LAID Black History Month Hero – Montford Point Marines

Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit continues it’s daily tribute to heroes and patriots this month in commemoration of Black History Month #BHM. Today’s honoree is the Montford Point Marines.

With the beginning of World War II African Americans would get their chance to be in “the toughest outfit going,” the previously all-white Marine Corps. The first recruits reported to Montford Point, a small section of land on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on August 26, 1942. By October only 600 recruits had begun training although the call was for 1,000 for combat in the 51st and 52nd Composite Defense Battalions.

Initially the recruits were trained by white officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) but citing a desire to have blacks train blacks, the Marines quickly singled out several exceptional black recruits to serve as NCO drill instructors. In January 1943, Edgar R. Huff became the first black NCO as a private first class. In February Gilbert “Hashmark” Johnson, a 19-year veteran of the Army and Navy, became the first Drill Sergeant. By May 1943 all training at Montford Point was done by black sergeants and drill instructors (DIs), with Johnson as chief DI. Both Johnson …Read the Rest

Source:: Legally Armed in Detroit