Salute! Marine Corps Honors First Black Members

The Montford Point men made history

The nation's first black Marines were honored Friday. The Montford Point Marines were paid tribute at Cherry Point airfield in Havelock, N.C. and recognized for the sacrifices they made to defend our country while enduring years of discrimination. The Montford Marines were the 19,000 African-Americans who made it through basic training boot camp from 1942 to 1949, making them the first black Marines in the country. The men were based at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, Fla. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed executive order 8802 establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission which opened military services, in particular the Marine Corps, to blacks. (WNCT)

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