Who are the Montford Point Marines?
Many Americans know about the Army's "Buffalo Soldiers" or the Air Force’s "Tuskegee Airmen', but very few know the history of the Marine Corp's "Montford Point Marines." The Montford Point Marines are the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps after President Franklin Roosevelt issued an Executive Order (8802) in 1941. Their boot camp was not at Parris Island, SC or San Diego, CA like other Marines. The recruits trained at Camp Montford Point located in Jacksonville, NC from 1942 until 1949. On November 23, 2011, then President Barack Obama signed the law to award all Montford Point Marines the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their personal sacrifice and service to their country during World War II.
What is the relevance of MPMA in Charlotte, NC?
Two gentlemen have been identified as Montford Point Marines with connections to the city of Charlotte:
- Howard P. Perry- 1st Montford Point Marine Recruit to arrive to Camp Montford Point in 1942.
- Lt. Frederick C. Branch- 1st African American Commissioned Officer attended Johnson C. Smith University.
In closing, Charlotte Chapter 40 has awarded (2) Congressional Gold Medals to Original Montford Point Marines located here in the Charlotte area. Our goal is to continue to locate and acknowledge those individuals residing in the area.