-American recruits received training at Montford Point Camp. 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.
On April 19, 1974, Montford Point Camp was renamed Camp Johnson, in honor of the late Sergeant Major Gilbert H. "Hashmark" Johnson. Johnson was one of the first African Americans to join the Corps, a distinguished Montford Point drill instructor and a Veteran of WWII and Korea. The Camp remains the only Marine Corps installation named in honor of an African-American.
The Congressional Gold Medal
On Nov. 23, 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines. This award recognizes Montford Point Marines' contributions to the Marine Corps and the United States of America from 1942 to 1949, during a time of hardship and segregation. This legislation made this award available to all 20,000 African-American recruits who were trained at Camp Montford Point during this time.
How You Can Help?
The Search Continues for Montford Point Marines...
The Montford Point Marines Houston Chapter 20 is committed to ensuring that as many as possible of these Original Montford Point Marines, or “Montford Pointers,” as they are often called, receive the recognition they deserve for their service and sacrifice to our Nation. After leaving the Marine Corps, many rarely discussed this chapter of their lives again. Since many Montford Pointers are no longer with us, our tasks now include finding their remaining family members and presenting them with their loved one's Congressional Gold Medal.
If you know a Marine Corps Veteran who you think may be an Original Montford Point Marine, or if you know a family who discusses the service of someone who may have been a Montford Point Marine, please contact us at info@montfordpointmarineshouston.org
Montford Point Marines Houston Chapter 20
Your donation is an opportunity to be a part of preserving the legacy of the Montford Point Marines.
Please donate today!