National Montford Point Marine Association Los Angeles Chapter 8

08/25/2026

08/09/2026

08/07/2026

08/06/2026

The Montford Point Marines were the first Black men to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Beginning in 1942, Black recruits reported to the segregated Montford Point Camp in North Carolina. They served during World War II while facing racism and resistance to integration within the institution they had volunteered to defend.

Even as they proved themselves in uniform, the men of Montford Point often saw their achievements minimized, questioned, or left out of the larger story of the war.

In the Pacific, Montford Point Marines served in dangerous conditions and helped carry the fight forward. At Peleliu, one platoon fought to capture an airstrip and support fellow Marines under fire, yet its actions received little recognition at the time.

Their legacy endured. In 2011, Congress authorized the Congressional Gold Medal for the Montford Point Marines, and in 2012, they received the nation’s highest civilian honor. As the Marine Corps celebrates 251 years this November, the legacy of the Montford Point Marines reflects the courage and sacrifice that helped open the door for generations of Marines to follow.

07/21/2026