“... Although a dress uniform is not a part of the regular equipment, most of the African
American Marines spend $54 out of their pay for what is generally considered the snappiest
uniform in the armed services... Photo shows a group of the African American volunteers in
their dress uniforms.” Ca. May 1943. Roger Smith. (Photo courtesy of the National Archives)
Original Montford Point Marines, Ambassador
(Sergeant) Theodore Roosevelt Britton, Jr., 94, and
Corporal James Pack, 96 at CLR-45 headquarters,
Dobbins ARB, GA. (Photo by Eden Nastal)
National Montford Point
Marine Association
20 | February 2020 | Real Hero Report
Real Hero Report
History of Montford Point Marines
On June 25, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued
Executive Order 8802, requiring the armed services, including
the Marine Corps, to recruit and enlist African Americans.
longer allowed to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color,
or national origin.
On June 1, 1942, thousands of African American men headed
Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This segregated
camp housed the initial 1200 black recruits in prefabricated huts.
Camp Lejeune was located nearby, but black recruits were unable
to enter the base unless they were with a white Marine.
Over the course of seven years, over 20,000 black Marines
trained at Montford Point. In 1949, President Harry Truman
signed Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the military.
Montford Point was closed and black recruits were sent to Parris
Island and Camp Pendleton.
Montford Point Marines Receive Congressional Gold Medal
On August 26, 2011, the Commandant of the Marines Corps at
that time, Gen. James F. Amos, honored surviving Montford Pont
Marines in a formal salute at the Marine Barracks Washington
Evening Parade. Congress declared that day as “Montford Point
Marine Day”.
“Every Marine from Private to General will know the history
enemy they were soon to know overseas, but the enemy of racism
and segregation in their own country,” said Commandant of the
Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos. “My promise to you is that
your story will not be forgotten. It will take its rightful place and
will be forever anchored in the rich history of the United States
Marine Corps.”
On November 23, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the
law to award all Montford Point Marines with the Congressional
to their county during World War II.