[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 62 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HAROLD PHILLIPS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON RUNYAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 27, 2012

  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to a true 
American hero, Harold Phillips of Moorestown, New Jersey for his 
courageous and dedicated service to our Nation.
  In 1942, President Roosevelt established a presidential directive 
giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the United 
States Marine Corps, USMC. These African Americans, from all states, 
were not sent to the traditional Marine Corps boot camps of Parris 
Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California. Instead, African 
American Marines were segregated--experiencing basic training at 
Montford Point--a facility at Camp Lejeune near Jacksonville, North 
Carolina. Approximately twenty thousand African American Marines 
received basic training at Camp Montford Point between 1942 and 1949. 
The Montford Point Marines fought courageously during World War II in 
key battles such as Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Saipan.
  Harold Phillips, a lifelong Burlington County resident, joined the 
Marines right out of high school in 1943, and went to Montford Point 
for Marine Corps boot camp. Harold went on to serve as a member of the 
Marine Corps' first African-American combat unit, the 51st Defense 
Battalion. Like other African American servicemen, he served during a 
period of considerable racial discrimination but persevered and his 
example paved the way for future generations of African Americans to 
serve their country honorably in the military.
  I was proud to cosponsor H.R. 2447, a bill to grant the Congressional 
Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines, which was signed into law 
November 23, 2011. For their dedicated service to our Nation, I hope 
Harold Phillips and the other Montford Point Marines will soon be 
awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor 
Congress can bestow.
  Harold has lived a life of patriotism and service to his community, 
his state and his country. He is a pioneer who forged a path for future 
generations of African American men and women to serve their country in 
the Armed Services. I am proud to call Harold Phillips my constituent 
and I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking him for his service.

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