Synopses & Reviews
With an executive order from President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, the United States Marine Corpsthe last all-white branch of the U.S. militarywas forced to begin recruiting and enlisting African Americans. This book, in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name, tells for the first time the story of the African American Marines who integrated the last all-white branch of the U.S. military in 1942. Drawing from interviews with 60 veterans, McLaurin relates their reasons for enlisting; their arrival at Montford Point and the training they received there; their lives in a segregated military and in the Jim Crow South; their experiences of combat and service in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam; and their legacy. This book serves to recognize and to honor the men who desegregated the Marine Corps and loyally served their country in three major wars.
Review
"A quick but inspirational read."
Journal of America's Military Past
Review
"Eloquent, unedited stories."
Our State
Review
"An important contribution to military and civil rights history. . . . [
he Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines] is a set of excerpts [of interviews] which, in Studs Terkel fashion, create an oral history of this group of Marines."
Durham Sunday Herald-Sun
Review
"A valuable contribution to our understanding of the black military experience in World War II."
North Carolina Historical Review
Review
"Beautifully collected interviews. . . . Anyone interested in any aspect of the civil rights struggle or the history of race relations in the US must read this book. . . . Essential."
CHOICE
Synopsis
"An important contribution to military and civil rights history. . . . [
he Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines] is a set of excerpts [of interviews] which, in Studs Terkel fashion, create an oral history of this group of Marines."
Durham Sunday Herald-Sun "Eloquent, unedited stories."
Our State "A valuable contribution to our understanding of the black military experience in World War II."
North Carolina Historical Review "Beautifully collected interviews. . . . Anyone interested in any aspect of the civil rights struggle or the history of race relations in the US must read this book. . . . Essential."
CHOICE "A quick but inspirational read."
Journal of America's Military Past
About the Author
Melton A. McLaurin is professor emeritus of history at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He is author of eight books, including the award-winning Separate Pasts: Growing Up White in the Segregated South.
Table of Contents
ContentsPreface
Introduction
Chapter 1. Home Towns
Chapter 2. Joining Up
Chapter 3. Getting There
Chapter 4. Training at Montford Point
Chapter 5. Resisting Segregation in the Civilian World
Chapter 6. Fighting Segregation in the Corps
Chapter 7. Combat and Service: World War II
Chapter 8. Combat and Service: Korea and Vietnam
Chapter 9. Legacy
Epilogue: Interviewee Biographies
Further Reading
Index of Interviewees
Index