Montford Point Marines pioneered Corps’ history
By: Cpl. Meloney R. Moses
MCB QUANTICO, Va. -- Most people know of the
civil rights movement and civil rights activists
Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Many school children learn about the ‘‘I have a
dream” speech and the Emancipation Proclamation.
Yet, how many people have actually heard of
Montford Point?
African Americans, who held their country dear
enough to serve in its Marine Corps, were not trained
at San Diego, Calif. or Parris Island, S.C.
With the demise of "separate but equal" in 1949, the military took the forefront of
the cultural revolution and started training all men and women, regardless of ethnic
background, in the same places and in the same way.
Photographer: USMC
These recruits were separated from their white
counterparts and sent to Montford Point, N.C., a
training camp specifically for black recruits.
More than 20,000 African Americans trained there between 1942 and 1949 and became the first black Americans to serve
in the Marines.
Prior to 1942, the Marine Corps did not recruit African Americans, American Indians or other minorities.
That changed when Franklin D. Roosevelt’s creation of the Fair Employment Practices Commission in 1941 ordered the
Corps, to begin recruiting African American Marines.
The Corps’ first black recruits would continue to receive segregated training until 1949.
Upon completion of basic training, African American Marines were put into all-black units and were not even allowed to step
foot on their neighboring base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. unless accompanied by a white Marine.
With the demise of ‘‘separate but equal” in 1949, the military took the forefront of the cultural revolution and started training
all men and women, regardless of ethnic background, in the same places and in the same way.
No matter what color the recruit’s skin, they were all green in the eyes of the Marine Corps.
The Marine Corps, as well as the rest of the nation, continues to move forward.
In today’s Marine Corps, all commands have equal opportunity representatives whose sole purpose is to ensure that all
Marines are treated fairly and without prejudice.
Montford Point now known as Camp Johnson is a reminder of how far we have come.
Howard P. Perry ~ First African American Enlistee
Breaking a 167-year-old barrier, the Marine Corps began enlisting African-Americans on June 1, 1942. Howard P. Perry
was the first African-American to enlist. The first class of 1,200 volunteers began their training three months later as
members of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion at Montford Point, N.C.
Frederick C. Branch ~ First African American Marine Corps Officer
Frederick C. Branch was born May 31, 1922. While attending Temple University, he received a draft notice from the Army.
When he reported for induction to Fort Bragg, N.C. in May 1943, Branch was chosen to become a Marine. He underwent
training in Montford, N.C. Branch applied for Officer Candidate School, but was initially denied.
While serving with a supply unit in the pacific, his conduct earned him the recommendation of his commanding officer. He
received his officer training in the Navy V-12 program at Purdue University and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
on Nov. 10, 1945 (shown in photo as his wife pinned on his bars) , becoming the first African-American officer in Marine
Corps history.
Frank E. Petersen Jr. ~ First African American Marine Corps General
Frank E. Petersen Jr. was born March 2, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas. Petersen enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 as a
seaman apprentice. In 1951, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. After completing flight training, in 1952 he was
commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Petersen served two combat tours in two conflicts — Korea
(1953) and Vietnam (1968).
His first tactical assignment was with Marine Fighter Squadron 212 during the Korean conflict. He flew over 350 combat
missions with over 4,000 hours in various fighter/attack aircraft. Holding a command position at all levels of Marine Corps
Aviation, Petersen became the first African American to command a fighter squadron, a fighter air group, an air wing and a
major base.
On February 23, 1979, he was promoted to brigadier general also becoming the first African-American Marine Corps
general. In 1983, he was advanced to the rank of major general; and was promoted to lieutenant general in 1986. Peterson
retired from the Marine Corps in 1988 after 38 years of service.
At the time of his retirement he was by date of aviator designation the senior ranking aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps and
the United States Navy with respective titles of "Silver Hawk" and "Gray Eagle". His date of designation as an aviator also
precedes all other aviators in the U.S. Air Force and Army.
Alford L. McMichael ~ First African American Sergeant Major
Sergeant Maj. Alford L. McMichael was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 27, 1970.
In 1973, McMichael served as a drill instructor, series gunnery sergeant, and battalion drill master at Marine Corps Recruit
Depot San Diego, California. In 1979, McMichael received orders to Marine Security Guard School and, upon completion of
the school, was assigned to the American Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 1981, he returned to Quantico, Virginia to serve as an instructor for the MSG School. After completing the Staff
Noncommissioned Officers Academy Advanced Course, McMichael was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, to serve as the first
sergeant of Company C, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion. In May 1991, Sgt. Maj. McMichael was transferred to Quantico,
where he served as the Sergeant Major of Officer Candidates School. From 1997 to 1999, McMichael served as the
Sergeant Major for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps. McMichael assumed his
post as the 14th and first African American Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on July 1, 1999. He left the position on 26
June 2003 to become a senior enlisted advisor to NATO, a newly created post. Sergeant Major
McMichael's personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with
gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal with gold star
James Anderson Jr. ~ First African American Medal of Honor Recipient
While advancing in the dense Vietnamese jungle in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol, Private
First Class Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200 meters when they came under
extremely intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. The platoon reacted swiftly, getting on line as best they
could in the thick terrain, and began returning fire.
Private First Class Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon only 20 meters
from the enemy positions. As the firefight continued, several of the men were wounded by the deadly enemy assault.
Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the Marines and rolled alongside Private First Class Anderson's head.
Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it to his
chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed
the major force of the explosion. In this singularly heroic act, Private First Class Anderson saved his comrades from serious
injury and possible death and became the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor.