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. Marines of montford point essay 737 words bartleby. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the. The book i chose to do my book report on is the marines of montford point. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Marines were trained at camp montford point, in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949. He, like all proud marines, had to prove his mettle. This really opens your eyes to the way the marine corps operated and how segregation really played a. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of these pioneering african american marines. The first black recruits received basic training at the segregated camp montford point, adjacent to camp lejeune, near jacksonville. Army and navy had long relied on african american soldiers and. More than 20,000 african americans trained in segregated facilities between 1942 and 1949 at montford point, nc, and became the first african americans to serve in the united states marine corps.
I personally have spoken with young black marines on the grounds of the original camp mont ford point who knew nothing of its history. The marine corps was established in 1775, however, it was not until 1942 that blacks were permitted to serve in the corps. While they fought for freedom overseas, they returned home to a nation that was separate and unequal. Camp johnson is situated on montford point, the site of recruit.
Americas first black marines helps to fill that void. Mclaurin, 9780807861769, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. 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. Alvin tony ghazlo, the senior bayonet and unarmed combat instructor at montford point, demonstrates a disarming technique on his assistant, private ernest judo. Its most recent is the completion of the documentary which tels the story of the montford point marines narrated by louis gosset jr. Marshall on mclaurin, the marines of montford point. Paul tolliver, leathernecks train at montford point, new river, n. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the. The montford point marine association is a nonprofit veteran organization, established to perpetuate the legacy of the first african americans who entered the united states marine corps from 1942 to 1949 at montford point camp, new river, north carolina. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of these marines for the first time. The african american marine training experience, montford point.
Season episode 10012 26m 47s drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point relates the experiences of. This thesis examines the process, policies, and practices concerning the status of african american men and emphasizes the significance of what it meant to be a black u. 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. Drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, the marines of montford point relates the experiences of these pioneers in their own words. Fizer got off the train to report for training at montford point, north carolina in the summer of 1942. The black marines were segregated at montford point camp to train between 19421949. Montford point marines chapter 10, jacksonville, nc.
The marines of montford point was a book written from interviews conducted for a documentary. The montford point marines fought two wars, one abroad and one at home. The montford point marine association is a nonprofit veterans organization, established to. Feb 15, 2010 over the years the association has garnered many successes. The first black marines 1942 1949 iwo jima they were.
The troops trained at montford point camp in jacksonville, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949. Johnnie johnson had traveled and seen the face of racism in many different ways, yet he signed up and said. Johnson, a member of the inaugural montford point marines, served from 19421949. Usns montford point t esd1, formerly tmlp1, the lead ship of her class of expeditionary transfer docks esd, is a ship named in honor of african american marine corps recruits who trained at montford point camp, north carolina, from 1942 to 1949. The first african american segment of the united states marine corps. The montford point marines showed such excellent results in their aptitudes and leadership capacities that an expanded navy recruiting program was initiated. Jim crow america and the marines of montford point a thesis. From its inception until 1942, the marine corps refused to recruit african americans, american indians and other minorities. An important contribution to military and civil rights history.
The montford point marines web site and documentary began after a chance meeting with dr. On april 26, 1942, the united states marine corps opened montford point at camp lejeune, specifically for the training of african american recruits. Marines corps photo under the direction of swimming instructor marine pfc. 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. At ceremonies held in washington dc june 27th and 28th the montford point marines were awarded the highest civilian award in the nation, the congressional gold medal. Paperback editionamericas first black marineswith an executive order from president franklin roosevelt in 1941, the united states marine corps the last allwhite branch of the u. The marines of montford point navy general library. This really opens your eyes to the way the marine corps operated and how segregation really played a role on the corps. Montford point marines was the nickname given to the first african american units to serve in the united states marine corps.
The men served in allblack units, mostly in the pacific theater, and distinguished themselves while battling racism from within and enemies from without. Founded in 1965, the goal of the national montford point marine association, inc. Over the years the association has garnered many successes. 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. Recent articles montford point marines honored and the right to fight, are just recent examples of mpma members in the news.
Woods activated the nucleus of the 51 st defense composite battalion becoming the first. The marines of montford point, a compelling tale of perseverance and the human spirit. 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. It is the true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. The marines of montford point by mclaurin, melton a. Melton mclaurin, a uncw professor who specialized in the american south and race relations. Breaking through racial barriers, they transformed the face of the marine corps. Leroy pittman, 85, still remembers when he arrived at montford point in 1948 after dropping out of high school in hartford, conn. From its inception until 1942, the marine corps refused to recruit african americans, american indians and. Before president harry trumans 1948 executive order that ended segregation in the armed forces, blacks who served did so in segregated units, like the one at montford point. The site memorializes the ongoing journey of these marines toward equality and the. Both jacksonville and wilmington have active montford point marines association chapters, which meant that we could quickly identify interview subjects. Honored montford point marines recall breaking racial barriers.
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. Clarence willie, lieutenant colonel, retired, united states marine corps. For these men, simply serving in the marine corpss uniform in the 1940s was a drastic departure from previous u. House and senate leaders awarded the congressional gold medal to honor the service of the montford point marines, the first african americans to serve in the u. The marine corps is fully integrated now, and the marines of montford point arent familiar now to the general public. With an executive order from president franklin roose. The site memorializes the ongoing journey of these marines toward equality and the artillery cannon used by the montford pointers. Today, the montford point marines museum is located in one of the original buildings on the grounds of camp montford point, now called camp johnson, at camp lejeune in north carolina.
Montford point marines photos defense media network. Willie was the assistant superintendent of schools in brunswick county when he met dr. Music legend, montford point marine johnnie johnson awarded. The marines of montford point navy general library program. Marines, joseph carpenter and eugene groves, talked about their experience at montford point training camp in north carolina, and their service. Melton mclaurin, the marines of montford point season. 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. Membership in the association is open to veterans and active members of all branches of the u. Read the fulltext online edition of the marines of montford point. The book is written exactly as the men spoke, some parts were hard to read. Barnett person, a 1946 montford point grad, passed away at the age of 86. Stories of the marines defining the marine corps marines. Montford point was a racially segregated facility within a larger marine base, camp lejeune.
Aug 10, 2016 during my time in the usmc, i am ashamed to say i never heard or was taught about these courageous heroes. Music legend, montford point marine johnnie johnson. Reviewed by heather marshall published on hwar april, 2008 as author melton mclaurin points out. With an executive order from president franklin roosevelt in 1941, the united states marine corpsthe last allwhite branch of the u. The montford point marines were the first africanamericans to serve in the united states marine corps. 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. In this book we find out the struggles they went threw because of the racial barrier as well as the political implications that. 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. This is a true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina. This collaboration with original montford pointers, university of nc, and universtiy south carolina aims to capture all the stories past and. 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 marines of montford point a true story of the marines of montford point, north carolina.