PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Four original Montford Point Marines visited Parris Island, S.C., to see new Marines graduate recruit training here for the first time, Dec. 16.
Between 1942 and 1949, these Marines were not trained at Parris Island or San Diego. They were segregated and received basic training at Montford Point, a facility established exclusively to train African Americans at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The four Marines came to Parris Island to visit some of the landmarks and witness some of the ceremonies that they were not afforded the opportunity to the first time around.
They started their day with breakfast at the Headquarters and Service Battalion mess hall before they took their seats as the guests of honor for the morning colors ceremony.
“We’re here to honor the (World War II) vets of Montford Point,” said Elijah Abram, quartermaster of Montford Point Marines Association, Beaufort chapter. “They’re special because they fought two wars at once – racism and the Japanese.
“Montford Point Marines embodied honor, courage and commitment,” he said. “Talking to these guys, they told me it was a war they wanted to fight in for their country.”
Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps is seeking to recognize the service of the Montford Point Marines, anchor their legacy in the history of the Marine Corps, and highlight their contribution to the warfighting readiness and ethos of the Corps.
He outlined his intent for a number of institutional initiatives to teach current and future generations of Marines about the Montford Point Marines and their contributions to the evolution of the Corps during the last half of the 20th century.
The commandant also pressed for the surviving members to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award. The vote passed in the House and the Senate in time for the 236th Marine Corps Birthday and the bill was signed by the president before Thanksgiving.
“(The Montford Point Marines) answered our nation's call at a time when our society was deeply divided along racial lines,” Amos stated in all-Marine message 047/11. “As such, many of their contributions went unrecognized and many times they were not given the respect and recognition they deserved as Marines, as Americans, and as patriots.”
After the Montford Point Marines attended the colors ceremony they took a windshield tour of the base and followed that with a graduation ceremony for several hundred new Marines.
“Montford Point is a part of Marine Corps history and we always like to have distinguishing visitors so the newer Marines can see it,” said Staff Sgt. Leigh Ann Bibona, a Marine who helped coordinate the visit. “We want Marines to embrace every aspect of (being a Marine) and not just wear the uniform and go to work every day. (The Montford Point Marines are) walking history."
All of the Montford Point Marines visiting Parris Island were older than 80 and this was their first time witnessing a graduation on the depot.
“I think they thought the graduation was breathtaking,” said Bibona, 28, of Delray Beach, Fla. “They’re so grateful for the opportunity to be recognized for who they are.”
The original intent for the Montford Point Marines was to discharge them after the war ended, but they proved themselves just as capable as all other Marines.
In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 negating segregation, and in September 1949, Montford Point was deactivated ending seven years of segregation. The camp was renamed Camp Johnson after Sgt. Maj. Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson, one of the first African Americans to join the Marine Corps.
“We hear stories and we’re taught about things that have taken place in the Marine Corps but it’s another thing to be face-to-face with someone who was actually there,” Bibona said.
The Marines ended their visit with a luncheon with Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds, the base commander, Sgt. Maj. Gary Buck, the base sergeant major, and some more of the depot’s top personnel.
“It is important to all Marines, past and present, that we honor (the Montford Point Marines’) selfless service and sacrifice and fully embrace their storied contribution to the history of our Corps,” Amos stated in the message. “It is our intent to anchor our Montford Point Marines firmly in our Corps' 236-year history, and to anchor it in such a way that every young man or woman joining our Corps today clearly understands the significance of the contribution of these great American patriots.”