Congress honors Black Marines

Howard P. Perry, 1st Black Marine recruit

The United States' first identifiable Black Marines, better known as the Montford Point Marines,  received Congressional Gold Medals of Honor today, seven decades after the segregation ban was lifted that prohibited them from serving their country in the "Semper Fe" tradition.

These survivors did remain loyal, lived to tell their story, and received their medals in Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitors Center.

Generally presented to its recipients by the President of the United States in the name of Congress, Obama was on the campaign trail today.  The ceremony was overseen by Speaker of the United States House John Boehner (R-OH) who was teary eyed during the event.

"Too bad it took World War II to get us to this point," said one honoree who addressed the crowd gathered at the Capitol.

"The first black recruit to report to Montford Point arrived on 26 August 1942," wrote Gerald Astor in his book, "The Right To Fight: A History of African Americans in the Military."  Within three months, 600 were being drilled for combat. These men later became known as Special Enlisted Staff (SES).

Segregation in the U.S. military officially ended July 26, 1948 when President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981. This Order abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the services.

According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, people receive this award for valor in action against an enemy force and is bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

Public domain photo of  Howard P. Perry by Roger Smith - The National Archives and Records Administration provides images depicting American and global history which are public domain or licensed under a free license.

©2012 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.