The Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines

Unlike the Buffalo Soldiers or the Tuskegee Airmen, whose stories have received considerable scholarly attention and exposure in the popular media, the men of Montford Point remain virtually unknown. I personally have spoken with young black Marines on the grounds of the original Camp Montford Point who knew nothing of its history. Conversations with numerous white career veterans of the Corps revealed that they were equally unaware of the historical significance of Montford Point and the men who trained there. This work is intended primarily to acquaint the public with the experience of a remarkable group of men, to give those men the opportunity to present their experiences and accomplishments to the public in their own words. The words in this volume are powerful words, spoken by men who have endured much. They are words spoken with flashes of anger and humor, sometimes with sorrow, sometimes with great wisdom, always with a pride fostered by incredible accomplishment in the face of adversity. They are words to be heard, words to be pondered, words that hold deep meaning and significance for American society in the twenty-first century. ----Preface