Posted on Feb 12, 2023
'Now, we have Black generals': Montford Point Marine shares his experience with racial...
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Only in 1942 were Black Americans first allowed to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, making it the last branch of the armed forces to integrate. But the mere ability to join the Marines did not mean equality had been achieved. The first Black men to enlist were sent to their own segregated training camp: Montford Point in North Carolina.
What those first Black Marines experienced is not well known; Many left the service and didn't talk about the experience to their families. Now, there's a movement to honor the first Black Marines, and to find those who still might be with us, as many have passed away.
What those first Black Marines experienced is not well known; Many left the service and didn't talk about the experience to their families. Now, there's a movement to honor the first Black Marines, and to find those who still might be with us, as many have passed away.
'Now, we have Black generals': Montford Point Marine shares his experience with racial...
Posted from wbur.org
Marines
WWII World War Two
Military History
American History
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Smith-Kang says her father began to explore that part of her grandfather’s life. And even though he has died, she says she was able to apply to get him a Congressional Gold Medal, like McDowell received, in recognition of his service all those years ago. She received it in November of last year.
“At the time, my grandfather and the other Montford Point Marines — they were trailblazers,” she says. “As much as we know about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Buffalo Soldiers, I really want to see the Montford Point Marines get that same level as part of American history…To come from … fighting during a war, when at home they're also fighting racism during Jim Crow South. And I think it took a very special person to fight … for a country that didn't see them as human at times.”
Smith-Kang wants other families to explore applying for a Congressional Gold Medal if they believe their relative was a Montford Point Marine.
McDowell says it’s been difficult to find other Marines is because some of the records of their service were destroyed in a fire decades ago. He figures that since 3,000 medals have already been awarded, that leaves about 17,000 Marines that could be eligible for one.
But much of that detective work will be left to families.
“We’re all in our 90s,” McDowell says. “There aren’t a lot left to tell the story.”
..."Smith-Kang says her father began to explore that part of her grandfather’s life. And even though he has died, she says she was able to apply to get him a Congressional Gold Medal, like McDowell received, in recognition of his service all those years ago. She received it in November of last year.
“At the time, my grandfather and the other Montford Point Marines — they were trailblazers,” she says. “As much as we know about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Buffalo Soldiers, I really want to see the Montford Point Marines get that same level as part of American history…To come from … fighting during a war, when at home they're also fighting racism during Jim Crow South. And I think it took a very special person to fight … for a country that didn't see them as human at times.”
Smith-Kang wants other families to explore applying for a Congressional Gold Medal if they believe their relative was a Montford Point Marine.
McDowell says it’s been difficult to find other Marines is because some of the records of their service were destroyed in a fire decades ago. He figures that since 3,000 medals have already been awarded, that leaves about 17,000 Marines that could be eligible for one.
But much of that detective work will be left to families.
“We’re all in our 90s,” McDowell says. “There aren’t a lot left to tell the story.”
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