thedrifter
06-20-04, 07:05 AM
'Montford Pointers' left their mark
June 18,2004
CHRIS DE NITTIS
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Paul Akgan remembers a different Marine Corps. One that wasn't diverse, that didn't put an emphasis on equality the way it does now.
"The only time we saw a white man was when they came over from (Camp Lejeune)," he remembers.
The retired Marine served at Montford Point, which is now Camp Johnson. It was originally the recruit training depot for black Marines.
Akgan, originally from Carrolton, Ga., said the military was not the great equalizer it is today, and Jacksonville reflected many of the racial and political attitudes of the day.
He remembers when the railroad tracks downtown, near the present-day Riverwalk Crossing Park, divided the city along color lines.
"It's changed a whole lot since then," he said Thursday night. "At the time, there was a white MP and a black MP on each side of the tracks to make sure no one crossed them."
But on Thursday night, black, white and Hispanic Marines gathered side by side in the chapel at Camp Johnson to celebrate the contributions "Montford Pointers" made more than 60 years ago.
The memorial service kicked off an annual three-day celebration of the Montford Point Marines' contribution to breaking the Marine Corps' color barrier, starting in 1942.
Another Montford Pointer, Turner Blount, also came through the camp during the 1940s before shipping off to the Pacific during World War II. There he served in such island battles as Saipan and Okinawa.
Blount, now a Jacksonville city councilman, said the yearly celebration reminds him of the accomplishments of black Marines during the 1940s.
"It has given me an added joy to see things are different from what they were," he said. "Blacks weren't wanted in the Marine Corps, they were expected to fail, but their experiences in the war led them to be welcomed back."
Originally from Georgia, Blount remembers having to sit in the balcony of Jacksonville's only movie theater.
"The first floor was white only."
And when it was time for the recruits to learn marksmanship on the rifle range near Sneads Ferry, blacks were forbidden to travel through the city.
"We had to catch a boat to go to the range because we weren't allowed to ride through the city in a truck carrying weapons," Blount said.
Most of all, Blount said he remembers the opportunity he and other Montford Point Marines had to help make a change in America.
"This celebration is a celebration of a part of the history of the Marine Corps, not celebrating a separation," he said. "We're all still Marines."
Stressing the importance of remembering that time in history was Camp Lejeune Marine Col. Richard Reed, the keynote speaker.
"Montford Point history is about pride and determination," Reed said. "These were men of the Greatest Generation and they contributed to American history. For a time, they were overlooked, but it's important that all citizens realize that Americans from all backgrounds have contributed to our nation's history."
In 1974, Montford Point Camp was renamed Camp Johnson in honor of one of the original Montford Pointers, Sgt. Maj. Gilbert Hubert "Hashmark" Johnson, the first black man to hold the billet of sergeant major.
A wreath-laying ceremony is planned for 9 this morning at the Camp Johnson headquarters building M-131, and former Camp Johnson commander and retired Col. Wayne Morris, current director of Onslow County's Human Resources, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.
Guests are welcome to attend a tour of the nearby Montford Marines Museum following the wreath-laying ceremony.
The 62nd anniversary gala is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Camp Johnson field medical school auditorium.
Contact Christopher De Nittis at cdenittis@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 239.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/Photo/061804_mont.jpg
John Althouse/Daily News
Thanks for serving: Former Montford Point Marines Turner Blount and Fred Ash exchange greetings with troops at the Camp Johnson chapel after a memorial service on Thursday.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=23447&Section=News
Ellie
June 18,2004
CHRIS DE NITTIS
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Paul Akgan remembers a different Marine Corps. One that wasn't diverse, that didn't put an emphasis on equality the way it does now.
"The only time we saw a white man was when they came over from (Camp Lejeune)," he remembers.
The retired Marine served at Montford Point, which is now Camp Johnson. It was originally the recruit training depot for black Marines.
Akgan, originally from Carrolton, Ga., said the military was not the great equalizer it is today, and Jacksonville reflected many of the racial and political attitudes of the day.
He remembers when the railroad tracks downtown, near the present-day Riverwalk Crossing Park, divided the city along color lines.
"It's changed a whole lot since then," he said Thursday night. "At the time, there was a white MP and a black MP on each side of the tracks to make sure no one crossed them."
But on Thursday night, black, white and Hispanic Marines gathered side by side in the chapel at Camp Johnson to celebrate the contributions "Montford Pointers" made more than 60 years ago.
The memorial service kicked off an annual three-day celebration of the Montford Point Marines' contribution to breaking the Marine Corps' color barrier, starting in 1942.
Another Montford Pointer, Turner Blount, also came through the camp during the 1940s before shipping off to the Pacific during World War II. There he served in such island battles as Saipan and Okinawa.
Blount, now a Jacksonville city councilman, said the yearly celebration reminds him of the accomplishments of black Marines during the 1940s.
"It has given me an added joy to see things are different from what they were," he said. "Blacks weren't wanted in the Marine Corps, they were expected to fail, but their experiences in the war led them to be welcomed back."
Originally from Georgia, Blount remembers having to sit in the balcony of Jacksonville's only movie theater.
"The first floor was white only."
And when it was time for the recruits to learn marksmanship on the rifle range near Sneads Ferry, blacks were forbidden to travel through the city.
"We had to catch a boat to go to the range because we weren't allowed to ride through the city in a truck carrying weapons," Blount said.
Most of all, Blount said he remembers the opportunity he and other Montford Point Marines had to help make a change in America.
"This celebration is a celebration of a part of the history of the Marine Corps, not celebrating a separation," he said. "We're all still Marines."
Stressing the importance of remembering that time in history was Camp Lejeune Marine Col. Richard Reed, the keynote speaker.
"Montford Point history is about pride and determination," Reed said. "These were men of the Greatest Generation and they contributed to American history. For a time, they were overlooked, but it's important that all citizens realize that Americans from all backgrounds have contributed to our nation's history."
In 1974, Montford Point Camp was renamed Camp Johnson in honor of one of the original Montford Pointers, Sgt. Maj. Gilbert Hubert "Hashmark" Johnson, the first black man to hold the billet of sergeant major.
A wreath-laying ceremony is planned for 9 this morning at the Camp Johnson headquarters building M-131, and former Camp Johnson commander and retired Col. Wayne Morris, current director of Onslow County's Human Resources, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.
Guests are welcome to attend a tour of the nearby Montford Marines Museum following the wreath-laying ceremony.
The 62nd anniversary gala is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Camp Johnson field medical school auditorium.
Contact Christopher De Nittis at cdenittis@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 239.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/Photo/061804_mont.jpg
John Althouse/Daily News
Thanks for serving: Former Montford Point Marines Turner Blount and Fred Ash exchange greetings with troops at the Camp Johnson chapel after a memorial service on Thursday.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=23447&Section=News
Ellie