The Montford Point Marines...

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The Montford Point Marines were . Training began on August 26, 1942, at a segregated facility in North Carolina. Roughly 20,000 Black recruits trained there until 1949, including notable early members like Alfred Masters, Howard P. Perry, and Drill Instructor Gilbert H. “Hashmark” Johnson. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

When and How It Began

• June 1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an order to stop job bias in defense work.

• 1942: The Marine Corps opened its ranks to Black men under a directive, though training remained strictly segregated.

• August 26, 1942: Construction finished, and basic training officially began at Montford Point Camp (part of Camp Lejeune) in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

• September 1949: The segregated camp closed after President Harry S. Truman ordered the military to desegregate. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Who Was a Part of It

• Alfred Masters: Widely recorded as the first African American to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II. [1]

• Howard P. Perry: The first Black recruit to arrive and be logged on a duty roster at Montford Point. [1, 2]

• Gilbert H. “Hashmark” Johnson: A legendary Black drill instructor and veteran who helped shape the success of these recruits; the facility was later renamed Camp Johnson in his honor. [1, 2]

• Nearly 20,000 other recruits: Mostly assigned to support roles, ammunition companies, and defense battalions, proving their bravery in key Pacific battles before receiving the Congressional Gold Medal collectively in 2012. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

If you'd like, I can share more details on:

• The specific battles they fought in (like Peleliu or Iwo Jima)
• How to look up a specific family member who served as a Montford Pointer

The old Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, North Carolina, is now Camp Gilbert H. Johnson (a satellite facility of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune), which houses the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools and the historic Montford Point Marine Museum. [1, 2]

What is on the Site Today

• Camp Gilbert H. Johnson (Camp Johnson): Renamed in 1974 to honor Sergeant Major Gilbert H. "Hashmark" Johnson, one of the first African American drill instructors. [1]

• Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS): A training command that teaches logistics, administration, financial management, motor transport, and support military specialties. [1]

• Montford Point Marine Museum: Located inside one of the camp's original 1940s buildings, the museum preserves the history and artifacts of the first African American Marines who trained at the segregated facility

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Honoring Major James Capers , Medal of Honor Recipient 2026

As we prepare for tonight’s Montford Point Marines Day Gala, I want to share an important update and, more importantly, remind everyone why we are coming together.

Major James Capers Jr. traveled to Atlanta yesterday with every intention of joining us as our Guest of Honor. He was greeted by several of our members and also received a very warm welcome from the hotel staff. Unfortunately, due to an unexpected health matter this morning, he will not be able to attend. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Major Capers, and right now his health and well-being are what matter most. We are grateful that he chose our Gala to help us celebrate the connection between the Montford Point Marines who opened the doors and the generations of Marines, like Major Capers, who carried their legacy forward.

We also learned that our 102-year-old Montford Point Marine, Mr. James Pack, will not be able to attend due to health concerns. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as well.

These are certainly disappointing developments, but our purpose tonight has not changed. This Gala was never built around one person. It was built around the nearly 20,000 men who passed through Montford Point Camp, the barriers they broke, the sacrifices they made, and our responsibility to ensure their story is never forgotten.

And tonight, we still have an extraordinary opportunity. Ambassador Britton will be with us and will share his own firsthand experiences from Montford Point Camp and his perspective on the legacy he and his fellow Montford Point Marines created. At 100 years old, we have living history in the room, and we have a responsibility to honor it well.

I want to thank each of you for everything you have done to get us to this point. The planning, invitations, sponsorships, ticket sales, rehearsals, volunteering, and countless details have all led to tonight. None of that work has changed because circumstances changed this morning.

So let's stay focused, stay positive, and give our guests the experience we have worked so hard to create. Let's fill that room with energy. Let's celebrate Ambassador Britton. Let's tell Major Capers' story. Let's honor Mr. Pack in his absence. And most importantly, let's put on a program worthy of the Montford Point Marines.

I look forward to seeing all of you this afternoon. Thank you again for your hard work, commitment, and belief in this mission.

Where History Began. Where Legends Continue.

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Bilal Mahmud and  Johnny Higdon, Montford Point Marines Gala 2026

OPOW Photo Slideshow

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Kofi Bilal Mahmud Eid AlFitr 1443 A.H.

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