[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO GEORGE LONG AND THE MONTFORD POINT MARINES

 Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I wish today to honor George Long 
of Vicksburg, MS, a World War II veteran to whom I had the pleasure of 
presenting the Congressional Gold Medal during the August recess.
  Just months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 16-year-old 
George Long bravely volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. He 
was one of the African-American recruits who volunteered for service 
after President Roosevelt signed an Executive order in 1942 lifting a 
prohibition against their enlistment.
  Mr. Long is part of a group of American warriors known as the 
Montford Point Marines--those African-American recruits assigned to the 
segregated basic training facility at Montford Point, adjacent to Camp 
Lejune, NC.
  Given the magnitude of the threat our country faced in Europe and the 
Pacific, President Roosevelt recognized that the status quo of Jim Crow 
segregation, which at that time prohibited African Americans from 
serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, would not suffice. In 1941, he signed 
the historic Executive Order 8802, which required the military to 
accept recruits regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin. 
This action would later become a crucial component of the landmark 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and help bring an end to segregation in the 
United States.
  Approximately 20,000 African-American marines received basic training 
at Montford Point, before the Marine Corps became fully integrated in 
1949. Of those, about 13,000 would serve overseas during World War II. 
These marines fought valiantly in the fiercest battles of the Pacific 
island hopping campaign, as allied forces reversed the tide of Imperial 
expansion. Mr. Long notably served as a guard for Japanese prisoners of 
war during the legendary Battle of Iwo Jima, where ``uncommon valor was 
a common virtue.''
  On November 11, 2011, legislation was enacted granting the 
Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines. This honor--the 
highest civilian award in the United States--was bestowed on these 
courageous veterans for their brave and honorable service to our 
country, despite segregation and other prejudices that were common at 
the time.
  Due to his health, George Long was unable to attend a ceremony at the 
U.S. Capitol in June 2012 where the Congressional Gold Medal was 
presented to some 370 of the estimated 420 remaining Montford Point 
veterans. I am grateful that his daughter Felicia Hawkins and friend 
Steve Houston worked with my office to ensure that Mr. Long eventually 
received the medal.
  It was an honor to present the Congressional Gold Medal to George 
Long on August 5 at the G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery Veterans Medical 
Center in Jackson in recognition of his contributions to our country. 
Mr. Long and all the Montford Point Marines will be remembered as 
trailblazers who bravely helped protect our Nation from foreign threats 
and helped improve our society by bringing about change within our 
military.

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