She came back and explained that she couldn’t serve us. Her boss
told her that she couldn’t serve us. I said, what do you mean? This
is Detroit and the North, not the South. I said to myself that things
had not changed.
When I was in the Marine Corps, with my uniform on, I never
had any problems.
Ambassador Britton: We went to Hawaii and we began to pull
in supplies and prepare for the ultimate invasion. Obviously, the
bomb overtook this. This was in 1945. It was the Marine Corps
birthday. Normally, they have all kinds of food. I decided not to
dine at the base. I went down to the Maui Grand Hotel. I ordered
Muscovy duck and wine. I dined copiously. Coming out of New
York, where things were so prejudiced and segregated, and not
to mention the South, this was different. It was like crossing the
Rubicon. That was the one great day with the Marine Corps, to be
able to be down there, dining by myself.
In terms of being thanked after your service, are there any
moments that stand out to you?
Ambassador Britton: General Amos welcomed us home.
Corporal Pack: A little girl, probably 6 or 7, walked up and
shook my hand and thanked me for my service. It is amazing
what her parents had taught her at such a young age.
Ambassador Britton: Being recognized at the Atlanta Braves
30 or 40 kids then came up to talk to me.
2 | February 2020 | Real Hero Report
Atlanta Chapter
The Montford Point Marine Association, Atlanta Chapter #5, is
The chapter’s current president, Linda Sykes, served in the
Marine Corps for 20 years.
“Especially as a Marine, it is a humbling experience to know
that these are the men who paved the way for the rest of us to
serve and earn that title,” said Sykes.
“They are a group of men who have no ill feelings about
what they went through. They are a group that never really
boasted about who they were. This is why we work so hard in
the community to create this awareness. There is such a sense of
pride in making sure that people know that they are true heroes.”
Sykes reminisced about hearing General Amos speak at the
convention.
“We didn’t know what he was going to speak about. That
was probably the most profound moment in my entire military
experience…was to hear him make that speech,” said Sykes.
That moment, to look out over the room, with 600 people in that
room to witness it and at least 100 Montford Pointers present, was
everything that I was working so hard for. It resonated with me
Members of the Atlanta Chapter are actively involved in the
community through their support of the Youth Marine Program,
youth scholarships, cemetery clean ups at the veteran cemetery
of Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Rodney Maxwell
Davis, chapter picnics and other events. To learn more about
membership and how you can support this organization, visit
www.atl-mpma.org.
Continued from previous page
Above, Private First Class
John Meyers, wearing the
Congressional Gold Medal,
and members of Atlanta
Chapter #5. (Photo courtesy
of National Montford Point
Marine Association Atlanta
Chapter) Right, Montford
Point Marines medal
“Surrounded by a veteran crew of Marines who have spent 15 months in
its crew, points majestically skyward. The gun is manned by members of
the 51st Defense Battalion, one of two such African American units in
the Corps.” 1945. Nicholson. (Photo courtesy of the National Archives)