House votes to honor first black Marines

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s first black Marines received a rare national tribute Tuesday as the House voted to award the Montford Point Marines with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by Congress.

History books and Hollywood have chronicled the Army’s Buffalo Soldiers and the Army Air Corps’ Tuskegee Airmen, but the men who integrated the Marines during World War II often have been forgotten. That is starting to change, beginning with the House’s 422-0 vote.

The black Marines received their basic training adjacent to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where conditions were harsh and the treatment from their fellow Marines could be even harsher. The black Marines were not allowed to enter Camp Lejeune unless accompanied by a white officer. In the few times they participated in training exercises, they could not eat until the white Marines had finished. They were routinely passed over for promotions.

“People forget they were fighting two wars — both foreign and domestic,” Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., said.

More than 300 lawmakers were co-sponsors of the legislation, providing Republicans and Democrats with a rare moment of bipartisanship. Lawmakers from both parties spoke in favor of the resolution, which was sponsored by Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Marine Corps to accept blacks. The Marine Corps was the last military branch to do so.

Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., noted that the Montford Point Marines were presumed unsuited for combat and not allowed to fight alongside their white counterparts until the Korean War. Still, they underwent intense fire in their supporting roles in the Pacific during World War II, serving at Okinawa and Iwo Jima.

“They served with great valor and distinction and loved their country more than their country loved them at the time,” Miller said.

Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., said he hoped that the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal would “soothe the pain of yesterday with the glory of today.”

About 19,000 men trained at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949. Most have since died. Eugene Groves, a staff sergeant who fought in Korea, was one of four Montford Point veterans on hand for the vote Tuesday. The lawmakers gave the four a standing ovation shortly before the vote.

Commandant Gen. James Amos has made it a priority to honor the group and ensure that their history is taught to all Marines.

Groves, who trained at Montford Point in 1946, said he appreciated the recognition. He served in the Korean War and said he felt for a time like the Marine Corps did not want to acknowledge his unit’s service.

“They did not want us involved in the history,” Groves said. “It’s been a hard fight.”

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wow 1 year, 7 months ago

Evernkeel...this is exactly what I'm talking about. The President(s) during these years sat on their can and let things like this happen. Ignorance is one thing...but this type of ignorance ran ramped at all levels of the American government, military and society. These people knew they were wrong...I mean after all the Constitution you're so quick to bring up may have had some misinterpretations at the early stages of this nation, but by the turn of the 20th century everyone knew the document clearly stated that all people were suppose to be treated equally! So why didn't those Presidents do something to fix the problem? I'll tell you why...because some were scared, some were racist, some had no idea of what to do...in short some were much worse than President Obama!

RonCon 1 year, 7 months ago

I would like to know who gets 'honored' when black indian fighters killed american indians, and the reverse. Let's see if any of our Washington fleas would touch that issue. The root issue here is that they were both humans, no reason to honor them because of their color. Are we now going to see honor granted on other human variables which were from birth?

I also don't really care who fought who, just that time and money is wasted on honoring those who chose to fight. The only ones who really have any reason to be honored are those forced by their leaders to do something which would risk their lives, for instance the draft.

NoMoBigBro 1 year, 7 months ago

As long as we keep talking about, and doing, things based on race, racism will continue to thrive.

asb 1 year, 7 months ago

As long as racism exists, we have to talk and do things about it, or it just gets worse. Prejudice, bigotry and racism are part of human nature and can only be managed by personal, cultural, governmental, spiritual, and institutional processes. Action and discussion moderate extremes of behavior and reduce the misery we all experience at extreme PC and racism.

JMO 1 year, 7 months ago

While I'm of the opinion that the extreme PC is tiresome and there's more "perceived" racism than "actual" racism today, I do think this recognition was overdue. Those men went through more than their share of hardship, for no other reason than color, in order to serve their country. They should be commended.

wow 1 year, 7 months ago

I say tell the truth....Black Soldiers...referred to as Buffalo Soldiers did kill Indians and it was wrong for them to do that. Indians also killed Buffalo Soldiers and it was wrong for them to that. The bigger shame is that both the Indian and Buffalo Solder were fighting as a response to a system that has been in play for a very long time. It is the same reason why today only a few of us can ever have a real educational conversation on racial issues...the reason was referred to me "Willi Horton" strategy...but some may refer to it by other names...nonetheless the strategy was,has always be the same. Divide and conquer, keep them fighting amongst themselves so that they cannot concentrate on actually resolving real issues

The Buffalo soldiers were allowed to kill Indians, in fact they were encouraged to do so. For this military service they were led to believe this was for the betterment of America and their lives....how wrong they were, because even after the last Buffalo Soldier did his last act of duty...America still did not allow Buffalo Soldiers/Negroes, Indians or people of color the same rights, privileges as Whites. In fact many poor whites were no better off than these so called colored savages. It's important to keep an open mind because this is where the Willie Horton get's explained and you can begin to see the games which have been on going for a very long time.

The Blacks were played against themselves...the house servant against the field hand, the young against the old, the dark skinned against the light skinned and so on. The blacks were played against the Indians and their Indian tribes were played against each other. The poor whites...were played pretty much the same way. They were told the coloreds were after their jobs, property, their rights, their home. I mean who would not fight to stop that from happening? And all the while the rich kept getting richer and the poor kept getting by on their meager means. It's the same thing today.....you can call it what you will, but we, me, you, the common person is still being played against each for the benefit of the rich! It's time to wake up, cause we all have a Dog in this fight!.

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