[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E409-E410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MONTFORD POINT MARINES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to the Montford Point Marines, the first black Marines.
  As Marines, they fought the enemy, integrated the Armed Services and 
changed their country. On the land and on the sea, the Marines have led 
the way. At home, the fight was within the Corps, however, the Barriers 
soon fell because of a few good men.
  Today's generation of Marines serve in a fully integrated Corps where 
one-fifth of the strength of the Corps are African Americans. African-
American officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates are spread 
throughout the Corps and their service often escapes special notice.
  The fact that there was a time when there were no Blacks allowed in 
the Marines should not be overlooked.
  At the urging of his wife, Eleanor, and threats by civil rights 
activist, A. Philip Randolph with a march on Washington, President 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 establishing the 
Fair Employment Practice Commission. The commission prohibited racial 
discrimination by any government agency.
  With the stroke of his pen on June 25, 1941, President Roosevelt's 
Executive Order allowed Blacks to serve as Marines and marked the 
beginning of the end of officially sanctioned segregation in America.
  On August 26, 1942 Howard P. Perry of Charlotte, North Carolina was 
the first African-American recruit to arrive at Montford Point. From 
August 1942 throughout the end of World War II, 20,000 black men were 
trained at Montford Point and inducted into the Marine Corps.
  Although black troops were trained to be Marines they were kept 
separate from the white troops. Even after they were shipped off to 
battle zones, they still served in exclusively all black units. 
African-Americans continued to serve in segregated units until the Fall 
of 1949 when an executive order from President Harry S. Truman 
established a policy of full integration.
  That same year, the first African American women, Annie E. Graham of 
Detroit, Michigan, Ann E. Lamb of New York City, and Annie L. Grimes of 
Chicago, Illinois, enlisted into the Marines, respectively.

[[Page E410]]

  Madam Speaker, today I rise today to pay tribute to some of America's 
unsung heroes. To all of the Annie Grahams, Ann Lambs, Annie Grimes, 
Edgar Huffs, Frederick Branchs, Gilbert ``Hashmark'' Johnsons, James 
Ferrens, Frank Petersens, and Thomas McPhatters of this world, I say 
Thank you.
  Thank you for your service to our country and we will never forget 
your sacrifice.

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