Collection: From Montford Point to Glory: The First Black Leathernecks

Let’s honor the story of the Montford Point Marines; our first Black warriors to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. In 1942, while the world fought fascism abroad, our people were still battling racism at home. Yet over 20,000 African American men answered the call to serve a country that questioned their worth. Trained separately at Montford Point, North Carolina, under harsh conditions and Jim Crow cruelty, they stood tall, proud, and unshaken. They weren’t just soldiers; they were symbols of resistance. They built their own barracks, endured unequal treatment, and yet emerged battle-ready, helping turn the tide in the Pacific during World War II.

Their bravery earned them recognition far too late, but never too little. In 2012, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to these trailblazers as a collective honor. Among them were legends like Sergeant Major Gilbert “Hashmark” Johnson, one of the first Black drill instructors in the Marine Corps; Private First Class Howard P. Perry, the very first to enlist; and Lt. General Frank E. Petersen, the first Black Marine Corps aviator and general. These men didn’t just serve; they shattered every barrier placed before them. This exhibit stands as a salute to their fire, their faith, and their legacy. They were called the first Black Leathernecks, but history will remember them as the first to prove that courage has no color.