Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- During the month of February, the nation celebrates Black History Month. This month celebrates the legacy and contributions of black Americans. But what about the first black Marines?
June 25, 1941 marks an important day in American history. On this day President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued executive order 8802 establishing the fair employment practice. This order was the beginning of removing discrimination in the military.
The following year Roosevelt established a presidential directive granting blacks the opportunity to join the Marine Corps.
“This definitely impacted the Marine Corps,” said Gunnery Sgt. Curtis Bradley, base equal opportunity officer. “It broke down barriers of prejudice. They took an ethnicity people weren’t familiar with and familiarized them.”
During these changes, Maj. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, commandant of the Marine Corps, was quoted saying, “If it were a question on having a Marine Corps of 5,000 whites or 250,000 (blacks), I’d rather have the whites.”
The Marine Corps wasn’t as welcoming for blacks as other services. They made a segregated boot camp for blacks at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. called Montford Point.
Between 1942 and 1949, more than 20,000 blacks were trained and entered into the Marine Corps. Some of these black Marines were drafted during World War II.
Montford Point drill instructors were initially all white until recruits were singled out to become the first black drill instructors. Mortimer A. Cox, Arnold R. Bostick, Edgar R. Davis Jr., Gilbert H. Johnson and Edgar R. Huff were the first black Marines selected to become drill instructors at Montford Point in 1943.
Black Marines were not treated as well as white Marines by the civilians.
Black Marines were restricted to colored only areas and faced discrimination. If they were caught off sides they could be arrested and sent to jail. Most of the black Marines never saw direct combat, and were given jobs for support purposes like cooks and supply.
“I left the Marine Corps, not with a bitter feeling but with a disappointed feeling,” said retired Sgt. Lorenzo Felder, a Montford Point Marine. “I was in an organization that sat on an island (for) almost two years with no action all around us and we saw nothing. When you train and train and train you get to the point (where you think), ‘What’s the use?’”
The first time black Marines came into contact with combat was in 1944 in the battle of Saipan. These Marines were in ammunition companies. They had to deliver weapons, munitions, medical supplies and food to the troops.
When the white Marines began to fall back and take casualties, the Montford Point Marines came to the front lines.
Pvt. Kenneth Tibbs was the first black Marine to die in war.
Originally the Marine Corps plan was to discharge all blacks after the war, but after working together they realized there was no difference between white Marines and black Marines.
“Nowadays you can see someone of any race at every rank and level,” Bradley said. “It’s important to see every culture and learn about them.”
President Harry S. Truman issued executive order 9981 in July 1948 ending segregation in the military.
Montford Point Marine Camp was deactivated in 1949. It was renamed Camp Johnson on April 19, 1974 in honor of Sgt. Maj. Gilbert H. Johnson. He was one of the first blacks to join the Marine Corps, one of the first drill instructors and a World War II and Korea War veteran.
Camp Johnson is currently the only Marine Corps installation named after a black Marine.
Since the Montford Point Marines made this journey more than 70 years ago, the Marine Corps continues to grow as a diverse service.