‘Pioneers’ who helped break Marines’ color barrier to get Congressional Gold Medal

Congressional medal to honor, recognize Montford Pointers



In the decades since World War II ended, they’ve never once looked back on their service in the U.S. Marine Corps with bitterness.

The Montford Point Marines were African-Americans who integrated the Corps in the 1940s. As better-known military units were recognized, the Montford Pointers were overlooked, until now.

Marines were African-Americans who integrated the Corps in the 1940s. As better-known military units were recognized, the Montford Pointers were overlooked, until now.

Britton, Hill and Brown are among a few hundred surviving members of the 20,000 men who served as Montford Pointers, including 10 living in metro Atlanta.

Unlike better-known military units that helped end racial segregation such as the Tuskegee Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces and the Army’s Buffalo Soldiers, the Montford Point Marines had been overlooked. But last summer Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, announced plans to highlight their service to the Corps. And in November, President Barack Obama signed legislation awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, putting them in the company of Winston Churchill and Rosa Parks. On June 27, they will be awarded bronze replicas of the gold medal at a ceremony in Washington.

And so here they sit in a first-floor apartment in downtown Atlanta, eager to relive memories that won’t fade, to bear witness just as the Tuskegee Airmen and the Buffalo Soldiers have done before them . . .


read more: http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/pioneers-helped-break-marines-1447678.html

Montford Point Marine Association
http://www.montfordpointmarines.com/CGM%20Information%20page.html