The Montford Point Marine Association: A Mission to Honor America’s First Black Marines
By Roswell Sartwell, Public Affairs Specialist
The Montford Point Marine Association’s Charleston Chapter 47, led by retired United States Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 Perry Jenkins, works to document and teach the service of the first Black Marines, aiming to keep that history in front of today’s community through events and outreach.
The Montford Point legacy began after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s June 1941 executive order establishing the Fair Employment Practice Committee. From Aug. 26, 1942, until Sept. 9, 1949, nearly 20,000 Black recruits trained at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in a fully segregated environment. They lived in prefabricated huts, were separated from the main training camp by railroad tracks and could only enter Camp Lejeune’s main base when escorted by a white Marine.
Jenkins said the trailblazers changed the Marine Corps, and the nation.
“These guys were so important,” expressed Jenkins. “When I think about the Montford Point Marines, if they had not succeeded, I would not have had the opportunity to become a Marine and to serve my country. Even your hospital’s namesake, Ralph H. Johnson, a Black Marine, would not have been able to serve as well. We must never forget the history made by these Marines who influenced American military history, and just as significant, America’s social landscape.”
Their legacy threads directly into the hospital’s name. Marine Private First Class Ralph H. Johnson, the young Marine whose selfless act in Vietnam earned the Medal of Honor, would not have been able to wear the uniform if not for the doors the Montford Point Marines first pushed open. Every Marine who followed, Johnson included, stood on the shoulders of those pioneers.
Chapter 47’s mission stretches far beyond remembrance. The Montford Point Marine Association invests in Charleston’s future through Toys-for-Tots support, educational workshops with the Charleston Youth Leadership Council, and scholarships for students who demonstrate knowledge of Montford Point history and its impact on their lives.
“It’s not enough to simply remember,” said Jenkins. “We carry on the Montford Point Marines’ reputation of excellence and dedication through our works in the community. Chapter 47 has 30 members, who take part in many charitable efforts like food distribution for those suffering from food insecurity, fundraising for college scholarships, speaking at events to educate the public, and involvement in community work projects. These are just a few examples. I couldn’t be prouder of what we are accomplishing and the lives we are changing. This is how we preserve the legacy of the Montford Point Marines for future generations.”
That connection is not just symbolic. At the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System, their story now hangs in the Hall of Heroes, alongside dozens of portraits of Veterans whose service shaped this nation. In those walls, their image reminds every patient and staff member that the care given here is built on sacrifices made long before through selfless courage.
“Montford Point is not a footnote in American history, it’s a turning point,” said Scott Isaacks, director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “We are proud to help preserve its heritage and to carry its legacy forward in the care we provide every day.” Through these collective efforts, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System is proud to partner with the Montford Point Marine Association to honor America’s first Black Marines and to support community programs that carry their legacy forward.