I can’t possibly explain how much I enjoy you guys appreciating my Black History Month posts. I really love that you guys are learning new things. Today’s spotlight is someone that I am learning about with you. Alfred Masters was the first African American to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in 1942.
From its inception until 1941, the Marine Corps refused to recruit African Americans and other minorities. Then, an executive order by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt forced the Corps, despite objections from its leadership, to begin recruiting African American Marines in 1942.
The first black Marines arrived at Montford Point, North Carolina on August 26, 1942. Between 1942 and 1949, approximately 20,000 black recruits received basic training at Montford Point, most of them going on to serve in the Pacific during World War II as members of support units.
During the early years at Montford Point, segregation still played a huge role. The Montford Point Marines were not allowed into neighboring all-white camps without being accompanied by a white Marine. However, in 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in the American armed forces. Montford Point was deactivated as a recruit training depot in 1949.
The Montford Point Marines are hailed as important figures in American history, because they willingly fought to protect a nation that still did not offer them basic civil rights. Their actions set the precedent for the Corps, and their legacy continues within the Marines who serve today.
Alfred Masters died in Anthony, New Mexico on June 16, 1975. He is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.
In 2019 in Jacksonville Florida, three surviving Montford Point Marines were honored. John Spencer, a Montford Point Marine, served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1963.
The 91-year-old said he was excited to see the progress African Americans had made in the Marine Corps.
“You see, we had one officer up until the time the war was over and he wasn’t allowed to be in combat,” Spencer explained. “Now we see generals, we see captains, we see all the ranks, so we did alright for us.”
The keynote speaker at the ceremony, Dr. Roosevelt Baxter, Jr., is a 25-year-veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who retired with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant.
Strength through diversity. These Marines broke barriers and exhibited courage on the battlefield. #KnowYourMil #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/KTvuMkhoeT
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 9, 2021
Dr. Baxter said he used to wear his uniform for the men who served at Montford Point, just to see their reactions.
“I used to deliberately put on my uniform with all the stripes, and Master Gunnery mark and all that, and I would deliberately go in front of them,” he remembered. “They would light up because when they came through here in 42, it was unheard of to even think that an African American was going to have that many stripes.”
Montford Point Marine Day was established by the United States Congress in 2010. I’m a bit overwhelmed by emotion that so many black men (20,000) enlisted to fight for a country where they were treated as “less than”. We owe them all such a debt of gratitude. It’s really an honor to explore Black History Month. And I am very grateful to share my educational journey with you all. Thanks so very much for reading these. I can see you are all reading so comment if you can. Mostly because I think comments draw in more readers and I really want these to be read. I think they are important and my be me doing a little something to bring us all back together. We all need some healing right now. And I really hope this helps.
Sorry for the delay. Rested my eyes for a few minutes and woke up hours later…
Very interesting! Thank you. 🙂
It’s so interesting that these men willingly signed up to protect and fight for a country that didnt even afford them basic rights as citizens.
Thank you! I love reading these posts and learning more about Black History. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.
Bravo gossip can still be fun, but these posts are brilliant. This one reminds me of my grandfather, who fought in WWII and was treated better by the Japanese people than some of his fellow soldiers.
Thank you for using your platform for good. I hope these last long past February (because why should we only talk about Black history during the shortest month of the year?).
20,000 in 7 years in incredible. Thank you for sharing this story!
Thank you for sharing and spotlighting this! These men were so brave, in so many ways!
Wow! Thank you for enlightening us!!
Thank you Tamara for these posts. Education is the first step.
You’ve got to be pretty badass to be a Marine. Think how badass you’d have to be to be the first black Marine… not only knowing you would go to war but also knowing you were going inside that culture as a “first”.
I love these posts so much. I thank you for taking your time to provide this. I didn’t know about him. Now I do♥️
I LOVE learning all these new things about these amazing people and their back stories. See???? If we keep moving forward and open our minds and hearts their is no telling how MORE amazing we will all become as individual people and as Americans . Thank you for your part!
“I’m a bit overwhelmed by emotion that so many black men (20,000) enlisted to fight for a country where they were treated as “less than”. We owe them all such a debt of gratitude.” We sure do owe them gratitude! I had no idea about this and for that I am embarrassed and ashamed. Thank you so much for teaching me new things.
This plus 1 zillion per cent
True that
And still treated as less than right here in 2021.
Again, I am learning SO much from these posts, TT! Especially as a person who received my basic education in the 60’s and 70’s (when the discussion of true Black History was not even a concept in schools), the information that you are sharing here is such a gift… I feel as though you’re opening up a whole world of knowledge here that I’m now excited to now expand upon. My father was a teacher, so I think I can recognize the “heart of a teacher” when I see one, and you definitely have that heart.
This is a great post and an important part of history. I teared up a little at the end…..
Loved all of them. I have to say I thought you were pretty brave to include the BLM organizers since they still remain somewhat polarizing. But I’m thrilled you did and also a the mostly respectful comment.
Still a lot of days in February. I hear Frederick Douglass is “an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more.” 🙂
TT, thank you for spotlighting these wonderful people for Black History month.🙏🏼❤️😘
I was working for a judge several years ago, and I, somewhat jokingly, said to him, during the month of February, that he should watch the movie “Friday” for Black history month. Later on that day I passed him again in the halls, and he asked me “when exactly is Black History month!” And I said,”Uh, right now?”🤷🏻♀️ He walked away laughing, saying how funny I was. He didn’t believe me. Sigh.😕
This is what American history is really comprised of. Thank you for educating us about American citizens that played a huge part in American history.
My Dad was one of the 400 or so !Montford Point Marines who received the Congressional Medal of Honor at a ceremony in Washington DC in 2012. Dad was just 18 when he was drafted and served in WW II. Sadly, he passed away I 2019…2 days after his 95th birthday. That medal was healing for him
I can only imagine the difficulties these men endured to serve. Actually I can’t imagine as I suspect the degradation they were subjected to would boggle the mind.
Definitely a worthy salute for Black History Month
My father served in WWII, and always impressed upon us how it helped to break the color barrier. He didn’t talk about the nazi “camp” he helped liberate, but he did talk about this. Thank you for sharing this, and all your Black History posts. I hope things get better, we worry about you. ❤️