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Last Friday at Camp Lejuene in North Carolina, dozens of surviving members of the Montford Point Marines were in attendance for the first phase unveiling of the National Montford Point Marine Memorial. The “Montford Pointers” were the first Black Marines to join the military branch after an executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941.

As noted by military historians, there was heavy resistance to the Montford Pointers joining the elite fighting corps. However, 900 Black Marines were enlisted though the trainees were separated from the rest of the troops at Montford Point. While the Pointers trained just as efficiently as their white counterparts, they also had to combat the harsh realities of daily racism in and around Jacksonville, N.C.

Around 45 surviving Montford Point Marines arrived at Camp Lejuene, decked out in military garb, proudly sharing tales of their glory days. Several of the former Marines were ailing but all were honored properly on what is considered to be sacred ground for many Marines.

Despite the readiness of the Montford Pointers, it wasn’t until 1948 when President Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order desegregated the military that Black soldiers of all branches were considered equal.

(Photo: Public Domain)

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